UNIVERSITY OF HAWAIʻI AT MĀNOA
COLLEGE OPPORTUNITIES PROGRAM

Welcome to the College Opportunities Program at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa!

OUR MISSION

C.O.P provides Hawaiʻi residents admission to the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa through our summer and first-year experience. Our program empowers, uplifts, and meets each participant's unique needs while supporting their academic, social, and personal growth.

OUR PHILOSOPHY

We are dedicated to fostering a pathway towards higher education for individuals who want to attend the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. We recognize that structured support is key to success. Our program is tailored to meet the unique needs of each participant, offering a nurturing environment where growth and achievement flourish. Through our statewide entry-level freshman program, we provide an immersive and enriching summer and first-year residential college experience for Hawaiʻi residents. Those who complete the rigorous requirements of our summer program gain admission to UH Mānoa in the upcoming fall semester and seamlessly transition into our First-Year Academic Program.

OUR HISTORY

The College Opportunities Program (COP) was established in 1970 by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development as a demonstration project under the Model Cities program. Designed to provide a residential college experience for students facing educational, economic, or cultural barriers, COP targeted those who had not previously considered college an option. Initial recruitment focused on the model city neighborhoods of Kalihi-Pālama and Waiʻanae-Nānākuli. In 1973, the Hawaiʻi State Legislature began providing general funds for COP to recruit, screen, select, and prepare 75 Hawaiʻi residents statewide for a "Summer and First-Year Residential College Experience" at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa.

COP 2026 Application is Now Available!
Learn more and apply online now!

SUMMER & FIRST-YEAR PROGRAM

Summer Program

  • Earn three college credits
  • Live in the UH Mānoa dorms
  • Prep for college writing
  • Registration & educational planning
  • Experience college-level workload
  • Early access to campus life and resources
  • Build a community among C.O.P. peers

(All expenses covered by a scholarship)

First-Year Program

  • Navigate UH Mānoa successfully
  • Academic & Major Advising
  • Financial Aid Counseling
  • Monthly cohort meetings
  • Home base on UH Mānoa campus
  • Personalized support & guidance

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

You are eligible to apply if you meet all of the following requirements (regardless of your current UH Mānoa admission status):

  • Education:
    • A high school graduate or senior graduating during the 2025-2026 school year.
    • Applicants who have earned or will have earned 12 or more transferable college credits at the time of application are not eligible. (Early college/dual credit courses do not count toward this limit)
    • A cumulative high school GPA of 2.00 at the time of application
  • Fall Enrollment Plan:
    • Commit to enrolling as a full-time student at UH Mānoa in Fall 2026.