FAQs

Laie, Hawaii (population 7,000) is situated 35 miles north of Honolulu on the island of Oahu. The 100-acre campus is nestled between lush mountains and ideal shoreline.

Laie was established in the 1860s as a refuge for LDS members in Hawaii. Currently, approximately 7,000 people live in Laie, 90% of whom are members of the LDS Church. The town is located approximately one hour from Honolulu on Hawaii's north-east shore. In addition to a convenient shopping center, Laie is the home of the Hawaii Laie LDS Temple, the world-famous Polynesian Cultural Center, and of course Brigham Young University–Hawaii.

Each Fall Semester BYU–Hawaii enrolls more than 2700 students.

BYU-Hawaii hosts students from nearly 70 different countries.

Student Body Diversity:

Asia: 27%

Pacific: 18%

U.S. Mainland: 34%

Hawaii: 7%

All Others: 3%

Please check the Cost of Attendance website.
If you have any questions about the cost of attendance please contact the Financial Aid office.

Scholarships for exceptional New Freshmen and Transfers are available in the amounts of quarter-tuition and half-tuition for their first semester.

• No additional application is necessary; applicants are reviewed based on the information on their CES application.
• Scholarship criteria include: Academic excellence, spiritual preparation, leadership, declared major, school preference, recommendations from the priesthood leaders and the application essays. Returning students may qualify for scholarships based on their GPA while attending BYUH before leaving on missions or for other purposes. Please click HERE for more information.
• Returned Missionary scholarships are available on a limited basis on the recommendation of Mission Presidents and receipt of a voucher provided by the Mission President. Missionaries serving in the Asia, Asia North, Pacific, including Hawaii, and Philippines church areas or missionaries of these countries serving anywhere in the world may be considered for this scholarship. Missionaries returning to BYUH after their missions do not qualify.

BYU–Hawaii offers degrees in over 40 areas. For detailed information, please visit Undergraduate Majors.

There is a strong spirit of love and friendship here-a love that extends beyond race, ethnicity, geography, or religion. 20 LDS Church congregations organized into three stakes meet on campus each Sunday for religious services. Each week classes and offices close and the student body gathers to listen to a devotional speaker. Religion classes are required for graduation and BYU–Hawaii students, staff, and faculty agree to abide by the BYU–Hawaii Honor Code and Dress and Grooming Standards. Overall, BYU–Hawaii is a great place to learn, live, worship and grow.

Language labs
Modern, state-of-the-art library and computer facilities
Full-service snack bar and cafeteria
Health Center with full-time doctor and staff
4000 seat sports and activity center
Internet Wi-Fi throughout the campus
Post Office
Game Center and bowling alley

Sports facilities including:

• Olympic-size swimming pool
• Weight training and exercise room
• Handball and racquetball courts
• Outdoor tennis and basketball courts

Our Housing Website has the answers to all your questions. Please note all freshman students are required to live in campus dorms.

Many BYU–Hawaii students go on for higher degrees at prestigious schools such as Columbia, MIT, Harvard, Vanderbilt, Purdue, Oxford University, BYU in Provo, and other first-rate universities. Career Services currently has several initiatives to connect students with employment in their home country/region and field of study. They are also actively helping students prepare for, identify, and apply for internship and employment opportunities. Many students complete internships where they are able to develop skills, gain experience, and make connections for post-graduate work opportunities. Visit the Career Services website for more information.

Yes. More than 1,200 student jobs are available at the Polynesian Culture Center and at BYU–Hawaii allowing students to work part-time while earning an undergraduate degree. Please find a list of currently available jobs (check often as job availability changes frequent).

• International students may not apply for jobs until after arrival on campus and after English proficiency testing for non-native English speakers.

Please see our Why BYU–Hawaii? page.

All international applicants will receive a DS-2019 for a J Visa.

Non-student spouses of married J1 students will receive a J2 visa and after paying a $400 application fee (and a three-month wait) to the US Government, may qualify to work on or off campus.

Please contact the International Student Services office with any questions about visas.

No. However, because the university is supported funds and donations by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, members will be given priority. In addition, members who have attended seminary or institute and who have served missions for the Church will be given extra consideration for admission.

All non-members will be interviewed by the University Chaplain in place of a local Stake or District President. This interview most commonly takes place by phone.

In keeping with its mission to educate as many students as possible, BYU–Hawaii does not admit students for a second bachelor's degree.

Applicants with at least 24 completed course credits will be considered transfer students.

Domestic (U.S.) Applicants: ACT/SAT
International (non-U.S.) Applicants: Please look at our Country Criteria page for your country.

Application Deadlines
All application materials must be received by the BYUH Admissions Office at least two weeks before the deadline for the semester or term for which the applicant is seeking admission.
Applicants who submit any portion of their application after the deadline for the semester/term for which they are applying may be considered for the next available semester/term.

You should check your status regularly online by going to the Status page on apply.lds.org. Normally, a student should receive a decision 4 to 6 weeks after the application deadline. IWORK students can expect to wait an additional month or two after sending in all the required documents. Please visit the Admissions Decisions Schedule.

For questions regarding requirements or technical issues regarding your application, please contact the admissions office via email or phone.

We suggest that you complete one of BYU-Pathway Worldwide's online programs. Students who have completed one of BYU-Pathway Worldwide’s online programs and desire to earn a degree on campus at BYU–Hawaii will be given priority consideration for admission to BYU–Hawaii as well as its IWORK scholarship program. Capacity is limited

All applicants coming directly from high school should apply as a new freshman, even if they have completed college credit.

You can apply from the country in which you attended high school.

1. Complete your Intent to Enroll, a link that will be sent to you via email within a week following the notification of your admittance.

2. Visit the Admissions Enroll page for a list of tasks that must be completed before registering for classes.

You can defer by indicating you are deferring in your intent to enroll.
If you have already submitted your intent to enroll and need to defer, you will need to complete the Cancellation of Admittance form.

Visit the Cancellation of Admittance. This is for those that already accepted and matriculated in the application process.