University of Hawaii at Manoa Scholarships (2026ā2027)
ā Back to college scholarships hub ā¢ See Hawaii aid & Grants
Last Updated on March 31, 2026- Tuition, housing, and average family net price
- Automatic merit ranges and qualifier benchmarks
- Flagship and hidden-gem awards
- Honors and stacking strategy
š Admissions Snapshot
- Acceptance Rate: ~87%
- Middle 50% ACT: 25
- Middle 50% SAT: 1240
- Average GPA: 3.8
- Below the typical ranges: UH MÄnoa is still within reach. Focus on improving GPA and applying earlyāthis is a school where steady academics can get your foot in the door.
- In the typical ranges: Youāre in a strong position for admission and some merit consideration. This is where UH MÄnoa can become a solid financial optionāespecially for in-state students.
- Well above the ranges: This is where the real opportunity opens up. Top students can compete for major awards like Regents or Presidential (especially in-state), and out-of-state students may stack merit with WUE.
Comparing multiple schools? Try the Scholarship Tool to search by GPA, test scores, and state ā
š University of Hawaii at Manoa at a Glance
- WUE is not guaranteed: Itās available for certain majors and studentsābut itās competitive, not automatic.
- Big awards favor in-state students: Full-tuition and full-ride scholarships (like Regents/Presidential) are primarily for HawaiŹ»i residents.
- Travel costs add up: Mainland families often underestimate airfare and distanceāthis can offset some scholarship savings.
- Test scores are optionalābut sometimes useful: While admissions are test-optional, some scholarships or programs may still consider scores.
FAQ
Is this college test-optional? Yes ā University of Hawaii at Manoa is test-optional.
What is the middle 50% ACT/SAT? ACT: 25; SAT: 1240.
Average net price? About $14,557/yearyear after aid.
Does this school use waivers/reciprocity? Yes ā participates in wie.
š° Cost of Attendance at University of Hawaii at Manoa 2026-2027
š 2026ā2027 Planning Note: The costs below reflect the most recently published figures (2025ā2026). Universities typically finalize the next yearās rates in the spring, and weāll update this page once official 2026ā2027 numbers are released.
Planning tip: At large public universities, tuition, fees, and housing usually increase modestly each year (often in the 2ā5% range). For early budgeting, families may want to plan for roughly $1,000ā$1,500 more in-state or $2,000ā$3,000 more out-of-state in total direct costs once new rates are published.
| Category (2026ā2027) | In-State | Out-of-State |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition & Mandatory Fees (2 semesters) | $12,402 | $34,434 |
| Housing & Meals (typical) | $15,216 | $15,216 |
| Total (Direct Costs) | $27,618 | $49,650 |
Average Federal Net Price: $14,557 ā this is what families actually paid after grants and scholarships (no loans), based on the most recent federal data. Your specific cost could be significantly lower or higher depending on your financial aid eligibility and merit scholarships. New to Net Price & SAI? Read our guide.
COA Mini-FAQ
Does UH MÄnoa offer WUE for all majors? No. Only select majors are WUE-eligible each year; check current lists.
Is WUE guaranteed if Iām from a WUE state? Noāawards are limited and competitive.
Can out-of-state students later pay in-state rates? Itās difficult; strict residency rules apply and most undergrads remain nonresident.
Do program fees change the totals? Some majors add lab/course fees; base tuition is the same across majors.
Cost of Attendance (UH MÄnoa Financial Aid): https://manoa.hawaii.edu/financialaid/cost-of-attendance/
Tuition & Mandatory Fees (UH System schedule): https://www.hawaii.edu/tuition/
Student Housing Services ā Rates & Dining: https://manoa.hawaii.edu/housing/
Health Insurance requirement/waiver info: https://manoa.hawaii.edu/health/
Residency Classification (Registrar): https://manoa.hawaii.edu/registrar/residency/
Western Undergraduate Exchange details (WICHE): https://www.wiche.edu/tuition-savings/wue/
Net Price estimate / calculator guidance: https://manoa.hawaii.edu/financialaid/cost-of-attendance/
Automatic Merit Scholarships at UH MÄnoa (2026ā2027)
These scholarships are awarded automatically based on your studentās GPAāno separate application is required for most.
Good news: UH MÄnoa superscores ACT/SAT if submitted. Test scores are optional and may help in borderline scholarship cases.
| Scholarship | Award Amount | Eligibility | Separate App? | Renewable? | Who Actually Wins? | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regents Scholarship (In-State) | Full Tuition + Stipend | Top in-state students, GPA ā„ 3.9 recommended | Yes | Yes | About 16 awarded per year, holistic review, service/essays | Jan 5 (priority) |
| Provost Achievement Scholarship | $4,000ā$8,000/year | GPA ā„ 3.6; open to residents and non-residents | No | Yes | Students with higher (3.7ā4.0) GPA most likely | Jan 5 |
| Centennial Scholarship | $2,000/year | HawaiŹ»i residents, GPA ā„ 3.5 | No | Yes | Many eligible in-state students | Jan 5 |
| MÄnoa Academic Merit Scholarship | $2,000ā$4,000/year | First-year, resident or non-resident, strong GPA/holistic | No | Yes | High academic admits, may vary by college | Jan 5 |
| IUSS (International) | $2,000ā$4,000/year typical | International first-year or transfer, F-1 visa | No | Yes | International students, academics & holistic | Jan 5 |
Higher-tier academic applicants (GPA 3.8+, strong rigor or class rank) often receive the top award. Reach out to admissions for details.
