The University of Â鶹´«Ã½ has been selected as one of 10 recipients of a national grant from Lumina Foundation’s to expand its Direct2UH program. The $400,000 grant is part of the foundation’s $3.5 million investment to simplify the college admissions process and expand student access across the country.

Building on the success of Direct2UH—the direct admissions initiative launched in October 2025, offering free entry to public high school seniors based on their GPA—the grant will fund a unified admissions system with enhanced outreach and guidance. This creates a more equitable pathway for Â鶹´«Ã½ students to apply, access financial aid and enroll across nine campuses, with UH ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ expected to join the program later this year.

“This investment allows us to build a simpler, more connected pathway to college for Â鶹´«Ã½‘s students—one that ensures every learner, regardless of background or geography, has clear and supported opportunities, making it easier for more students to move from aspiration to enrollment and ultimately to success,” said Farrah-Marie Gomes, UH associate vice president for student affairs. “This work matters locally because it directly addresses the barriers our students face and strengthens our responsibility as a statewide system to serve every community.”

Lumina’s Great Admissions Redesign initiative supports states, systems and institutions in integrating admissions, financial aid, advising and enrollment systems. The goal is to remove unnecessary barriers and help more students successfully enroll in and complete college.

“Across the country, we’re seeing real momentum to rethink how students access college,” said Melanie Heath, Lumina strategy director. “This cohort reflects a clear shift from fragmented fixes to coordinated, student-centered systems.”

Commitment to college access

At full scale, Direct2UH will reach students at all public and charter high schools across the state, with implementation in partnership with the Â鶹´«Ã½ State Department of Education and Â鶹´«Ã½ P–20. By aligning systems and expanding support, it will increase college access and enrollment statewide, particularly for rural and underserved communities.

Lumina’s Great Admissions Redesign initiative is part of a broader national effort to increase post-high school attainment and advance Lumina’s Goal 2040, which aims for 75 percent of working-age adults to hold a credential of value.

For many nursing students, the cost of tuition and living expenses can create a heavy financial burden while balancing coursework and clinical training. The University of Â鶹´«Ã½ at ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ has partnered with Social Finance to offer zero-interest student loans through the , a program designed to help students cover educational costs without the burden of high-interest debt.

Eligible UH ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ undergraduate nursing students enrolled in the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program who are within two years of graduation can to cover the cost of attendance after grants and scholarships. Applicants must be permanent Â鶹´«Ã½ residents and qualify as low-income. Loan amounts range from $2,000 to $15,000 per academic year.

The loan program continues to support students in the College of Engineering, where it was launched to help students with demonstrated financial need complete their degrees. The UH ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ School of Nursing & Dental Hygiene is the latest UH program to join the initiative, expanding access to more students across the university.

“We’re excited to join this new program, building on its success with other UH students,” said Clementina Ceria-Ulep, dean of the UH ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ School of Nursing & Dental Hygiene. “This partnership reflects our commitment to supporting nursing students as they complete their degrees and prepare for careers in the local healthcare workforce.”

The school is holding an informational session with Social Finance on Monday, February 9, 2026 from 11:30 – 12:30 p.m.

How the program works

The Â鶹´«Ã½ Renewable Learning Fund provides eligible students with loans that carry zero interest and no origination fees, helping cover remaining costs of tuition, living expenses and other educational needs not met by grants and scholarships.

After graduation, students repay their loans through fixed monthly payments over up to five years, with options to defer monthly payments when income falls below a minimum threshold. Repayments are recycled into the fund to support future students, creating a sustainable resource.

By offering financial flexibility while in school, the program allows students to focus on their studies and clinical training, helping them complete their degrees with less stress and prepare for careers in Â鶹´«Ã½â€™s healthcare community.

UH ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ Nursing prepares bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral nurses to serve diverse populations across Â鶹´«Ã½ and the Asia-Pacific region. Its online master’s program is nationally ranked. Graduates consistently achieve high licensure pass rates, reflecting the program’s academic standards and workforce preparation.

