New Students and Families
Welcome to HPU!
Your investment in your education is a commitment to your future. The HPU Business Office provides you with the resources and support you need to understand and pay your account balance, embrace financial responsibility, and maintain a strong financial foundation on which to build your academic and extracurricular success. This page helps new students and supporting family members understand the timing and procedures for billing, payments, and financial consequences to that you can thrive as a new HPU student. We hope you will find these resources helpful, and welcome you to contact us.
Our dedicated team of support staff is responsible for helping you answer the questions:
- What was I charged and why?
- How do I pay or get money back?
- What happens if I don’t pay my balance?
Think of our office as the last piece of the financial puzzle. After you’ve been admitted and cleared all registration requirements and you have figured out how to fund your education, we help with the rest.
We are responsible for assessing tuition and fee charges; preparing bills; interpreting and auditing balances; processing payments, payment plans, and refunds; connecting students to financial resources and information; enhancing student financial literacy; enforcing consequences for nonpayment; and receipting incoming funds.
Business Office Basics for:
|
JULY |
3rd |
Fall tuition, fees, housing, and meal plan charges are available to view in myHPU portal under “Business & Payments”. Payment plan enrollment is open. Estimated Financial Aid amounts for scholarships, loans, grants, etc (when all requirements have been met) begin posting as pending credits to student accounts, reducing student financial liability. |
4th |
University Holiday |
5th |
First Fall eBill Statements are sent to students and authorized users via email. Learn more about Billing and eBills here. |
13th |
Updated Fall eBill statements are sent to students and authorized users via email. Learn more about eBill statements and how to view your charges here. |
14th |
Last day to enroll in a 6-month payment plan. |
15th |
First day to enroll in a 5-month payment plan. |
15th |
Payment plan payment is due (6-month plan) (15-day grace period before $10 late fee is assessed) |
26th |
Updated Fall eBill statements are sent to students and authorized users via email. Learn more about eBill statements and how to view your charges here. |
31st |
Last day to enroll in a 5-month payment plan. |
|
AUGUST |
1st |
Payment plan payment is due (6 and 5 month plans) (15 day grace period before $10 late fee assessed). |
1st |
First day to enroll in 4-month payment plan. |
10th |
Updated Fall eBill statements are sent to students and authorized users via email. Learn more about eBill statements and how to view your charges here. |
14th |
Tuition Payment Deadline – Students are responsible for paying tuition less any anticipated financial aid, scholarships, loans, military benefits, discounts, or other aid and benefits in full by the tuition due date, or be enrolled in a payment plan before this date. |
28th |
First day of instruction (16-week Session). Estimated Financial Aid amounts disburse (post) to student accounts as payments. |
29TH |
Updated Fall eBill statements are sent to students and authorized users via email. Learn more about eBill statements and how to view your charges here. |
31ST |
Last day to enroll in a 4-month payment plan. |
|
SEPTEMBER |
1St |
Payment plan payment is due (6,5, and 4 month plan) (15 day grace period before $10 late fee assessed). |
1st |
First day to enroll in a 3-month payment plan. This is the final payment plan HPU offers. |
4th |
University Holiday (Labor Day) |
5th |
Last day to Register (16-Week Session) |
5th |
Last day to Drop (16-Week Session and 1st 8-Week Session) with 100% tuition credit for dropped courses (0% Student Financial Responsibility). Dropping courses after this date will mean students are responsible for paying a portion or all of the tuition and fees for the dropped courses. |
6th |
Financial Aid reviews student enrollment and adjusts estimated aid, as needed. |
7th |
Updated Fall eBill statements are sent to students and authorized users via email. Learn more about eBill statements and how to view your charges here. |
7th |
Business Office begins reviewing student accounts for refundable Financial Aid credits. Financial Aid refunds begin to be processed. Students enrolled in eRefund will receive valid Financial Aid refunds within 5 business days. Students not enrolled in eRefund will receive a refund check mailed to the mailing address as shown in the myHPU portal within 10 business days. Questions about your Financial Aid refund can be directed to (808) 356-5272 (option 3) or gfa@hpu.edu. |
11Th |
Last Day to Drop (1st 8-Week Session) with 25% tuition credit for dropped courses (75% Student Financial Responsibility). |
12th |
