Financial Aid FAQ

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Yes. If you intend to apply for financial aid (Unsubsidized Stafford Loan, GradPLUS loan, need-based scholarships, grants, and work-study), please file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as soon as it becomes available at 7:01 PM HST on September 30 (12:01 AM EST on October 1). Need-based scholarships are awarded based upon eligibility, need, and the order of FAFSA received. You may indicate “will file” on tax-related questions and then update this information after you file your taxes. Estimate your income and other tax information, and then correct your information after you’ve filed your taxes. Use the previous year’s tax returns to provide estimates for income questions. The priority deadline is February 1. Our federal school code is 001610. To add our school code to an existing FAFSA, click “Add a school” under “Returning User?”.

No. Students from the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of Palau are not eligible for federal financial aid loans. You may, however, be eligible for Federal Work Study or the Pacific Islander Scholarship. In order to qualify for either of these, you must complete the FAFSA. When filling out the FAFSA, indicate that you are an eligible noncitizen and leave the A-Number item blank. If you do not have a Social Security Number, enter “888” and the Department of Education will give you a number to use.

See Dates and Deadlines.

Scholarships, tuition waivers, and stipends are considered part of your financial aid package. Federal regulations require that Financial Aid Services take these resources into account when determining your eligibility for financial aid awards. Your financial aid (grants, work-study, loans) and resources may not exceed the cost of attendance (tuition and fees, room and board, books and supplies, etc.).

If you receive a scholarship, tuition waiver, or stipend, you must complete the Financial Aid Change Request Form [manoa.hawaii.edu]. If Financial Aid determines that they must revise your financial aid award, they will email you and the revision will be reflected on the MyUH portal.

Learn more about how scholarships may affect your financial aid.

Please review Tuition and Cost of Attendance when building your budget. For additional budget requests, please email the Law School Financial Aid Office.

Visit the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS). Use your FSA ID to access your account. Your account information will include current loan amount, servicers, and servicer contact information..

If you’ve received a financial aid package and would like to request additional funds to cover the cost of your health insurance, please email the Law School Financial Aid Office. The University also has student health insurance options available.

If you’ve received a financial aid package and would like to request a budget adjustment for the purchase of a laptop (up to $1681), please contact the Director of Law Student Financial Aid.

Please meet with us. You may be able to receive additional funding.

Generally students are able to apply for financial aid throughout the school year. You should file a FAFSA as soon as possible.

Federal work-study is a financial aid program. Students who receive work-study can work on-campus and will receive a paycheck for hours worked. Any students who receive work-study and wish to participate must attend a training session with the UH Career Development and Student Employment Office [manoa.hawaii.edu].

Please meet with us. You may be able to receive loan money instead.

You need to be enrolled at least half time, or at 6 credits, in order to receive financial aid for the fall and spring semesters. Your financial aid award may be prorated if you are enrolled half time (6 to 8 credits) or three-quarter time (9-11) credits. In order to receive financial aid for the summer term, you must be enrolled in at least 4 credits. If you have specific questions about how your award may change, please meet with us.

Audited courses do not count toward the credits needed for FT/PT financial aid status.

You may be eligible to receive financial aid if you are taking at least four credits. Summer term financial aid requires a separate application (available Feb/March). You must have a current school year FAFSA on file.

Loan consolidation allows students to combine their existing federal loans into one loan. This loan will have an interest rate that is based on the weighted average of all loans. Before graduation, we will offer an information session about loan consolidation options. You may also meet with us to discuss your options.

To learn more about how studying abroad may impact your financial aid, please visit our website. Contact the Law School Financial Aid Office if you are planning to study abroad.

The Lifetime Learning Credit [irs.gov] allows a maximum credit of up to $2,000 for eligible expenses paid during the calendar year. The Lifetime Learning Credit applies to students who have a modified adjusted gross income of $63,000 or less (or, for married couples filing a joint return, $127,000 or less).

Additionally, if you have federal loans, you may be eligible to claim a deduction on your student loan interest. Itemizing is not necessary for this deduction. Your 1098-T [www.fmo.hawaii.edu] statement from the university will contain information on your educational expenses.

Please review IRS Publication 970 [irs.gov] for more information on how to claim these benefits.