Preface
I recommend reading each phase below alone first. Phase 1 helps you pinpoint your real priorities and get clarity on what actually matters to you. Phase 2 takes all the random reasons people toss around — things like “good major,” “close to home,” “cheap,” “fun campus,” “sports,” “prestige,” “good job outcomes,” “safe area,” “nice dorms,” “my friends are going there” — and aligns them with the correct priority category.
When everyone clearly understands their own priorities and each other’s, the conversation becomes constructive instead of chaotic. It prevents misunderstandings, reduces conflict, and keeps the whole discussion from devolving into a circus or a fight.
College Considerations
Phase 1: Before you start ~ things to consider
- 2024 Total Cost of a 4‑Year Degree
- Public (in‑state) → ≈ $104,000
- Public (out‑of‑state) → ≈ $171,000
- Private (nonprofit) → ≈ $218,000
- Before having discussions about college, it may be helpful to consider the items below to determine what you attach the most value to. It's important because family members can have conflicting opinions and competing priorities. Here are the six categories of priorities:
- College Experience — classic campus life, dorms, friends, “the college vibe”
- Save Money — lowest total cost possible
- Save Time — finish the degree fast
- Cheap + Fast — finish in ~2 years by transferring max credits and saving thousands
- Return On Investment (ROI) — best long‑term payoff for the degree
- Geography — stay close, go far, or follow a specific location
Phase 2: What You Say & What You Actually Mean ~ They May Not Match
Each reason in this section is broken into four parts so you can see what’s really going on underneath the surface - what you say and what you actually mean.
- Priority - the big category your reason really belongs to
- Item - the thing you say you care about
- Teen perspective - what a student usually means by that reason
- Parent perspective - what a parent usually means by that same reason
This phase helps you take all the different reasons people give for liking a college and
see the real priority underneath. Families talk about majors, sports, distance, prestige,
vibes, scholarships - but most of the time, they’re all pointing to the same handful of
priorities from Phase 1, just using different words
- Experience
-
Sports culture
- Teen: I want the hype - games, crowds, energy
- Parent: They want a lively, spirited campus environment
-
Religious school vibe
- Teen: I want to be around people who share my values
- Parent: They want a community that aligns with their beliefs
-
Campus feel
- Teen: I just want a place that feels right
- Parent: They're looking for an environment that fits their personality
-
Social life
- Teen: I want friends, events, and stuff to do
- Parent: They want opportunities to build relationships and get involved
-
Legacy / tradition
- Teen: My family went here - it feels meaningful
- Parent: They value continuity and shared history
-
4‑Year Launchpad
- Teen: I want time to grow up before adulting hits full force
- Parent: They want a structured, supportive environment to mature
- Save Money
-
Scholarships
- Teen: Free money sounds good
- Parent: Reducing the total cost is a priority
-
Community college first
- Teen: I don't mind starting somewhere cheaper
- Parent: Two years at lower tuition saves thousands
-
Live at home
- Teen: I'm fine staying home if it saves cash
- Parent: Avoiding room and board cuts the bill dramatically
-
Avoid debt
- Teen: I don't want loans hanging over me
- Parent: Keeping debt low protects long‑term finances
-
Transfer max credits to reduce tuition
- Teen: If I can skip paying for classes, why wouldn't I
- Parent: Every transferred credit is one less credit we pay for
- Save Time
-
Online school
- Teen: I want flexibility so I can work or move faster
- Parent: Online formats reduce scheduling friction
-
Finish ASAP
- Teen: I want to be done and start my life
- Parent: They want to enter the workforce sooner
-
Avoid extra semesters
- Teen: I don't want to drag this out
- Parent: Staying on track prevents delays and extra costs
-
Transfer max credits to shorten timeline
- Teen: If I can skip classes, I finish faster
- Parent: More transfer credits = fewer semesters
- Cheap + Fast
-
CLEP / Sophia / WGU / UMPI hacks
