File for aid early
The 2027–28 FAFSA became available ahead of its planned October 1 launch, and filing early gives your family more time to meet school and state aid deadlines. Gather your 2025 tax information, then make sure everyone required to contribute to the FAFSA completes their part. Don’t wait for the federal deadline (typically June 30) since some colleges and scholarship programs may need your FAFSA information sooner.
For each school, record its aid deadline and any documents requested after you file. Check the time zone for online submissions so you know when each deadline closes.
Compare each financial aid award letter
After the school processes your FAFSA, your student should receive a financial aid award letter. It may group grants, scholarships, loans, and work-study together, even though they affect your costs differently. Grants and scholarships generally do not need to be repaid but loans do. Work-study earnings are not deducted from the tuition bill upfront.
For each school, start with its full estimated cost, subtract grants and scholarships, and consider how your family would cover the remainder. Then check whether the estimate reflects what your student is likely to spend. If they plan to attend college on the mainland, compare the school’s travel allowance with expected flight costs and add expenses such as shipping belongings or buying winter clothes. This gives your family a clearer comparison before a deposit is due.
Apply for HawaiiUSA scholarships
HawaiiUSA offers scholarships to graduating high school seniors and students already in college. To qualify, applicants must have been primary members for at least six consecutive months before applying, keep their accounts in good standing, and have a GPA of at least 3.0. Check the application when it opens for the full requirements and submission deadline.
If your student is already a member, check when their membership began. If they aren’t yet a member, ask HawaiiUSA whether joining now would make them eligible for the next application period. Starting early also gives them time to gather the activities, honors, and other materials the application requests. Visit the HawaiiUSA scholarship page for application updates.
Borrow only what you need
Keep in mind that there are a variety of ways to pay for a college education. Factor in federal, state, and institutional grants, scholarships, family resources, and any work-study earnings. Before borrowing to cover books or other education costs, ask when the school will apply aid to the student account and how it pays out any funds left after billed charges. Knowing when that money will be available can help your family decide how much to borrow.
Let HawaiiUSA help you plan for the costs ahead. Connect with us to get started.
