There are various types of Financial Aid that can help you pay for your college expenses. We encourage you to discuss these options with one of our Financial Aid advisors. Get in touch with us at the Financial Aid Office. We look forward to assisting you with your financial needs!
How We Can Help
Even though Honolulu Community College (HonCC) is recognized as an exceptional value, paying for tuition and fees can still be difficult for some. Not to worry, our Financial Aid staff is here to help. You’ll find helpful information in the video above. If you have any questions or need assistance applying for financial aid, please contact our office.
Please note that when a student enters college at any age, due to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), most information can only be disclosed to the student.
Announcements
- Due to the passing of the FAFSA Simplification Act, the FAFSA is changing beginning with the 2024-2025 school year. View our FAFSA Simplification page to learn about what to expect.
- Request for Special Circumstance: If your financial aid application does not accurately reflect your current financial situation (e.g. loss of employment, serious illness of a family member, change in marital status, etc.), you may request for a Special Circumstance consideration. While there are no guarantees that an additional review will result in changes to your eligibility, we encourage students to complete the process if they feel it is justified. Complete the Special Circumstance Form for the appropriate aid year on our Forms page.
- Request for Cost of Attendance Adjustment: A cost of attendance is created for every student who is awarded financial aid. In addition to tuition and student fees, the cost of attendance includes an estimated cost of books/supplies, food, housing, transportation and personal expenses. If you have costs that are not included or go beyond the calculated cost of attendance, you may request for a Cost of Attendance Adjustment. Please note that the requests are not guaranteed, but encouraged if you feel it is justified. Complete the Request for Cost of Attendance Adjustment form for the appropriate aid year on our Forms page.
- The 2023-2024 FAFSA is available for these semesters: Fall 2023, Spring 2024, and Summer 2024.
- The 2024-2025 FAFSA will be available in December, 2023. Updates on an exact date will be posted on this webpage.
- Fall 2023 Virtual Financial Aid Workshops are available Wednesdays, 6:00 – 7:30 PM. For more information, please email FAFSA@hawaii.edu.
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
Are you eligible?
Before you begin, you must determine if you are eligible. Financial aid programs are regulated by federal, state, and institutional policies. Most financial aid guidelines specify the following basic eligibility requirements:
- Be a U.S. citizen or an eligible non-citizen
- Have earned either a high school diploma, GED certificate, or equivalent
- Have Honolulu Community College as your home campus
- Be a classified student in an eligible associate or certificate degree program.
- To check if a program is eligible, please contact the Financial Aid Office.
- Meet the Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy (PDF)
- Not be in default on a Federal educational loan or owe a refund on a Federal grant
- Submit all required documents needed to process your financial aid application
Get in Touch
Financial Aid Office
Building 5, 1st Floor
Phone: (808) 845-9116
Fax: (808) 356-0942
Hours: M–F, 8:00 am–4:30 pm
Virtual appointments: STAR Balance
To apply for federal student aid, you need to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Completing the FAFSA is simple and fast, and best of all, it’s FREE! It will also provide you access to the largest source of financial aid to pay for college. Your FAFSA information will also be used to determine eligibility for available state and school aid. Please note that the FAFSA must be completed every year in order to receive financial aid for each school year.
Application Process
- First, visit the FAFSA website to create an account.
- You and your parent, if applicable, must have a FSA ID (account) to complete the FAFSA.
- The FSA ID is used to sign the application electronically. If you are unable to enter your or your parent’s FSA ID, you must print out the signature page and mail it with the required signatures.
- Make sure to read the instructions carefully.
- Add our Federal School Code: 001612
Your FAFSA information will be sent to HonCC and our office will use the information to determine the financial aid you may be eligible for. All communications regarding your financial aid, including requests for additional information, will be sent via email. Student requirements can also be found on MyUH. When your financial aid award has been finalized, an email notification will be sent to your UH email.
Priority Dates
We encourage students to complete the FAFSA as early as they can in order to get the most favorable financial aid award. The FAFSA is available starting October 1 of every year for the following school year. To optimize your financial aid awards, please complete your FAFSA by the following dates:
- Fall Semester: March 1st
- Spring Semester: October 1st
You may still apply for the FAFSA after these dates, but be prepared to pay for tuition and other expenses until you are awarded financial aid. Note: The HonCC Federal School code is 001612.
Questions?
For questions regarding the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the financial aid application process, you may refer to these resources for help:
What to Expect
Once your application has been reviewed and your eligibility has been determined, you will be notified through your UH email account advising you to view your financial aid status on your MyUH portal. Please read the email and any financial aid offer carefully. A financial aid offer is based on the following:
- Amount of need as determined by FAFSA;
- Amount eligible for;
- Availability of federal, state, and private funds; and
- Full-time enrollment status at our campus (unless otherwise noted).
Submit Your Financial Documents
If you need to submit documents, you may use UH File Drop (View Instructions) or fax our office at (808) 356-0942