For more information about the zero-interest loan, visit the . UH ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ Nursing students who have questions should contact their Office of Student Services advisor.

The University of Â鶹´«Ã½ at Hilo has received a $1 million gift to establish the Kruschel Endowment to Reduce Insecurity (KERI), a new fund dedicated to support students facing financial or personal challenges that threaten to disrupt their education.

Rooted in compassion and opportunity, the endowment will provide direct assistance to UH Hilo students facing financial hardship, focusing on such basic needs as housing, food, transportation, communication, technology and access to essential resources. All encompassing, the fund targets the everyday challenges that too often force students to choose between survival and success.

Pathway to opportunity

Created by a gay married couple with kids who relocated to Â鶹´«Ã½ Island from San Francisco, the endowment reflects their shared belief that education is a pathway to opportunity and stability. The donors, Gary and John, were moved by their own family histories and a deep commitment to helping others.

“Education changes everything,” Gary said. “My mother was born into abject poverty in a New York City tenement and used education to build a better life for herself through full-ride scholarships. We want to give UH Hilo students the same chance—to focus on their education instead of worrying about their basic needs.”

The KERI fund addresses rising concerns about the number of UH students facing housing, food and financial instability. The new endowment will bolster UH Hilo’s capacity to respond quickly and caringly when students face emergencies.

“We’ve seen how quickly poverty and uncertainty—when you can’t count on where your next meal or rent will come from—can turn everyday challenges into overwhelming barriers,” John said. “It’s hard to focus on school or work under those conditions, so we wanted to make sure UH Hilo students facing financial hardship wouldn’t have to give up their education just to take care of their basic needs or their families.”

Mission in action

The gift represents the very heart of UH Hilo’s mission to support students through every stage of their journey.

“We are a campus that meets students where they are, both academically and personally,” said UH Hilo Chancellor Bonnie D. Irwin. “The Kruschel Endowment gives us the ability to respond when life’s challenges threaten to derail a student’s dreams. It’s a powerful expression of aloha and belief in the transformative potential of education.”

The fund’s impact complements UH Hilo’s strategic goal of expanding opportunities and aligns with the campus’s basic needs programs, helping fill the gaps between financial aid, scholarships and daily living expenses.

Gary and John view their endowment as both a call to action and an investment in Â鶹´«Ã½â€™s future. “Both our families really impressed upon us the value of an education and how much that can help,” they said. “If we can help UH Hilo students stay in school and build a better life, then this gift has done its job.”

Awards launching 2026

The Kruschel Endowment to Reduce Insecurity will begin providing awards to UH Hilo students in fall 2026.

For more information about supporting students at UH Hilo, visit ’s website.

Fall 2024 enrollment at the University of Â鶹´«Ã½ at ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ surpassed 20,000 students for the first time since 2013. The final enrollment numbers will not be official until the first week of October, but as of September 17, there are 20,012 students enrolled at UH ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹, a 4% increase over 2023.

“This milestone is the work of so many who over these past years have built a superb enrollment management program that recruits great students from Â鶹´«Ã½ and beyond,” said UH President David Lassner. “And it’s not just about recruiting students, it’s about retaining them. Credit for that goes to our amazing faculty, our advisors, our support staff, and all of the people who make Â鶹´«Ã½â€™s own global research university such a special place to study.”

Record high first-time freshmen

UH ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ is also welcoming a record high 3,123 first-time freshmen in fall 2024. This is the 3rd straight year, the university has reached 3,000 or more freshmen after surpassing the mark for the first time in the university’s 117-year history in 2022.

“These enrollment numbers should not come as a surprise as UH ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ is one of the top universities in the world, delivering a world-class education at a cost that our students and their families can afford,” said UH ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ Provost Michael Bruno. “This type of success does not happen overnight and is the result of years of hard work and data driven improvements. Another difference maker is that we are doing a better job of consistently telling our stories, an effort that started over a decade ago.”