Last Day to Drop (16-Week Session) with 50% tuition credit for dropped courses (50% Student Financial Responsibility). |
13th |
Updated Fall eBill statements are sent to students and authorized users via email. Learn more about eBill statements and how to view your charges here. |
25th |
Last Day to Drop (16-Week Session) with 25% tuition credit for dropped courses (75% Student Financial Responsibility). |
27th |
Updated Fall eBill statements are sent to students and authorized users via email. Learn more about eBill statements and how to view your charges here. |
30th |
Last day to enroll in a 3-month payment plan. This is the final payment plan HPU offers. |
|
OCTOBER |
1st |
Payment plan payment is due (6,5,4, and 3 month plan) (15-day grace period before $10 late fee assessed). |
10th |
Financial holds blocking future registration and transcripts are placed on student accounts. |
15th |
HPU assesses late fees of $50 or 5% to unpaid student accounts. |
22nd |
End of first 8-Week Session |
23rd |
First day of second 8-Week Session. |
30th |
Last day to Drop (2nd 8-Week Session) with 100% tuition credit for dropped courses (0% Student Financial Responsibility). |
30th |
Updated Fall eBill statements are sent to students and authorized users via email. Learn more about eBill statements and how to view your charges here. |
|
NOVEMBER |
1st |
Payment plan payment is due (6,5,4, and 3 month plan) (15-day grace period before $10 late fee assessed). |
6th |
Last Day to Drop (2nd 8-Week Session) with 25% tuition credit for dropped courses (75% Student Financial Responsibility). |
10th |
University Holiday (Veteran’s Day – Observed). |
15th |
HPU assesses late fees of $50 or 5% to unpaid student accounts. |
|
DECEMBER |
1st |
Payment plan payment is due (6,5,4, and 3 month plan) (15-day grace period before $10 late fee assessed). |
1st |
HPU assesses late fees of $50 or 5% to unpaid student accounts. |
10th |
Last day of instruction (16-Week Session). |
17th |
16-Week Term Ends |
18th |
Delinquent (unpaid) student accounts forwarded to collections. |
The time to think this through is before beginning your investment and starting the semester at HPU. Remember, once the semester starts, students are financially responsible for paying for all or a percentage of their course tuition and fees even if they drop or withdraw as outlined in HPU's Academic Calendar.
As a student, only you can know whether attending HPU is accomplishable within your budget. If you are nervous or worried about how you are going to pay, then it is very important to look closely at all anticipated costs and resources to ensure you make the right decision for your future. Don’t wait until it is too late to make your budget and ask for help. HPU can help you with thinking through your options and connecting you with information and resources. It is ultimately each student’s responsibility to make the decision that is right for the student.
This section is an informal guide that will walk you through the components you need to think through to develop your budget and consider your choices. Our suggestion: get out a pen and paper – or a spreadsheet – and take notes as you consider each question below.
1. How much does going to school cost, and how can I reduce those costs?
- Review HPU's Cost of Attendance for a full list of estimated expenses encountered by the typical HPU student.
- Some costs are fixed, meaning they cannot be changed (like tuition and fees). Some costs you can influence to reduce the amount you need to spend. For each cost, consider how you can reduce the amount you will pay. For example, finding an additional roomate, or choosing to opt for public transportation instead of shipping a car.
- Think beyond your first year: Make a grid, and list out estimated costs for your entire four-year academic plan (and consider a backup plan if it takes you longer than four years to complete).
- If you do not already live in Hawai'i, consider that cost of living expenses in this unique location are also unique. For example, U.S. mainland prices for a carton of one dozen eggs averaged $4.11 each when we prepared this guide in April 2023. On O'ahu, a dozen eggs cost about $7.50. Comparing prices for items you consume using websites like Walmart.com or Target.com may be helpful in thinking through what you might actually pay.
2. What resources do I have available to fund my education, and how can I increase those resources?
- HPU provides an Award Letter that shows any HPU scholarships and U.S. federal student aid that is available to you to fund your education. This information is also in the myHPU portal under "Financial Aid." If you have not already completed your FAFSA, make sure you do that, as doing so may create opportunities for additional aid even if you think you do not qualify.
- In addition to any HPU scholarships you may have been awarded, look into what external scholarships might be available to you.
- Check out the Financial Aid External Scholarships page for more information.
