Wisconsin Financial Aid
For more information on any of the below programs, please visit the Wisconsin Higher Education Aid Board.
ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE SCHOLARSHIP
Academic Excellence Scholarships are awarded to Wisconsin high school seniors who have the highest grade point average in each public and private high school throughout the State of Wisconsin.
The number of scholarships each high school is eligible for is based on total student enrollment. In order to receive a scholarship, a student must be enrolled on a full-time basis by September 30th of the academic year following the academic year in which he or she was designated as a scholar, at a participating University of Wisconsin, Wisconsin Technical College, or independent institution in the state. The value of the scholarship is $2,250 per year, to be applied towards tuition. Half of the scholarship is funded by the state, while the other half is matched by the institution.
Application: None
Enrollment Status Requirement: Full-time
Minimum to Maximum Award: Full-time tuition, up to $2,250
Administrative Rules: Chapter HEA 9
State Statute: 39.41
Contact Person: Alice Winters
HEARING & VISUALLY HANDICAPPED STUDENT GRANT
The Handicapped Student Grant Program was established to provide funding for undergraduate Wisconsin residents, enrolled at an in-state or eligible out-of-state public or independent institution who show financial need and have a severe or profound hearing or visual impairment. Students are eligible to receive up to $1,800 per year for up to ten semesters.
Application: FAFSA and Handicapped Student Grant Application
Enrollment Status Requirement: At least half-time
Minimum to Maximum Award: $250 to $1,800
Administrative Rules: Chapter HEA 5, HEA 5.06
State Statutes: 39.435, 39.435(5)
Contact Person: Sandy Thomas
INDIAN STUDENT ASSISTANCE GRANT
Awards under this program are made to Wisconsin residents who are at least 25% Native American and are undergraduate or graduate students enrolled in degree or certificate programs at University of Wisconsin, Wisconsin Technical College, independent colleges and universities or proprietary institutions throughout Wisconsin. Awards are based on financial need with a limit of ten semesters of eligibility. HEAB has an informal matching arrangement with grant funds awarded by the Federal Bureau of Indian Affairs and Wisconsin Tribal governments.
Application: FAFSA, Indian Student Grant Application, and Indian Grant Financial Review Form
Enrollment Status Requirement: Part-time (including less than half-time) or full-time
Minimum to Maximum Award: $250 to $1,100
Administrative Rules: Chapter HEA 6
State Statute: 39.38
Contact Person: Sandy Thomas
MINNESOTA-WISCONSIN TUITION RECIPROCITY
The MN-WI Tuition Reciprocity Program provides tuition reciprocity for Wisconsin residents who enroll in an eligible Minnesota public institution program on a space available basis. Students who qualify pay the established reciprocity fee for course work that is available at public institutions in Wisconsin. Professional students enrolling in a Doctor of Medicine, a Doctor of Dental Sciences, or a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine program are not eligible for tuition reciprocity under this program.
Application: Minnesota-Wisconsin Application for Reciprocity Fee Status
Deadline: Applications must be postmarked or electronically submitted no later than the last day of scheduled classes of the first term for which the student expects to receive benefits.
Enrollment Status Requirement: Part-time (including less than half-time) or full-time
Administrative Rules: See Board Report #04-01
State Statute: 39.47
Contact Person: Cindy Lehrman
MINORITY TEACHER LOAN
The Minority Teacher Loan Program provides loans to Wisconsin resident, minority, undergraduate juniors or seniors who are enrolled full-time in programs leading to teacher licensure at an independent or University of Wisconsin Institution. The maximum award per year is $2,500 with an overall maximum of $5,000. According to the statutes, a minority student is defined as a student who is either an African American; American Indian; Hispanic; or Southeast Asian from Laos, Cambodia, or Vietnam admitted to the U. S. after December 31, 1975. The student who participates in this program must agree to teach in a Wisconsin school district in which minority students constitute at least 29% of total enrollment or in a school district participating in the inter-district pupil transfer (Chapter 220) program. For each year the student teaches in an eligible school district, 25% of the loan is forgiven. If the student does not teach in an eligible district, the loan must be repaid at an interest rate of 5%.
Application: Nomination by Student Financial Aid Office Enrollment Status Requirement: At least half-time
Minimum to Maximum Award: $250 to $2,500
Administrative Rules: Chapter HEA 11
State Statute: 39.40
Contact Person: Mary Lou Kuzdas
MINORITY UNDERGRADUATE RETENTION GRANT
Awards under this program are made to Wisconsin resident minority undergraduates, excluding first year students, enrolled at least half-time in independent or Wisconsin Technical College institutions. According to the statutes, a minority student is defined as a student who is either an African American; American Indian; Hispanic; or Southeast Asian from Laos, Cambodia, or Vietnam admitted to the U. S. after December 31, 1975. Awards are based on financial need with a maximum grant of $2,500 per year for up to eight semesters or twelve quarters. The University of Wisconsin System has a similar program for students attending those institutions.
