Mānoa Academic Merit Scholarship
The Mānoa Academic Merit Scholarship program is designed to recognize the academic strengths of first-year, degree-seeking students who enroll at UH Mānoa in the semester following the completion of their high school diploma. This scholarship is awarded at the start of the student’s Mānoa degree pursuit and is intended to support the student’s enrollment for 4 years, as they progress toward degree completion. The Office of Admissions selects and awards these merit scholarships based on a student’s admission application and a holistic academic record review. There is no separate application for students to be considered for these scholarships.
Starting with students who enroll in the Fall 2024 semester, the Mānoa Academic Merit Scholarship amount ranges from $2,000 to $4,000 per academic year. The amount awarded ($2,000; $3,000; or $4,000) is based on the student’s high school academic performance and cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA). This scholarship amount awarded is applied toward and reduces the student’s tuition costs. See below for more details regarding scholarship criteria.
The Office of Admissions will award these scholarships throughout the application season, from the opening of the application through the final application deadline, April 1, and as long as scholarships are available. Students are encouraged to apply as early in the application season as possible to maximize their chances of receiving a scholarship.
Criteria for Scholarship Consideration
All admitted first-year, degree-seeking applicants with a strong academic record will be considered for a Mānoa Academic Merit Scholarship.
- Residency Status: Hawai’i Residents
- Hawai’i residents with a high school cumulative GPA of 3.0-3.59 will be considered for a $3,000 scholarship per year. Total $12,000 over 4 years.
- Hawai’i residents with a high school cumulative GPA of 3.6 or higher will be considered for a $4,000 scholarship per year. Total $16,000 over 4 years.
- Residency Status: U.S. citizen, Hawai’i non-resident (including WUE-eligible students)
- U.S. citizen, Hawai’i non-residents (including WUE-eligible students) with a high school cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher will be considered for a $2,000 scholarship per year. Total $8,000 over 4 years.
The scholarship eligibility criteria is based on the student’s original residency status (Hawai’i or non-Hawai’i resident in the U.S.). Students who are eligible for and receive a non-resident tuition exemption will be eligible for a merit scholarship level according to their original residency status. For instance, a non-Hawai’i resident who is eligible for and receives the Native Hawaiian tuition status exemption would be eligible for the $2,000 Mānoa Academic Merit Scholarship level.
Note: For those who are familiar with Mānoa’s admission and scholarship processes, please note that as of the Fall 2024 semester, this scholarship is no longer an automatic award. While the award is no longer automatic, we anticipate that most students who apply for admission and meet the eligibility criteria will be awarded a scholarship.
Selection for Scholarship Award
The Office of Admissions selects and awards these merit scholarships based on a student’s admission application and a holistic academic record review. There is no separate application for students to be considered for these scholarships.
Timeline for Scholarship Consideration and Award
The Office of Admissions will award these scholarships throughout the application season, from the opening of the application through the final application deadline, April 1, and as long as scholarships are available. Students are encouraged to apply as early in the application season as possible to maximize their chances of receiving a scholarship.
This scholarship is only awarded for students who begin their enrollment in the fall semester following the completion of their high school diploma.
Notification of Scholarship Award
Students selected to receive a Mānoa Academic Merit Scholarship will be notified of their scholarship award shortly after receiving their offer of admission. When a student submits their tuition deposit to secure their spot in the class, they also secure this scholarship award.
Renewal Criteria
The Mānoa Academic Merit Scholarship will renew for students who meet the following criteria:
- Maintain a 2.0 undergraduate cumulative GPA or higher
- Enrolled full-time (at least 12 credits per semester) at Mānoa
Students who cannot or do not meet this renewal criteria should contact the Office of Admissions for assistance.
Currently Enrolled Students
Currently enrolled Mānoa students who started prior to the Fall 2024 semester are not eligible to receive a merit scholarship based on the new criteria. The scholarship and criteria revisions are only eligible for first-year, degree-seeking students who begin their enrollment at Mānoa in the Fall 2024 semester.
