College Aid and Scholarship

Money Matters - Paying for College

As college costs continue to rise, most families search for financial aid resources to assist their college bound students. The main sources of aid include Federal Student Loan programs, college scholarships and grants, and private competitive scholarships. Most students use a combination of these resources, as well as their family contribution, to help pay their college expenses. On the page below, you will find links to useful online sites and information on how HPA's CCC can help you plan how to pay for college.

A. Online Sites For Financial Aid -

FAFSA Online
The Department of Education's site with online FAFSA to apply for Federal Student Loan programs. FAFSA is required by all schools.

CSS Profile
The online first step of the financial aid form that is required by many colleges (especially private colleges). This profile is used to determined your family's financial need and from there determine the amount of aid awarded by a college.

FinAid
Probably the best site for information on all aspects of financial aid. Loans, grants, estimators; if it has to do with financial aid, it is probably here.

College Cost Calculator
Use this simple calculator to determine how much your "estimated family contribution" (EFC) will be for college expenses. The EFC number is the sum that both the US government and the
colleges expect you to contribute for your child to attend college. This number stays the same regardless of the varying tuition costs at different schools.

FastWeb
Possibly the biggest and best scholarship search site on the web. You do have to register, but it is free.

Sallie Mae
Lots of information on student loans and financing a college education. This agency administers the Federal Parent Plus Loan program.

WUE - Western Undergraduate Exchange
The WUE program offers great deals for qualified Hawaii students at public universities in the Western United States. Hawaii students are eligible for in-state tuition plus 50 percent for many of the academic programs at WUE schools.

B. Competitive Scholarships and Links to Resources

Families should not overlook the variety of scholarships (both merit and need-based) available through almost every college and university in the country. In addition, be aware that thousands of foundations and organizations earmark money for college-bound students each year and in some cases the funds go unused.

To help HPA's seniors, we compile the scholarship information we receive each year from colleges, universities, organizations, and foundations eager to award money to deserving students. As we receive this information, we compile the list along with the criteria and application procedures for each. We then distribute these to every senior mailbox. We also list these scholarships by monthly deadlines on this webpage (click on the links below). In addition, we encourage seniors to research scholarships through other volumes in our office.

  1.  Click here to go the Hawaii Community Foundation Webpage.
    This is the best site for scholarships for Hawaii residents.
  2. Click here to go find scholarships for students with Hawaiian ancestry. This foundation is called Ke Ali'i Pauahi Foundation.This is the new name for the Bishop Estate Scholarship Program. These scholarships require proof of Hawaiian ancestry.
  3. Click here for the WUE - Western Undergraduate Exchange.
    The WUE program offers great deals for qualified Hawaii students at public universities in the Western United States. Hawaii students are eligible for in-state tuition plus 50 percent for many of the academic programs at WUE schools.
  4. Click here for more scholarship pages on the internet.

C. INTERNATIONAL STUDENT STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL SUPPORT

With each application to an American college or university, international students must send a document certifying the amount and source of income available to the student for study in the United States. Colleges or universities will provide the necessary forms. You must complete the form and have the financial information certified by an officer of your bank. You will need a separate form for each application, and each must be certified. Colleges will not accept a photocopy or a fax of the form. It must be an original with the actual bank seal affixed. You may photocopy the blank form, itself, but not the signature or the seal. We encourage you to get the forms as soon as possible, fill them out right away, have them certified by your bank and then give them to us to include with applications. Send one form for each application (five applications require five forms). On each form you must write the amount of money you are able to provide each year. The minimum amount required will differ from college to college. However, we suggest you use the figure $50,000. That amount will take care of all of the differences between colleges.