Record freshmen recruitment

The record number of first time freshmen also included record highs in other categories (as of September 17):

• 1,849 of the freshmen are Â鶹´«Ã½ residents, up from 1,581 in fall 2023 and 1,577 in fall 2022
• 489 identify as Native Hawaiian, up from 382 in fall 2023 and 395 in fall 2022
• 406 identify as Filipino, up from 355 in fall 2023 and 353 in fall 2022

“I am so proud to see the increases in our Native Hawaiian and Filipino students,” said UH ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ Vice Provost for Enrollment Management Nikki Chun. “I would attribute the growth in the freshmen class to the changes we made to the merit scholarship program, which is now more focused on enrolling Â鶹´«Ã½ resident students.”

Enrollment at UH ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ has been steadily rising over the last five years with one exception in 2022 when there 24 fewer students than in 2021, when enrollment had spiked by 6% increase.

Success despite FAFSA

The 4% increase in 2024 is even more impressive considering that it happened when the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) process was mired with issues. The federal government’s update to the FAFSA form last year was released months behind schedule and experienced multiple technical difficulties that created uncertainty for students and their families as colleges scrambled to issue financial aid packages in spite of the challenges.

“I’m really proud that we were prepared for the FAFSA delays, and I am grateful for the proactive work done by the Financial Aid staff,” said Chun. “Despite the delays, we were able to disburse more money to both undergraduate and graduate students.”

Â鶹´«Ã½²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ awarded merit based scholarships to 96% of all incoming, first year freshmen and 99% to all Hawaii residents that are first-year, first time freshmen. The ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ Academic Merit Scholarships were awarded based on grade point average and residency:

• 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.
• U.S. citizens, 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.

Chun said UH ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ disbursed $81.6 million to more than 11,400 students this year compared to $74.6 million to more than 9,900 students in 2023.

The final enrollment numbers for UH’s 10 campuses will be announced in October. As of September 17 (will update numbers tomorrow), headcount enrollment was up at eight of the ten UH campuses, with a 2.8% increase across the entire UH system. This follows fall 2023, when enrollment was up 1.8% systemwide.

Fall 2024 UH ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ student body profile

• 62% (12,439) local students (5% increase from 2023)
• 31% (6,232) out-of-state U.S. students (2% increase from 2023)
• 6% (1,245) international students (5% increase from 2023)

Beginning in August, (Â鶹´«Ã½ P–20) and GEAR UP Â鶹´«Ã½ will launch free workshops statewide to assist with high school students’ postsecondary education planning. All events are free of charge and available to all families regardless of where the student plans to attend college. Workshops will be held both virtually and in person.

Online Financial Aid Workshops will begin August 21, and will be held on Wednesdays, 6–7:30 p.m., through October 2. Attendees will learn how to access more than $150 billion in grants, loans, and other government funding in addition to how to access more than $70 million in scholarships awarded specifically to Â鶹´«Ã½ students annually.

“Whether a student plans to attend a 2-year or 4-year college, or a trade or vocational school, all are encouraged to attend our Online Financial Aid Workshops to learn about how affordable college can be, and what kind of aid is available to reduce the costs even further,” said Frank Green, financial aid and Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) outreach specialist for Â鶹´«Ã½ P–20.

Federal Student Aid has announced that the opening of the FAFSA for the 2025–26 award year has been moved from October 1 to December 1. During this time, families should create their personalized FSA ID, which is the required login and the first step to complete the FAFSA, in addition to preparing any additional documentation and financial information necessary to ensure they can complete and submit the FAFSA as early as possible when it becomes available. Families should also monitor deadlines for applications, scholarships and tuition payments for any potential changes.