However, currently enrolled students who have been awarded a Mānoa Academic Merit Scholarship are eligible for the revised renewal criteria (see section above on Renewal Criteria).
International Merit Award Scholarships
The International Merit Award Scholarship program is designed to recognize the academic strengths of first-year and transfer degree-seeking students who require an F-1 Visa to enroll at UH Manoa. This scholarship is awarded at the start of the student’s Mānoa degree pursuit and is intended to support the student’s enrollment as they progress toward degree completion. The Office of Admissions selects and awards these merit scholarships based on a student’s admission application and a holistic academic record review. There is no separate application for students to be considered for these scholarships.
The International Merit Award Scholarship amount is the equivalent of 150% of the resident tuition rate; currently, for the 2023-2024 academic year, this scholarship is valued at approximately $16,380 per academic year. This scholarship amount awarded is applied toward and reduces the student’s tuition costs. See below for more details regarding scholarship criteria.
The Office of Admissions will award these scholarships throughout the year for first-year and transfer applicants. The priority deadlines for consideration are November 1 for students enrolling in the spring semester and July 1 for students enrolling in the fall semester. Students are encouraged to apply as early as possible before the priority deadlines to maximize their chances of receiving a scholarship.
Criteria for Scholarship Consideration
All admitted first-year and transfer degree-seeking applicants whose citizenship is outside of the U.S. (student requires an F-1 Visa to enroll) and who have a strong academic record will be considered for an International Merit Award Scholarship.
- First-year admitted applicants whose citizenship is outside of the U.S. and who require an F-1 Visa to enroll at UH Manoa, with a cumulative 3.3 high school/secondary school GPA or higher, will be considered for this scholarship award.
- Transfer admitted applicants whose citizenship is outside of the U.S. and who require an F-1 Visa to enroll at UH Manoa, with a cumulative 3.3 college GPA or higher will be considered for this scholarship award.
Students who already have a Bachelor’s degree and who are planning to pursue a second degree at Manoa are not eligible for this scholarship.
Note: For those who are familiar with Mānoa’s admission and scholarship processes, please note that as of the Fall 2024 semester, this scholarship is no longer an automatic award. While the award is no longer automatic, we anticipate that most students who apply for admission by the priority deadlines for consideration and meet the eligibility criteria will be awarded a scholarship.
Timeline for Scholarship Consideration and Award
The Office of Admissions will award these scholarships throughout the year for first-year and transfer applicants.
The priority deadlines for consideration are:
- November 1 for students enrolling in the spring semester
- July 1 for students enrolling in the fall semester
Students are encouraged to apply as early as possible from the opening of the application and before the priority deadlines to maximize their chances of receiving a scholarship.
Notification of Scholarship Award
Students selected to receive an International Merit Award Scholarship will be notified of their scholarship award shortly after receiving their offer of admission. When a student submits their tuition deposit to secure their spot in the class, they also secure this scholarship award.
Renewal Criteria
The International Merit Award Scholarship will renew for students who meet the following criteria:
- Maintain a 2.0 undergraduate cumulative GPA or higher
- Enrolled full-time (at least 12 credits per semester) at Mānoa
Students who cannot or do not meet this renewal criteria should contact the Office of Admissions for assistance.
Currently Enrolled Students
Currently enrolled Mānoa students who started prior to the Fall 2024 semester are not eligible to receive a merit scholarship based on the new criteria. The scholarship and criteria revisions are only eligible for first-year and transfer degree-seeking students whose citizenship is outside of the U.S. and who begin their enrollment at Mānoa in the Fall 2024 semester.
However, currently enrolled students who have been awarded an International Merit Award Scholarship are eligible for the revised renewal criteria (see section above on Renewal Criteria).
Questions?
Questions about the Academic Merit Scholarship programs should be directed to the Office of Admissions via email at manoa.scholarships@hawaii.edu.