- Teen: I want the fastest path that still gets the degree
- Parent: Alternative credits dramatically reduce cost and time
-
Graduate in ~2 years
- Teen: I don't need four years if I can finish sooner
- Parent: A compressed timeline saves tuition and living expenses
-
Competency‑based programs
- Teen: Let me move at my own pace
- Parent: Self‑paced formats reward fast learners
-
Transfer max credits to compress cost + time
- Teen: Stack credits, finish early, save money
- Parent: This is the core strategy behind Cheap + Fast
- Return On Investment (ROI)
-
Prestige
- Teen: A big‑name school looks good on my résumé
- Parent: They believe the brand will improve future earnings
-
Strong job placement
- Teen: I want a school that helps me get hired
- Parent: They want proven employment outcomes
-
Specific major / program
- Teen: I want the best program for what I want to do
- Parent: They're choosing based on long‑term career payoff
-
Internship pipelines
- Teen: I want real‑world experience while I'm in school
- Parent: Internships increase employability and earnings
- Geography
-
Stay close to home
- Teen: I want to be near family, friends, or support
- Parent: Proximity reduces travel costs and increases safety
-
Get far away
- Teen: I want independence and a fresh start
- Parent: They want space to grow and explore
-
Exotic / rare program
- Teen: My major only exists in certain places
- Parent: Program availability dictates location
-
Climate preference
- Teen: I want warm/cold weather - it matters to me
- Parent: Climate affects comfort, mood, and lifestyle
-
Urban vs rural
- Teen: I want a city vibe / quiet vibe
- Parent: Environment impacts safety, cost, and opportunities
Phase 3: Earn College Credits Early + Save Time & Money
- Early College Options
- Early Start / Early College = UH comes to your high school
- Running Start = you go to UH
- Advanced Placement (AP)
- Career & Technical Education (CTE) dual credit (trades pathways)
- Other Alternatives
- Early Admit = earn only college credit (no dual credit)
- CLEP & DSST exams – pass standardized exams to earn 3–6+ credits
- ACE‑evaluated credit options (Sophia, StraighterLine, Study.com, Saylor, TEEX) – self‑paced learning evaluated for transfer credit
Phase 4: FAFSA + Ways to Pay for College
- FAFSA / Student Aid Basics
- FAFSA basics — required to access federal grants, loans, work‑study, and most scholarships
- Student Aid Index (SAI) — number FAFSA uses to calculate financial need
- Pell Grant — up to ~$7,000 per year; free money that never needs to be repaid, and every enlisted military member should check Pell eligibility
- Work‑Study — part‑time campus jobs; money earned goes directly to the student
- Federal & State Aid Options
- Federal Subsidized Loans — need‑based federal loans • no interest while you’re in school
- Federal Unsubsidized Loans — available to all students • interest starts immediately
- PLUS Loans — parent or grad student loans with a credit check
- Hawaiʻi Promise — covers tuition, fees, books, supplies, and transportation for UH community colleges; together with FAFSA, community college is free
- Air Force ROTC Scholarships — full or partial tuition, books, $300–$500 monthly stipend; for students earning a bachelor’s degree to become a commissioned officer in the Air Force or Space Force
Phase 5: Scholarship Options for Hawaiʻi Students
- Scholarship Options
- National scholarships — $500 to $40,000 for academics, leadership, service, or interests
- Monthly/no‑essay options — $500 to $10,000, easy to apply for; money awarded multiple times each year
- Hawaiʻi‑based scholarships — $500 to $5,000 from local foundations and island‑specific programs
- Heritage‑based scholarships — $1,000 to $20,000 for Asian, Pacific Islander, and cultural‑community students
- Sweepstakes‑style awards — $1,000 to $40,000, no essays, no GPA; money is awarded via random drawings (like a raffle)
- Profile‑match awards — recurring scholarships; money is awarded several times each year
- Free Tuition & Military‑Linked
- Hawaiʻi Promise — covers tuition, fees, books, supplies, and transportation for UH community colleges; together with FAFSA, community college is free
- Air Force ROTC Scholarships — full or partial tuition, books, $300–$500 monthly stipend; to become a commissioned officer in the Air Force or Space Force