Most awards (āautomatic meritā) require no extra application. The Regents Scholarship is the exception and uses a supplemental form after admission.
NoāUH MÄnoa is test-optional for both admission and scholarships, but high ACT/SAT scores can help if GPA is on the margin.
Noāstudents may only receive either WUE tuition or an automatic merit scholarship, whichever is greater.
Yes, automatic merit scholarships can be combined with need-based grants or outside/private scholarships, but not typically with WUE.
Yes, the MÄnoa Academic Merit and IUSS (International) can also be awarded to eligible transfers; check admissions for annual guidance.
UH MÄnoa takes the highest ACT/SAT section scores for admissions consideration, which can sometimes help borderline merit aid applicants.
Competitive Scholarships at UH MÄnoa
Unlike automatic awards, these scholarships require a separate application ā often through UH MÄnoaās internal STAR Scholarship portal. Many are funded by donors or departments and may be based on GPA, major, background, or leadership roles.
What is STAR? UH MÄnoa doesnāt list competitive scholarships publicly the way other schools do. Instead, all scholarship listings (except automatic ones) are housed in the UH STAR system, which students can access once admitted. Itās searchable by major, identity, academic strength, and more ā and it’s where most freshmen will find local or niche awards to apply for.
| Scholarship | Award Amount | Eligibility | Separate App? | Renewable? | Who Actually Wins? | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UH MÄnoa STAR Scholarships | $500ā$5,000/year | Varies; merit, need, identity, or major-based | Yes (via STAR) | Some are | Wide variety; depends on sorting/filtering in STAR | Feb 15 (STAR deadline) |
| UH Foundation Endowed Awards | $1,000ā$6,000 | Meets donor criteria (major, background, leadership/service, etc.) | Yes | Some are | Students matching donor’s mission or specialty | Feb 15 (STAR deadline) |
| Departmental Awards | Varies by major | Declared majors (often sophomore+ eligibility) | Yes | Some are | Majors active in department, upperclassmen often prioritized | Feb 15 (STAR deadline) |
| ASUH Achievement Scholarship | $1,000ā$2,000 | Full-time undergrad, GPA ā„ 3.0 or 3.5, or high financial need | Yes | No | Academically strong or highly motivated undergraduates | Feb 15 |
| New Warrior (NWS) Scholarship | $1,000ā$4,000 (one year) | Entering first-years, separate supplemental app + essays | Yes | No | Top new admits with engagement and service | Jan 15 (supplemental deadline) |
Students log in at star.hawaii.edu after admission. Itās the central portal for all non-automatic scholarships.
Yesāmany STAR and donor awards are open to freshmen; department-level are more often for sophomores, juniors, or transfers.
Only the higher value will be awarded; STAR awards generally do not stack with WUE. If STAR exceeds your WUE discount, you may switch.
Many competitive scholarships (even merit-based) want a FAFSA on file, especially for need-based or first-gen awards.
Multiple awards are possible, but total institutional aid usually cannot exceed the cost of attendance. Most students win one or two per year.
All major UH MÄnoa STAR scholarships have a priority deadline of February 15 each year; some select programs, like NWS, may have an earlier supplemental deadline.
Honors College at UH MÄnoa
UH MÄnoaās Honors Program is designed for students who want more from their college experience ā smaller classes, closer mentorship, and the chance to dive deep into research or creative work.
Is it worth it?
Letās break down what you actually get, what the requirements are, and whether Honors opens doors to financial support.
What You Get
- Priority registration every semester
- Access to small, discussion-based Honors seminars
- Faculty mentorship and a capstone project (usually senior year)
- An āHonorsā distinction on your diploma
- Some dedicated study lounges and academic advising
Who Gets In?
The program is by invitation only for most incoming freshmen.
Most accepted students have:
- A 3.7+ GPA (weighted)
- And/or an ACT of 28+ or SAT around 1300+
There is no self-nomination form ā if you’re a strong academic student, UH will invite you after reviewing your application.
Honors-Specific Scholarships
| Scholarship | Award Amount | Eligibility | Separate App? | Renewable? | Who Actually Wins? | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honors Program Hubert and Mable Frings Scholarship | Up to $2,200 | UH MÄnoa Honors students in good standing | Yes | No (one year/project) | Honors students proposing research/creative work | Feb |
| Student Award for Excellence in Research | $1,000 | Any undergraduate; faculty nomination; often awarded to Honors students | Yes | No | Top senior thesis or capstone research projects | Mar 7 |
Scholarships for Honors are limited and often aimed at funding research, capstone, or creative projects. Most other Honors students fund UH with standard aid or outside awards.
Honors Housing?
UH used to offer a Living Learning Community for Honors students ā but as of this cycle, itās not required or guaranteed. Students can request housing near others in the program, but priority is not guaranteed.
No ā UH MÄnoaās Honors Program is by invitation only. Strong applicants are reviewed automatically after applying for admission.
Not guaranteed. The Frings Scholarship and research awards are competitive and require a separate application; most aid comes from major, need-based, or outside sources.
Not always. There used to be an Honors floor, but it isnāt guaranteed now. Students may request it, but it’s subject to availability.
Yesābeing in the Honors Program helps students compete for research stipends, STAR awards, and grad fellowships during their junior/senior year.