Guam - Land of the Chamorro

Guam is an island situated in the North Pacific Ocean under the authority of the United States and has a sub-national status. Guam is also known to be the largest of the Micronesian islands. The capital city of Guam is Hagatña and the largest city here is Dededo. The estimated population of this island is around 171,000 with a majority of Pacific Islanders and Asians. Chamorro and English are the official languages of this region. Guam is widely known for its tourism industry, but the best aspect of the region is that it provides free and compulsory education to all its residents from the age of 6 to 16. The island experiences a tropical humid climate and is usually cooler at night.

Major Villages in Guam

Dededo Village

With an estimated population of about 45,000, Dededo Village is the largest village in Guam. It is known to be the greatest source of drinking water for the Island of Guam. The largest mall in Micronesia, the Micronesia Mall, is also situated in this village. Coco Palm Garden Beach is a popular tourist site in this region.

Yigo Village

Yigo Village has an estimated population of around 21,000, Making it the second most populous region of Guam. It is located in the northern part of the island of Guam. The Andersen Air Force Base is situated in this village. The village is popular for its rich, fertile soil, and forests. The Ritidian Point and the Guam National Wildlife Refuge are situated here.

Tamuning-Tumon-Harmon Village

Situated in the western part of the island of Guam, Tamuning-Tumon-Harmon Village is the third-largest village with a population of around 20,000. The village got its name from its Carolinian settlers in 1849. The village is a major economic hub with tourist activity being at its peak here. Popular attractions in this village include Tumon Beach, UnderWater World, FaiFai Beach, and Puntan Dos Amantes (Two Lovers Point).

Mangilao Village

With a population of over 15,000, Mangilao Village is the fourth-largest village on the island of Guam. The island is popular for the presence of two main universities, namely the University of Guam, and the Pacific Islands University, and is often called “Guam’s Capital of Education”. Onward Mangilao Golf Club, Marbo Cave, Sankyo Garden, and Marbo Cliffside, are some of the most popular tourist attractions situated here.

Economy/Job Market

• The economy of Guam largely relies on the Military and Tourism sectors.
• Apart from that construction, trade, transportation, food processing, textiles, and so on are the important sectors contributing to Guam's economy.
• Deloitte, U.S. Air Force, NTT DoCoMo, US Navy, DZSP 21, Inland Builders, etc., are some of the top employers of Guam.
• Considering that the economy of Guam is largely dependent on service sectors like tourism and hospitality, the pandemic times have been disastrous for the island. The unemployment rate in Guam was 4.8 percent in September.

Tuition Fee and Living Cost in Guam

The cost of living on the island of Guam is higher than the national average. Housing, utilities, and transportation costs are the highest in Guam compared to the national average, whereas healthcare services are comparatively lesser. Given that Guam is just an island mostly known as a tourist destination, it does not have many institutions of higher learning. Education costs are extremely cheap for the residents of Guam. The tuition fee in Pacific Islands University is affordable for both in-state and out-of-state students and is perhaps the most affordable private university. However, the University of Guam charges tuition fees twice more than that of the in-state students.

List of Few Major Universities/Colleges

There are mainly two universities in Guam and they are:

• Pacific Islands University Situated in Mangilao village, the Pacific Islands University is a private institution with a Christian affiliation, established in 1978. The university provides a good quality educational experience to its students at an affordable rate. It also provides many scholarships for its students. The university has over 66 students and the student-to-teacher ratio is 7:1. Liberal Arts and Humanities, and Biblical Studies are the major courses provided in this university. The tuition fee is around $6,300 for all graduates and undergraduates.
• University of Guam The University of Guam is situated in Mangilao village and is a public institution. It was founded in 1952 and was originally known as the "Territorial College of Guam', and 'College of Guam'. The university has around 4,300 students and around 180 faculty members. The student-to-faculty ratio in this university is 16:1. The most popular majors in this university are Business, Criminal Justice and Safety Studies, Accounting, and English. This university is also known to offer a good quality teaching and learning experience, a vibrant campus, and several financial aids. The tuition fee for all in-state students is about $6,300 and around $14,000 for out-of-state students.

