Hawaiʻi B Plus State Scholarship: Odds & Deadline

The B Plus Scholarship is a State of Hawaiʻi program administered through the University of Hawaiʻi system, whose campuses manage their own allocations. The Legislature first funded B Plus through Act 178 of 2005, and the design borrows from early-commitment efforts like Hawaii's GEAR UP scholars program: lawmakers cited evidence that promising a scholarship early, in exchange for a student's pledge to prepare for college, is what moves low-income students to enroll. Hawaiʻi's state scholarship for public high school graduates who did the work and still need help paying. The B Plus award is aimed at graduating seniors from a public Hawaiʻi high school with at least a 3.0 GPA who completed a rigorous high school curriculum, demonstrate financial need, and are bona fide Hawaiʻi residents. The requirement families most often miss is momentum: students must enrol for the school year directly following high school graduation, and must be enrolled full time. Because it combines a moderate academic bar with a genuine need test, it reaches students who fall between pure merit scholarships and pure need-based grants.

Other deadlines near this one

How hard is the Hawaiʻi B Plus State Scholarship to win?

This is not a competition, but the funding is rationed: eligible students are routinely turned away once the money runs out, so filing date decides the outcome.

Estimated odds: most eligible students who file early receive it
Paperwork: ~1.5 hrs to file

What drives the odds here

Odds on a scholarship are mostly a question of how many students can enter. Each rule below changes the size of that field.

Fewer rivalsOpen only to Hawaii residents
Fewer rivalsRequires at least a 3 GPA

How Solyo estimates this: State programs that allocate by published formula are modelled on qualification and filing, not on competition, because there is no selection committee choosing between applicants. These are estimates derived from each award's published structure, not reported acceptance rates, which almost no scholarship provider discloses. Treat them as a way to rank where the hours go, not as a guarantee.

Who can apply for the Hawaiʻi B Plus State Scholarship?

These are the eligibility rules Solyo verified against the official award page, translated into plain English. Your student must meet each one.

Must be a resident of Hawaii
Must attend a college in Hawaii (the award does not travel out of state)
Open to high school seniors and current college students
GPA of 3 or higher (unweighted)

Confirm these before applying

Must be a graduating senior from a public Hawaiʻi high school
Must have at least a 3.0 high school grade point average and have completed a rigorous high school curriculum
Must demonstrate financial need, determined by the federal financial need formula via the FAFSA
Must be a bona fide Hawaiʻi resident
Must enrol full time, in degree-applicable coursework, for the school year directly following high school graduation

What the application takes

No essay, recommendation letters, or transcript are required. This is one of the lighter applications in the directory.

Deadline and application cycle

The current deadline is June 30, 2027. This award runs on an annual cycle, with deadlines around June 30 each year. Applications open October 1, when the FAFSA opens. Enrolment must follow directly after high school graduation, so a gap year forfeits the award. File the FAFSA by your campus priority date.

FAFSA opens for the next school year: October 1, 2026
Your campus FAFSA priority deadline: June 30, 2027

Remind me before June 30 Apply on the official site

Free to apply. Legitimate scholarships never charge a fee. We use your student's information only to build their plan.

Common questions about the Hawaiʻi B Plus State Scholarship

How much is the Hawaiʻi B Plus State Scholarship worth?

The Hawaiʻi B Plus State Scholarship awards need-based state scholarship for qualifying Hawaiʻi public high school graduates and is renewable in later years.

When is the Hawaiʻi B Plus State Scholarship deadline?

The current deadline is June 30, 2027. This award runs on an annual cycle, with deadlines around June 30 each year. Applications open October 1, when the FAFSA opens. Enrolment must follow directly after high school graduation, so a gap year forfeits the award. File the FAFSA by your campus priority date.

When do Hawaiʻi B Plus State Scholarship applications open?

Applications open October 1, when the FAFSA opens, and close June 30, 2027. Enrolment must follow directly after high school graduation, so a gap year forfeits the award. File the FAFSA by your campus priority date.

Who is eligible for the Hawaiʻi B Plus State Scholarship?

Key requirements: Must be a resident of Hawaii; Must attend a college in Hawaii (the award does not travel out of state); Open to high school seniors and current college students; GPA of 3 or higher (unweighted).

Does the Hawaiʻi B Plus State Scholarship require an essay?

No essay is required. The application is light on requirements. Expect to spend about 1.5 hours on it.

How hard is it to win the Hawaiʻi B Plus State Scholarship?

This is not a competition, but the funding is rationed: eligible students are routinely turned away once the money runs out, so filing date decides the outcome. Solyo classifies this award as first come, first served, meaning most eligible students who file early receive it. Plan on about 1.5 hrs of paperwork.

Is the Hawaiʻi B Plus State Scholarship free to apply?

Yes. The Hawaiʻi B Plus State Scholarship is free to apply. Legitimate scholarships never charge an application fee, and Solyo verifies every listed award against its official page.

Hawaiʻi B Plus State Scholarship