The Upper-level Scholarship Programs are selective scholarship awards that are designed to recognize and celebrate both the academic strengths and demonstrated community impact of degree-seeking students who enroll at UH Mānoa as transfer students. These scholarships include:
- Presidential Scholarship (For Hawaiʻi Residents)
- Transfer Merit Scholarship (All residency types)
This scholarship is awarded at the start of the student’s Mānoa degree pursuit and is intended to support the student’s enrollment for 2 years, as they progress toward degree completion. This scholarship amount awarded is applied toward and reduces the student’s tuition costs.
The Office of Admissions selects and awards these merit scholarships based on a student’s admission application, a holistic academic record review, and the student’s demonstrated impact on their community/communities. In addition to submitting the admission application, students must also submit 1) a list of activities/achievements and 2) a short-answer essay response to demonstrate their community impact. See the Selection Process for Scholarship Award section for more details and information.
Since these are selective scholarships, students must apply for admission by March 1. When a student who is eligible for these scholarships has been admitted, they will also receive instructions and information about how to submit additional required documents for scholarship consideration. The supplemental application for these Upper-level Scholarship Programs is due March 15. The Admissions and Scholarship Selection Committees will review applications in March and April, then notify applicants of the scholarship decisions around early May.
Presidential Scholarship
The UH Board of Regents established the Presidential Scholarship to support students with a record of outstanding academic achievement. The award amount is equivalent to full-tuition each year for 2 years + $4,000 per year stipend + $2,000 one-time travel grant. This scholarship is open to all Hawaiʻi residents.
Presidential Scholars are also Honors Program Scholars, which means that in addition to the generous scholarship award, students receive the benefits of being in the Honors Program. These benefits include, but are not limited to:
- Personalized academic advising
- Guided engagement in research opportunities
- Access to and enrollment in small-sized classes
- Mentoring by world-class faculty in your field of study
Learn more about the Regents and Presidential Scholars Program.
Criteria for Consideration
All admitted transfer, degree-seeking applicants or currently enrolled Mānoa rising Juniors who meet the eligibility criteria outlined below are encouraged to apply for consideration of these scholarships. In addition to your academic achievements, the scholarship selection committee will consider the ways that you make an impact on your community/communities.
- Residency Status: Hawai’i Residents
- Student type: Incoming transfer student or continuing Mānoa student
- Class Standing: Junior class standing by the end of the spring semester
- GPA: Students with a 3.7 college GPA or higher will be considered for this scholarship
- Number of awards offered: Historically, Mānoa has awarded 10 Presidential Scholarships each year. Note: If a student is offered more than one merit award by the Office of Admissions, they may only accept one of the awards.
Selection Process for Scholarship Award
The Office of Admissions selects and awards these merit scholarships based on a student’s admission application, a holistic academic record review, and the student’s demonstrated impact on their community/communities. When a student who is eligible for these higher-tier scholarships has been admitted, they will also receive instructions and information about how to submit additional required documents for scholarship consideration.
In addition to submitting the admission application, students must also submit 2 supplemental documents:
- A list of activities/achievements that help us understand how you spend your time outside of the classroom. Provide as much information as you believe will help the admissions committee understand how you make an impact in your community/communities.
- A short-answer essay response to the following prompt: Share with us the way(s) that you make an impact in your community/communities through your activit(ies)/commitment(s) and why that impact is important to you.
Some of the questions you may want to address in your response include: Why is that activity/commitment important to you? How will that experience shape your college career at Mānoa?
Responses should be between 250-400 words. Responses below or above this range are still acceptable, as long as you address the prompt.
Optional: You may also upload an updated transcript. We encourage you to submit updated grades if you have new academic information available since the time you originally applied for admission.
Note: For those who are familiar with Mānoa’s admission and scholarship processes, please note that as of the fall 2024, we no longer request or require letters of recommendation for this scholarship application process.
Timeline for Scholarship Consideration and Award
Since these are selective scholarships, students must apply for admission by March 1. When a student who is eligible for these scholarships has been admitted, they will also receive instructions and information about how to submit additional required documents for scholarship consideration.
The supplemental application is due March 15. The Admissions and Scholarship Selection Committees will review applications in March and April, then notify applicants of the scholarship decisions around early May.
This scholarship is only awarded for students who begin their enrollment in the fall term.
Notification of Scholarship Award
Students selected to receive a Presidential Scholarship will be notified of their award around early May. When a student submits their tuition deposit to secure their spot in the class, they also secure this scholarship award.
Renewal Criteria
The Presidential Scholarship will renew for students who meet the following criteria:
- Maintain a 3.5 undergraduate GPA or higher
- Enrolled full-time (at least 12 credits per semester) at Mānoa
- Engaged in the Honors Program
Students who cannot or do not meet this renewal criteria should contact the Office of Admissions for assistance.
Currently Enrolled Students
Currently enrolled or continuing Mānoa students are eligible if they are a junior class standing by the end of the spring semester and have a 3.7 college GPA or higher.
Transfer Merit Scholarships
The UH Mānoa Office of Admissions recognizes and celebrates the academic strengths of incoming transfer students through these scholarship awards. This scholarship is open to all incoming transfer students. The award amount is $2,000 per year for 2 years.
Criteria for Consideration
- Residency Status: All residency types
- Student type: Incoming transfer student
- Class Standing: All classes eligible
- GPA: Students with a 3.3 college GPA or higher will be considered for this scholarship
Selection Process for Scholarship Award
The Office of Admissions selects and awards these merit scholarships based on a student’s admission application, a holistic academic record review, and the student’s demonstrated impact on their community/communities. When a student who is eligible for these higher-tier scholarships has been admitted, they will also receive instructions and information about how to submit additional required documents for scholarship consideration.
In addition to submitting the admission application, students must also submit 2 supplemental documents:
- A list of activities/achievements that help us understand how you spend your time outside of the classroom. Provide as much information as you believe will help the admissions committee understand how you make an impact in your community/communities.
- A short-answer essay response to the following prompt: Share with us the way(s) that you make an impact in your community/communities through your activit(ies)/commitment(s) and why that impact is important to you.
Some of the questions you may want to address in your response include: Why is that activity/commitment important to you? How will that experience shape your college career at Mānoa?
Responses should be between 250-400 words. Responses below or above this range are still acceptable, as long as you address the prompt.
Optional: You may also upload an updated transcript. We encourage you to submit updated grades if you have new academic information available since the time you originally applied for admission.
Note: For those who are familiar with Mānoa’s admission and scholarship processes, please note that as of the fall 2024, we no longer request or require letters of recommendation for this scholarship application process.
Timeline for Scholarship Consideration and Award
Since these are selective scholarships, students must apply for admission by March 1. When a student who is eligible for these scholarships has been admitted, they will also receive instructions and information about how to submit additional required documents for scholarship consideration.
The supplemental application is due March 15. The Admissions and Scholarship Selection Committees will review applications in March and April, then notify applicants of the scholarship decisions around early May.
This scholarship is only awarded for students who begin their enrollment in the fall term.
Notification of Scholarship Award
Students selected to receive a Presidential Scholarship will be notified of their award around early May. When a student submits their tuition deposit to secure their spot in the class, they also secure this scholarship award.
Renewal Criteria
The Transfer Merit Scholarship will renew for students who meet the following criteria:
- Maintain a 3.0 undergraduate 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 are not eligible to receive a merit scholarship based on the new criteria.
Questions?
Questions about the Upper-level Scholarship programs should be directed to the Office of Admissions via email at manoa.scholarships@hawaii.edu.