Chaminade University of Honolulu

Office of Financial Aid

Financial Aid Process

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Getting started with financial aid is easier than you think! Follow the steps below to apply and make the most of the support available to you. And don’t forget—scholarships and grants are a great way to reduce your costs and invest in your future.

File a FAFSA

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is your key to unlocking financial aid! It’s the first and most important step in the process. Make sure you have the following information ready before you begin:

  • Federal Student Aid ID (FSA ID): You and one parent will each need an FSA ID, which serves as an electronic signature. Your FSA ID will be used each year you file a FAFSA. Create your FSA ID here.
  • Social Security Number: You’ll need to have your and your parents’ (if you are a dependent student) social security numbers.
  • Federal income tax information: We recommend all eligible students use the IRS Direct Data Exchange. Dependent students must provide their parents’ tax information.
  • Current bank statements: You’ll need to have the current balances of cash, savings, and checking accounts.
  • Information pertaining to the value of any owned businesses and investments
  • Information pertaining to the value of non-taxable income that is not reported on the tax return: For example, Social Security benefits
Create Your FSA ID
File Your FAFSA

Check your status: Three days after you successfully file the FAFSA, you can check online to see if anything is incomplete or if additional steps need to be taken. We will get our copy/report within about two weeks of it having been submitted online.

Review and Accept Your Financial Aid Award

Once you receive your financial award letter, we advise you to contact your financial aid counselor to discuss your options.

  • You may accept the full award amount, a partial amount, or none.
  • The Office of Financial Aid is not able to release your aid until you have accepted the award amount you intend to use.
  • Returning students must repeat the process of accepting the award each year.

You may use the online accept/reject financial aid form in your Self-Service Portal to accept full or partial award amounts or to reject an award fully.

Apply for Direct Federal Loans

For Fall Term enrollment, it is best to apply no later than early summer. Before borrowing, you should educate yourself about the student loans that are available to you:

If you are taking out a loan, complete your Master Promissory Note and Entrance Interview Counseling (if necessary) no later than early summer so that your funds will be on time for the Fall Term.

Receiving Funds

If you’ve followed the prior steps, your financial aid should be ready by the start of the Fall Term. Federal regulations prohibit federal aid from being disbursed to students’ accounts any sooner than 10 days before the start of school. Chaminade University begins disbursing all available aid as early as permissible so that students’ accounts are settled by the first day of classes.

If you have more aid in your account than charges pending, you will eventually receive a refund of your excess aid in the form of a paper check distributed at the Business Office window (Clarence T.C. Ching Hall, main floor). Your refund will be available at the earliest possible time according to the policies set forth by the Business Office.

Maintaining Eligibility

Going forward, the most important thing you can do to remain eligible for financial aid is to maintain satisfactory academic progress. You will also need to file a FAFSA each year to be eligible to receive financial aid.

In addition, you are eligible to apply for and receive federal financial aid if you:

  • Are classified as a student at Chaminade University of Honolulu
  • Have registered with the Selective Service (only applies to male citizens of the United States ages 18–25)
  • Maintain satisfactory academic progress
  • Have not been convicted of a drug offense during the time you are enrolled and receiving financial aid
  • Have not defaulted on a prior student loan or owe a refund on a previous educational grant

Note: You must be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen to qualify for financial aid.