- Speak with your local high school guidance counselors, who are often a wealth of information about local scholarship opportunities.
- Many scholarships go unawarded because students do not apply! Taking the time to carefully apply for scholarships can produce results and pay off.
- If you are eligible for benefits as a Veteran or Active Duty Service Member or family member, be sure to look into any requirements for using those benefits. Check out HPU's Military Campus Programs website for more information.
- Consider what assets and resources are available to you and your family.
- Was your family able to help financially plan for your education through investing in a state 529 plan? If so, what is the balance in the account? Check with your 529 plan provider to learn more and understand the requirements for disbursing the funds.
- Think of any other tangible or intangible assets that could be considered, if appropriate, to support your college fund.
- Calculate the amount that you can realistically earn working, if applicable, during college to support your costs, while prioritizing keeping your grades up and maintaining academic progress.
- Recognize that in the U.S., many students fund the majority of their education through loans. If loans are required in your situation, do the math on interest rates and compare options to ensure you understand the terms of any loan you take out, and reduce future payments and interest expense. If you can afford to do so, consider paying your loans down while in school (if they accrue interest) to minimize the amount of interest you will pay. Check out the Financial Aid Loans page for more information.
- Payment Plans may help you with any amount you owe after scholarships, loans, grants, etc. by spreading the total amount owed into monthly installments. Check out HPU's Payment Plan website for more information, and be sure to sign up early for the smallest installment payments.
3. How do I expect this to change over the next 4 years?
- Some costs will increase. Nationally, tuition increases by an average 3-5% at U.S. universities per year, but scholarships may stay flat. Or, if your grades are not maintained you could lose eligibility for scholarships.
- On the other hand, you might be able to find more scholarships as you go by applying to as many as you can, so your available resources could increase!
After laying all of this out, you might ask guardians, family members, or trusted advisors to review the information with you. Make sure your plan is solid and supports your future success. Reach out for help if needed, and feel free to ask our office for guidance anytime.
- HPU understands that registration (and consequently, tuition and fee charges) as well as financial aid amounts may change as students finalize their schedule and complete financial aid requirements, and it can therefore be difficult for students to know the exact amount they will need to pay by the tuition payment deadline. This is why HPU asks that students and/or families pay the amount they expect to owe or enroll in a payment plan by the tuition payment deadline each semester..
- As long as a student is actively making good-faith efforts to pay their expected amount owed or is enrolled in payment plan, their account with HPU will be considered in good standing during the Registration Period as posted in the Academic Calendar.
- Once the Registration Period closes, account balances not covered by a payment plan in good standing will begin to be assessed by the Business Office and students should make every effort to proactively ensure their balance is $0.00.
- Unpaid balances are subject to financial consequences, such as late fees, records and registration holds, and more.
What happens if I do not pay timely, or fall behind on my payment plan?
- A late fee of 5% or $50 may be added to the student account for each month tuition is not paid. Late fees begin being applied the month after the registration period closes.
- A student may have a hold placed on their account blocking their ability to order transcripts or receive a diploma (balances of $75 or more), and they may be blocked from registering for future semesters (balances of $5,000 or more).
- A student’s registration will not be canceled during the semester for unpaid balances related to that current semester, unless the student is an international visiting or degree-seeking student; international students are required to pay their balance in full by the tuition payment deadline each semester.
- A student’s registration may be canceled if their prior term charges accumulate to an unsustainable level. Students subject to being administratively dropped from their courses due to delinquent, unpaid balances will be notified in advance via email to their my.hpu.edu email address.
- A student may be prohibited from participating in HPU-run extracurricular activities with additional costs.
- A student may be unable to participate in commencement ceremonies (degrees will still be conferred).
- A student may be referred to a third-party collections agency if their balance remains unpaid at the end of the semester.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

FINANCIAL AID
For information about Financial Aid (US federal student aid, loans, scholarships, grants), please click here.

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
Information about tuition payments, taxes, and more for visiting and degree-seeking international students is available on the Business Office International Students website and at the website of the Office of International Students and Scholars.

MILITARY AND VETERANS
Visit the HPU Military Campus Programs website for information on Tuition Assistance, Post 9/11 GI Bill®, ROTC, and more.
Visit hpu.edu/guide for more information and check the Resources section above to fully explore information helpful to new students and their support network.