Types of Financial Aid
GRANTS
These funds do not need to be repaid and are often referred to as “gift aid”.
JABSOM Opportunity Grant
This fund is specific to JABSOM and is awarded based on a “first come, first serve” basis until depleted. The current award amount for this grant is $2,000 for the academic year.
To be eligible, you must meet the following criteria:
- Completed the FAFSA before the February 1st priority deadline
- Be a resident of the State of Hawaiʻi
- Demonstrate financial need
LOANS
These are borrowed funds to help pay for educational expenses and must be repaid, usually with interest. There are a number of loan programs available to medical students at JABSOM.
Types of Loans:

The William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Programs consists of low-interest loans that were created to help student’s finance their post-high educational costs. The lender of these funds is the U.S. Department of Education.

These loans were developed specifically to assist JABSOM students during their tenure at the medical school. JABSOM serves as the lenders for these loans.

Also known as Alternative Student Loans, may help to pay for expenses beyond the actual cost of a student’s education and federal loan limits. These loans will also assist those who do not qualify for federal financial aid or have exhausted all other options.