Â鶹´«Ã½ P–20 welcomes families to send questions about the college planning process, financial aid, or the FAFSA by emailing FAFSA@hawaii.edu, or call and leave a message with the FAFSA Â鶹´«Ã½ Hotline at (808) 842-2540.

“Education is an investment in your future and local help is available all year to guide families to make the transition after high school as smooth as possible,” Green said.

For a complete listing of upcoming college planning webinars to include virtual scholarship workshops, visit the .

March 22, 2024 update: Â鶹´«Ã½ P–20 and GEAR UP Â鶹´«Ã½ are extending the duration of the FAFSA Â鶹´«Ã½ Hotline. Beginning March 25, the hotline will be open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. through May 31. By dialing (808) 842-2540 callers will be able to speak directly with counselors and financial aid specialists to assist with any FAFSA questions they may have.

Original story:

In response to the delayed release of the 2024–25 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) application, and GEAR UP Â鶹´«Ã½ are expanding current outreach efforts to further assist families across the state.

A FAFSA Hawaii Hotline will be available March 18–22, 8 a.m.–8 p.m. Callers will be able to speak directly with counselors and financial aid specialists to assist with any questions regarding the FAFSA process at (808) 842-2540.

Additionally, virtual FAFSA submission summary (FSS) review workshops have been scheduled for the evenings of Thursday, March 28, and Thursday, April 4. The FSS review workshops will offer families details on what they can expect in the months following their FAFSA submission, including how to review their FSS and student aid report. .

“With so many uncertainties surrounding the current FAFSA, we want people to know that we are here to help with the process,” said Gus Cobb-Adams, Â鶹´«Ã½ P–20 college application and transition specialist. “Completing the FAFSA is necessary whether you plan to attend a two-year or a four-year college, and it must be completed each year.”

It is anticipated that the FSS will be available by Federal Student Aid (FSA) and sent directly to students in March. Scholarship providers understand there is a delay in processing the FAFSA form and awarding financial aid funding. Families should confirm with scholarship providers regarding any deadlines for applications in addition to verifying any college tuition deadlines.

Â鶹´«Ã½ P–20 will continue its virtual FAFSA completion workshops on Wednesday evenings through April to allow families to ask financial aid questions, get individual assistance with creating their FSA ID or work directly with an expert to submit their FAFSA. During these sessions, attendees are placed with a representative to receive individualized feedback. Families may also email FAFSA@hawaii.edu to contact University of Â鶹´«Ã½ System financial aid officers and FAFSA experts year round.

Additional efforts to reach families statewide include Â鶹´«Ã½ P–20’s recent collaboration with the Native Hawaiian Education Association (NHEA) for the Native Hawaiian Scholarship ʻAha Series. Nearly 1,000 local families gathered to attend these in-person events across six of the neighboring Hawaiian Islands, which included our state’s most vulnerable and geographically isolated communities. The purpose of the series is to provide students an opportunity to discover scholarships that are available to Native Hawaiians in one place. During each event multiple $500 scholarships were awarded by event co-sponsors and matched by the UH System, in addition to FAFSA and financial aid representatives available on site to ask questions or complete their FSA ID.

For information about upcoming events for high school juniors and seniors, or to register for free upcoming FAFSA workshops or Junior JumpStart financial aid planning webinars starting in April, .

The is extending the enrollment deadline in 2024 from May 1 to June 1 as the federal government has delayed the release of financial information to colleges and universities around the country. The application deadline for new on-campus housing has also been extended to June 1.

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), is used by tens of millions of college students each year to apply for federal financial aid. The information is also used by schools to award scholarships and provide assistance through other aid programs. This year, the FAFSA process is experiencing delays after a system upgrade including a new streamlined form.

UH ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ joins a growing number of colleges and universities around the country that are responding to the system delay by extending the enrollment deadline.