Application: FAFSA and nomination by Student Financial Aid Office
Enrollment Status Requirement: At least half-time
Minimum to Maximum Award: $250 to $2,500
Administrative Rules: Chapter HEA 12
State Statute: 39.44
Contact Person: Mary Lou Kuzdas
NURSING STUDENT LOAN
The Nursing Student Loan Program provides loans to Wisconsin residents who are enrolled at least half-time at an eligible in-state institution that prepares them to be licensed as nurses, either RN or LPN. The maximum award per year is $3,000 with an overall maximum of $15,000. The student who participates in this program must agree to be employed as a licensed nurse in Wisconsin. For each of the first two years the student nurses and meets the eligibility criteria, 25% of the loan is forgiven. The balance remaining after forgiveness must be repaid at an interest rate not to exceed 5%. If the student does not practice nursing and meet the eligibility criteria, the loan must be repaid at an interest rate not to exceed 5%.
Application: FAFSA and nomination by Student Financial Aid Office
Enrollment Status Requirement: At least half-time
Minimum to Maximum Awards: $250 to $3,000
State Statute: 39.393
Contact Person: Alice Winters
TALENT INCENTIVE PROGRAM GRANT
The Talent Incentive Program (TIP) Grant provides grant assistance to the most financially needy and educationally disadvantaged Wisconsin resident students attending colleges and universities in the State of Wisconsin. First-time freshmen students are nominated for the TIP Grant by the school financial aid offices or by counselors of the Wisconsin Educational Opportunities Program (WEOP). To continue to receive the TIP Grant, students must be enrolled consecutive terms and continue to show financial need. Eligibility cannot exceed ten semesters. Funding for the TIP Grant is provided by both the State of Wisconsin and the Federal Government.
Application: FAFSA and nomination (for initial awards) by Student Financial Aid Office or WEOP
Enrollment Status Requirement: At least half-time, first-time freshman for initial awards, and continuous enrollment from term to term
Minimum to Maximum Award: $600 to $1,800 for initial awards, $250 minimum continuing award, maximum continuing award set annually by HEAB (may not exceed $1800)
Administrative Rules: Chapter HEA 5, HEA 5.04, HEA 5.05
State Statutes: 39.435, 39.435(2)
Contact Person: John Whitt
TEACHER OF THE VISUALLY IMPAIRED LOAN
The Teacher of the Visually Impaired Loan Program provides loans to Wisconsin residents who are enrolled at least half-time at an in-state or eligible out-of-state institution in a program that prepares them to be licensed as teachers of the visually impaired or as orientation and mobility instructors. The maximum award per year is $10,000 with an overall maximum of $40,000. The student who participates in this program must agree to be a licensed teacher or an orientation or mobility instructor in a Wisconsin school district, the Wisconsin Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired or a cooperative educational service agency. For each of the first two years the student teaches and meets the eligibility criteria, 25% of the loan is forgiven. For the third year, 50% is forgiven. If the student does not teach and meet the eligibility criteria, the loan must be repaid at an interest rate of 5%.
Application: FAFSA and nomination by Student Financial Aid Office
Enrollment Status Requirement: At least part-time
Minimum to Maximum Awards: $250 to $10,000
Administrative Rules: Chapter HEA 14
State Statute: 39.398
Contact Person: John Whitt
WISCONSIN HIGHER EDUCATION GRANT
The Wisconsin Higher Education Grant Program provides grant assistance to undergraduate, Wisconsin residents enrolled at least half-time in degree or certificate programs at University of Wisconsin, Wisconsin Technical College, and Tribal institutions. Awards are based on financial need. Eligibility cannot exceed ten semesters.
Application: FAFSA
Enrollment Status Requirement: At least half-time
Minimum to Maximum Award: $250 minimum, maximum set annually by HEAB (may not exceed $1800)
Administrative Rules: Chapter HEA 5
State Statute: 39.435
Contact Person: Sandy Thomas (UW, WTC), Mary Lou Kuzdas (Tribal)
WISCONSIN TUITION GRANT
The Wisconsin Tuition Grant Program provides grant assistance to undergraduate, Wisconsin residents enrolled at least half-time in degree or certificate programs at non-profit, independent colleges or universities throughout Wisconsin. Awards are based on financial need and partially based on that portion of tuition in excess of UW - Madison tuition. The maximum award amount is established annually by HEAB. Eligibility cannot exceed ten semesters.
Application: FAFSA
Enrollment Status Requirement: At least half-time
Minimum to Maximum Award: $250 minimum, maximum set annually by HEAB
Administrative Code: Chapter HEA 4
State Statute: 39.30
Contact Person: Mary Lou Kuzdas
