Transferring credits in Hawaii

Early College classes are free of charge to participating Hawaii State Department of Education students, funded largely by state legislative appropriations flowing to the high school and its UH campus partner; the family pays no tuition. The waiver is scoped to Early College sections arranged by an HIDOE high school with a UH campus. It does NOT cover Running Start, the separate program in which a high school student takes regular UH courses alongside college students and the cost is borne by the student/family, the high school, or a scholarship (GEAR UP Running Start scholarships end after Summer 2026). No statewide book allowance is published, so book costs are null.

Who can enroll. Open to high school students at HIDOE public high schools whose school offers Early College (53 public high schools in 2023-24); the high school and its partner UH campus determine which courses and which students are offered seats, and students must complete 100-level or higher courses to earn dual credit. All 10 University of Hawaii campuses participate. The free-of-charge guarantee is stated for HIDOE (public school) students; private school students and Running Start participants are outside it.

Anchored on 6 public colleges in Hawaii · verified 2026-07-31.