Across Hawaiʻi's community colleges, nearly 1,600 students now have a clearer financial pathway to earning their bachelor's degrees. The University of Hawaiʻi launched the Next Step Scholarship in spring 2026 to bridge one of the biggest obstacles that derails students mid-journey: the cost of transitioning to a four-year campus.
For many students, that moment after earning an associate degree is fragile. They've proven themselves academically, navigated financial aid, and built momentum. But the transition to a university campus—with new applications, new fees, new environments—can feel like starting over. Some never make that leap. This scholarship directly addresses that risk by putting money into students' hands at the exact moment they're most likely to abandon the path to a bachelor's degree.
The program is intentionally generous and simple. Students who earned an associate degree during the 2025–26 academic year, or completed enough credits in an eligible major pathway, qualify automatically for admission to one of UH's four-year campuses—UH Hilo, UH Mānoa, UH Maui College, or UH West Oʻahu. The university waived application fees and eliminated the separate application requirement, removing bureaucratic friction. Now, through the Next Step Scholarship, full-time students enrolling in 12 or more credits during fall 2026 receive $2,000, while part-time students taking 6 to 11 credits receive $1,000.
The early impact is striking. Of the roughly 1,600 eligible students, 438 had already begun the transfer process when the scholarship was awarded automatically in May 2026. Another 1,156 students received notification and remain eligible—students the university is trying to reach with this financial incentive. "For students who were automatically admitted but have not yet committed to a UH four-year campus, we hope this scholarship provides an added incentive to continue their education," said UH President Wendy Hensel.
The scholarship represents a broader institutional commitment. Hensel emphasized that the university is testing new strategies to expand access and strengthen educational attainment. "These students have already demonstrated their commitment and academic readiness through their success at our community colleges," she said. "The Next Step Scholarship helps ensure finances do not stand in the way of completing their degrees and achieving their goals."
Beyond the Next Step Scholarship itself, the university is encouraging all transfer students to file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). While not required to claim the Next Step Scholarship, completing FAFSA can unlock additional federal, state, and institutional aid that stacks on top of the $2,000 or $1,000 award. For a student already balancing work and family, this targeted support can be the difference between persisting through to graduation and dropping out.
The seven community colleges feeding into this pathway—spread across islands from Hawaiʻi to Oʻahu—now have a system that acknowledges their students' achievements and removes artificial barriers. By making the transition seamless and affordable, the University of Hawaiʻi is investing not just in individual students but in the skilled workforce the state needs. For nearly 1,600 students in the class of 2026, that next step just became within reach.