By Staff Reports
(HONOLULU) — Hawai‘i Pacific University (HPU) is seeing results in its commitment to making higher education accessible to Hawai‘i’s youth. Local enrollment increased by more than 50 percent in the last year, thanks in part to its promise to meet 100 percent unmet tuition need for all local first-year students through its Holomua Commitment. Overall, first-year enrollment at HPU is up 16.7 percent from last year.
“HPU’s commitment to meet 100 percent unmet tuition need for local first-time freshman enables Hawai‘i’s students to pursue a world-class education in their own backyard,” said John Y. Gotanda, president of HPU.
HPU’s Holomua Commitment, the first of its kind in the state, launched last fall with the goal of reaching local students who otherwise might not be able pursue a higher education due to financial constraints. To qualify, a student must graduate from a Hawai‘i high school or meet qualifications to be deemed a Hawai‘i resident. If a student’s Expected Family Contribution (EFC) determined by FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is lower than HPU’s tuition, HPU will provide 100 percent of unmet tuition needs.
“We have an opportunity to help make higher-education a reality for all local high school students,” said Greg Grauman, vice president of enrollment management. “We’re also dispelling the myth that attending a four-year private college is more expensive than attending public college in Hawai‘i.”
Local businesses are also participating in HPU’s commitment to make higher education more affordable for Hawai‘i’s high school students. This year, First Hawaiian Bank Foundation gifted the university $20,000 to cover textbooks and fees for 13 Holomua recipients for their freshman year.
“At First Hawaiian, we believe that education is the key that unlocks possibilities which can lead to personal growth and development” said Sharon Shiroma Brown, President of First Hawaiian Bank Foundation. “We are proud to partner with HPU in providing our local students every opportunity to succeed in college.”
HPU was recently named the most diverse private university by The Chronicle of Higher Education. The university has also launched three-year degree programs and continued its dual credit partnerships to further reduce the cost and time for students to earn a college degree.