“We understand that many families are waiting to understand the full picture of what level of financial aid they will receive before making a decision on which campus they should attend,” said UH ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ Vice Provost for Enrollment Management Nikki Chun. “We are grateful that students and their ʻohana consider UH ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ for their education as we have such a wide range of programs and faculty who are among the top in their fields.”

The flagship campus of the 10-campus UH system, UH ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ offers more than 99 different and consistently ranks among the top universities in research and academic success. A bachelor’s degree from UH earns a graduate an average of $2.8 million more over their lifetime compared to those without a degree, according to a 2024 report from the UH Economic Resource Organization (UHERO).

“All of the data show that higher education is a worthwhile investment, and you don’t have to leave Â鶹´«Ã½ to receive a quality education that’s also affordable,” UH ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ Provost Michael Bruno. “I hope students who are thinking about college and want to make a difference here in Â鶹´«Ã½ strongly consider UH ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹. We will provide the education and tools you need for a successful career and fulfilling life, as we all work to make our state a better place for generations to come.”

For more information, please visit the .

, ’s college access program, will offer free statewide virtual FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) completion workshops on Wednesday evenings through April 24. .

“This is a challenging year because the FAFSA application window opened much later than usual on December 31, rather than October 1. We have focused our efforts to ensure families in all communities have as many resources available as possible to successfully complete the FAFSA,” said Angela Jackson, GEAR UP Â鶹´«Ã½ project director. “We encourage all high school seniors to complete the FAFSA and explore what kind of scholarships and financial aid is available to help you pay for college.”

GEAR UP Â鶹´«Ã½ strives to provide all students with developmentally appropriate support to help them complete high school and pursue college.

In addition to the FAFSA workshops, GEAR UP Â鶹´«Ã½ also hosts , including financial aid and scholarship sessions, and advising for counselors.

UH degrees affordable, significant return on investment

A college education from any of UH’s 10 campuses offers a significant return on investment, no matter the degree type, according to a January 2024 UH Economic Research Organization (UHERO) report. UHERO researchers found that lifetime earnings are $2.8 million for bachelor’s degree holders, 27% higher compared to those who left the program without a degree, and $2.7 million for Associate of Science (AS) and Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree holders, 22% higher than compared to those who left without a degree.

UHERO also found that while college tuition has significantly increased nationally over the last 20 years, even after adjusting for inflation, tuition within the UH system has become more affordable over the last decade. In addition, college completion significantly boosts economic mobility for individuals from lower socioeconomic households.

See this UH News story for more on the UHERO report.

The state’s new (HELP) is alleviating the educational debt of 492 medical and healthcare professionals, who were notified of their acceptance into the program in late December.

Related UH News story: Loan repayment plan addresses Â鶹´«Ã½â€™s healthcare industry shortage

HELP was developed by the Governor’s Office, the University of Â鶹´«Ã½ at ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ (JABSOM), the Healthcare Association of Â鶹´«Ã½, the State Department of Health and others to ease the shortages of physicians and other health care professionals by retaining those who already practice in Â鶹´«Ã½ and recruiting those who are in medical residency training programs on the U.S. continent.

“It is so rewarding to see this program come to fruition, as it was this type of assistance that first brought me to Â鶹´«Ã½ so many years ago,” said Gov. Josh Green. “HELP will prove to be a great start toward decreasing our longstanding and challenging shortage of healthcare professionals across the state.”

First HELP cohort

The first HELP cohort includes close to 300 primary care and behavioral health providers across the state, 90 other specialties or professions practicing in rural areas, and about 40 medical residents in training. Retaining these professionals ensures Â鶹´«Ã½ will not lose them to other states.

The average indebtedness of physician applicants is about $185,000, with 20% having more than $300,000 left to pay off.

“The COVID-19 pandemic took its toll on many, especially those in private practice,” said JABSOM Interim Dean Lee Buenconsejo-Lum. “Most have not fully recovered and face difficult decisions about staying in Â鶹´«Ã½. This program helps us keep local doctors and other providers here despite our very high cost of living and myriad other challenges.”

