FAQs
About BYU–Hawaii
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Toggle ItemWhere is BYU–Hawaii located?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. -
Toggle ItemHow many students attend BYU–Hawaii and where are they from?Each Fall Semester BYU–Hawaii enrolls more than 2700 students.
BYU-Hawaii hosts students from nearly 70 different countries.
Student Body Diversity:
Asia: 26%
Pacific: 17%
U.S. Mainland: 43%
Hawaii: 10%
All Others: 4%
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Toggle ItemWhat is the cost to study at BYU–Hawaii for a calendar year?Please check the Cost of Attendance website.
If you have any questions about the cost of attendance please contact the Financial Aidoffice. -
Toggle ItemWhat scholarships are available at BYU–Hawaii?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 their seminary teacher, 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 target area of the Pacific Islands and East Asia or missionaries from these countries serving anywhere in the world may be considered for this scholarship. Missionaries returning to BYUH after their missions do not qualify.
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Toggle ItemWhat majors are offered at BYU–Hawaii?BYU–Hawaii offers degrees in over 40 areas. For detailed information, please visit Undergraduate Majors.
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Toggle ItemHow does the LDS Church influence campus life at BYU–Hawaii?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.
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Toggle ItemWhat services are available on campus?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
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Toggle ItemWhere will I live while studying at BYU–Hawaii?Our Housing Website has the answers to all your questions. Please note all freshman students are required to live in campus dorms.
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Toggle ItemWhat career or educational opportunities will there be for me after I graduate?Many BYU–Hawaii students go on for higher degrees at prestigious schools such as Columbia, MIT, Harvard, Vanderbilt, Purdue, Oxford University, BYU 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.
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Toggle ItemCan I work while I am enrolled?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. -
Toggle ItemWhy should I choose Brigham Young University–Hawaii?Please see our Why should you choose BYU–Hawaii? page or see our Explore page.
Prospective Students
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Toggle ItemWhat kind of visa do I need to study at BYU–Hawaii?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.
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Toggle ItemDo I have to be a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to attend BYU–Hawaii?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. -
Toggle ItemIf I already have a Bachelor's degree, can I apply to BYUH to complete a second undergraduate degree?In keeping with its mission to educate as many students as possible, BYU–Hawaii does not admit students for a second bachelor's degree.
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Toggle ItemWhat are the requirements to be considered a transfer student?Applicants with at least 24 completed course credits will be considered transfer students.
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Toggle ItemWhat tests do I need to take to enter BYU–Hawaii?Domestic (U.S.) Applicants: ACT/SAT
International (non-U.S.) Applicants: Please look at our Country Criteria page for your country.
Applicants
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Toggle ItemWhen are the application deadlines?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.
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Toggle ItemWhen will I know if I have been accepted?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.
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Toggle ItemWho can I contact for help with my application?For questions regarding requirements or technical issues regarding your application, please contact the admissions office via email or phone.
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Toggle ItemIf I don’t qualify to be admitted to BYU–Hawaii because of a low GPA or a low English test score (for international students), what options do I have?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
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Toggle ItemI took dual enrollment/running start classes in high school. Should I apply as a transfer student?All applicants coming directly from high school should apply as a new freshman, even if they have completed college credit.
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Toggle ItemI attended high school in a different country than I was born in. Would I be considered international or domestic?You can apply from the country in which you attended high school.
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Toggle ItemBYUH Admissions Policy
Legal Disclosures and Select Institutional Policies
BYU–Hawaii exists to provide an education consistent with the religious and family values taught by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The Admissions division at the Ho‘okele Department gives preference to members of the Church in good standing.
In compliance with applicable state and federal nondiscrimination laws (e.g., Title VI, Title IX, and Section 504), BYU–Hawaii will not unlawfully discriminate against applicants based upon gender, race, creed, religion, national origin, age, or disability who meet the requirements, who agree to abide by the BYU–Hawaii Honor Code and Dress and Grooming Standards, and who are otherwise qualified based upon available space.
Questions about unlawful discrimination on the basis of sex may be referred to the college's title IX coordinator.
Questions about unlawful discrimination on any other basis listed above may be referred to the college's equal opportunity manager.
Campus Security and Fire Safety Reports
In compliance with federal requirements under the Clery Act, BYU–Hawaii publishes an annual security report and fire safety report. The report is available online or in a printed format upon request. Requests may be submitted to:
Campus Safety & Security
BYU–Hawaii #1922
55-220 Kulanui Street BLDG 5
Laie, Hawaii 96762
(808) 675-3503
security@byuh.eduMiscellaneous Admissions and Enrollment Information Full Disclosure
Failure to disclose and submit all documents required for admission, including transcripts from each institution in which the applicant has or is currently enrolled, or any falsification of information required for admission consideration may result in disallowance of transfer credits, immediate suspension and/or loss of all credit earned at BYU–Hawaii.
Second Degree (Second Major/Additional Major)
In keeping with its mission to educate as many students as possible, BYU–Hawaii does not admit students for a second bachelor's degree. Likewise, students who wish to enhance their educational experience at BYU-Hawaii by adding a minor, certificate, or courses equivalent to a double major are welcome to do so with the understanding that these must also be completed within the 4-year allotment. Electing to start these additional programs does not grant a student any additional allotment of residency. Completing a major and courses equivalent to a second major does not mean that the student will receive two degrees. The bachelor's degree is the degree awarded and if a student receives the equivalent of two majors they still must decide which degree they wish to receive, e.g. B.A., B.S., etc., as appropriate.
Missionary Deferrals
Individuals who intend to serve a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints prior to beginning study at BYU–Hawaii are encouraged to submit an application before departing for missionary service. In most cases, applicants admitted to BYU–Hawaii may defer enrollment for a Church mission. Please contact the Admissions division at the Ho‘okele Department for more information.
Endorsement and Honor Code
Applicants for admission are required to obtain an ecclesiastical endorsement.
High standards of honor, integrity, and morality; graciousness in personal behavior, application of Christian ideals in everyday living, and abstinence from tobacco, alcohol, and harmful drugs are required of every student.
An individual wishing to apply for admission who is currently excommunicated, disfellowshipped, on probation with, or disaffiliated from the Church, or who otherwise lacks an ecclesiastical endorsement, may request an exception to this policy. The burden of persuasion is upon the applicant to clearly demonstrate to the university through the information submitted that the relevant facts and circumstances warrant an exception to this policy. Requests for exception should be directed to the Office of the President.
Enriched Environment Statement
"The Mission of BYU–Hawaii - founded, supported, and guided by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints - is to assist individuals in their quest for perfection and eternal life. That assistance should provide a period of intensive learning in a stimulating setting where a commitment to excellence is expected and the full realization of human potential is pursued."
To this end, the University seeks qualified students of various geographic, educational, cultural, ethnic, and racial backgrounds and talents, who relate together in such a manner that they are "no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God." It is the University's judgment that providing educational opportunities for a mix of students who share values based on the gospel of Jesus Christ and come from a variety of backgrounds and experiences is an important educational asset to BYU–Hawaii.
Additional Information
Applicants may contact the Admissions division at the Ho‘okele Department for additional information and should refer to the BYUH catalog and the University Policies Website for a full statement of applicable policies.
Admitted Students
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Toggle ItemWhat do I do now that I am admitted?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. -
Toggle ItemI completed my Intent to Enroll and accepted my admittance. But I need to cancel?Visit the Cancellation of Admittance. This is for those that already accepted and matriculated in the application process.