Scholarships/Financial Aid for Students

As mentioned earlier, higher education in Guam is extremely affordable for all students. Along with this, there are several scholarships available to further assist students to make education even more hassle-free.

• The Tan Siu Lin & Family Trust Fund Scholarship: This is a scholarship provided by the Tan Siu Lin & Sons Charity Committee of the Tan Family, in Hong Kong. To be qualified for the program, the student must be a legal resident of GUAM or belong to the Chinese community, enroll at the University of Guam on a full-time basis, and secure a minimum score of 3.0 GPA every year. Students must pursue a degree in fields related to science, business, Chinese Studies, or Asian Studies. Along with the application form, the student must submit the FAFSA, academic transcripts, three recommendation letters, and a personal statement. The award amount will be $1,000 per academic year.
• Asian American & Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution (AANAPISI) Scholarship: This is a scholarship program to assist students who belong to the Students of Asian-American, Native American, or Pacific Islander ethnicity. The student should be a US citizen and enroll at an accredited institution to pursue an undergraduate degree on a full-time basis. The award amount will be $2,500 for the one-time category, and for the multi-year category, it will be $5,000. Along with the scholarship money, the student will also get access to career counseling programs, mental health resources, leadership development workshops, and so on, during their college course.
• Goldwater Scholarship: This is a scholarship program initiated by the Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation to assist the high school graduates of Guam. To be qualified for the program, the student must be a US citizen, a legal resident of Guam, and enroll at an accredited institution on a full-time basis, and pursue a major in natural sciences, mathematics, engineering, or a related field. The student must also secure a minimum score of 3.0 GPA and be nominated by their institution for the scholarship. The award amount for this scholarship is up to $7,500 per academic year.
• GWC University of Guam Scholarship: This is a scholarship program administered by 'The Guam Women's Club' for the high school graduates of Guam. To be eligible for the program, the student should be a US citizen, a legal resident of Guam, and must plan to pursue a degree from the University of Guam Scholarship on a full-time basis. The student should also secure and maintain a minimum score of 3.0 GPA every semester, submit 3 letters of recommendation, academic transcripts, proof of residency and citizenship, and the FAFSA. The student should also mandatorily participate in any meeting and event organized by the Guam Women's Club.
• GWC Rick Biolchino Memorial Scholarship: This is a scholarship program offered to students of Guam based on merit, and financial need, and is administered by 'The Guam Women's Club'. To be eligible for this scholarship program, the student must be a high school graduate planning to pursue a major in Marketing or Visual Communications in Guam Community College. The student is required to secure a minimum score of 3.0 GPA in high school, submit the FAFSA, two recommendation letters, and an essay explaining "future goals, community service history, and financial need". The student should also mandatorily participate in the annual Mardi Gras fundraising event and also in GWC meetings. The award amount for the program is $1,000.

Tourism

The island of Guam is popular for its tourism industry which is the very source of its economic growth. With its diverse landscapes and a wide variety of flora and fauna, Guam has a lot of natural beauty to offer to its visitors. The island is also ideal for a plethora of fun activities such as diving, hiking, snorkeling, shopping, camping, boating, and a lot more. Some of the most fascinating destinations for tourists to explore are Guam National Wildlife Refuge, Tumon Beach, Ritidian Point, Talofofo Beach, Magellan Monument, Fish Eye Marine Park, Dulce Nombre de Maria Cathedral-Basilica, and several others. Guam also offers a number of delicious indigenous cuisines such as Eneksa Agaga (red rice), Chamorro Barbecue, Kadon Pika, Chicken Kelaguen, Estufao, and a lot more. It is best to visit Guam during the months of January to May when the climate is comparatively dry and less humid.

Universities & Colleges in Guam

University (city)	Total Students	UG (in) / UG (out)	G (in) / G (out)
Pacific Islands University (Mangilao)	66	$6272 / $6272	$6272 / $6272
University of Guam (Mangilao)	4297	$6272 / $13590	$6272 / $13590

*UG - Undergraduate
*G - Graduate
*in - In-state Fees
*out - Out-of-State Fees
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