In exchange for two years of full-time service in Â鶹´«Ã½, high-demand healthcare professionals will qualify for loan repayments up to a maximum of $50,000 per year. The eligible amount varies depending on the profession, location of practice and educational indebtedness. All must provide care to, or work for organizations that have at least 30% of their patients receiving public insurance.

Building on existing foundations

HELP builds on the decade-old, federally funded Â鶹´«Ã½ State Loan Repayment Program. The HELP program reaches more healthcare professionals in one year than the prior program reached in the past 10 years. The 2023 Â鶹´«Ã½ State Legislature provided an unprecedented $30 million over two years in educational loan repayment for health professionals licensed or otherwise certified to practice in and provide care to patients in Â鶹´«Ã½.

Marc and Lynne Benioff are providing major philanthropic support for HELP with an additional $5 million over two years, to help retain health professionals on Â鶹´«Ã½ Island. Out of the first 400 recipients, 77 from Â鶹´«Ã½ Island will receive loan repayment from the state funds. An additional 65 Â鶹´«Ã½ Island providers will receive funding from Marc and Lynne Benioff in this first round.

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“I’ve been retired now for a couple of years, but have nothing but great memories. It was a wonderful, wonderful career,” said Grace Crittenden, an alumna of the University of Â鶹´«Ã½ at ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ (JABSOM).

After graduating from JABSOM in 1976, Crittenden traveled to Houston, Texas to complete her internal medicine residency at Baylor College of Medicine. While she had hoped to return to Â鶹´«Ã½ to practice medicine, her career took her to California instead, where she would eventually retire from medicine.

Crittenden’s path to medicine started in the early 1970s when she was in graduate school at UH ²ÑÄå²Ô´Ç²¹ studying physiology. Terence Rogers, former JABSOM dean, encouraged Crittenden to pursue a career in medicine.

“He was very encouraging, and he made that a goal,” Crittenden said of Rogers recruiting her to apply for JABSOM. “I think when he started as the dean, [the goal shifted] to provide more opportunities for women to go into medicine.”

Looking back, Crittenden felt grateful for her time at JABSOM, not only because more women were making their way into medicine. She was also grateful that she was able to pay for her medical school education.

“I loved medical school. It was a wonderful adventure. The medical school was relatively young at that point, and we were fortunate that we just paid graduate student fees,” Crittenden reflected. “It might have been out of my reach to go to medical school now.”

Contributing to alumni scholarship fund

She acknowledged that having little debt after graduating from JABSOM allowed her to focus on her work instead of on repaying loans. And although she never got a chance to practice medicine in Â鶹´«Ã½, Crittenden does hope that current JABSOM students will get the chance—and without much debt.

One way Crittenden helps to make that possible is through contributions to the JABSOM MD Alumni Scholarship. The scholarship was created as a way for JABSOM alumni to give back to current JABSOM medical students. Criteria for applying for the MD Alumni Scholarship includes candidates who show financial need and have an intention to practice medicine in Â鶹´«Ã½ after completing their training.

The scholarship has been awarded to JABSOM students since 2009 with a total of between $10,000 –$20,000 typically awarded each year. In 2021–22, increased alumni support allowed for two students to be awarded $40,000 full-tuition scholarships. Another round of $40,000 scholarships was awarded to two more students in 2022–23, as well as smaller awards to other students.

The donations for the MD Alumni Scholarship still continue to grow, due in large part to the generosity of alumni, such as Crittenden, who encourages other alumni, young and old, to pay it forward.

“I just want to share that experience so they don’t get so burdened with so much debt,” she said. “It’s hard enough being a new doc, and having to worry about debt on top of that is just unimaginable to me. So I just think it’d be so much better if people could get out of medical school and become doctors and not have those financial worries or responsibilities.”

JABSOM’s class of 2023 reported graduating with a median medical school debt of $173,787.

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