Wisconsin State Capitol, Madison
Wisconsin Grants & Scholarships
Overview
When you're paying for college, the State of Wisconsin is one more place to look for help — on top of whatever federal aid you qualify for. Grants and scholarships lower your tuition bill directly and generally never have to be repaid. A handful of loan programs help cover the rest, with a chunk forgiven for every year you work in a high-need field like teaching or nursing in Wisconsin afterward. And if a school just across the state line makes more sense for you, a few reciprocity and capitation agreements let you attend at a reduced, in-state-style rate. Awards are based on a mix of factors — financial need, academic merit, your field of study, and more — so it's worth checking every program below rather than assuming you don't qualify.
Start here
Do I qualify for Wisconsin state aid?
Every program below has its own rules, but most of them start with the same basics. If these four are true for you, you may qualify.
- You live in Wisconsin
- You have a high school diploma, GED, or equivalent
- You're going for an undergraduate degree or certificate
- You're attending a nonprofit college in Wisconsin (a few programs also cover out-of-state or for-profit schools — noted below)
Where to use this aid
Wisconsin's colleges & universities
Wisconsin Grant, TIP, and most of the other programs on this page work at dozens of schools across the state — the 13 Universities of Wisconsin campuses, all 16 Wisconsin Technical Colleges, more than 20 private nonprofit colleges, and two tribal colleges. Each campus's financial aid office can also tell you about scholarships that come from the school itself, on top of state aid.
See every Wisconsin college & its contact info →All the options
Wisconsin's aid programs
Tap a program to jump straight to the details.
Money you don't pay back
Grants & scholarships
Grants are awarded based on financial need — the FAFSA figures out who qualifies and for how much. Scholarships here are based on merit instead. None of this has to be repaid.
Wisconsin Grant — UW, Technical & Tribal Colleges
The main need-based grant for students at UW, technical college, or tribal college campuses. Your award is prorated if you're less than full-time.
- Apply with: FAFSA only
- Enrollment: at least part-time
- Max time: 10 semesters
Wisconsin Grant — Private Nonprofit Schools
The main need-based grant for students at a Wisconsin private nonprofit college or university.
- Apply with: FAFSA only
- Enrollment: at least part-time
- Max time: 10 semesters
Talent Incentive Program (TIP) Grant
For students with significant financial need who are also first-time freshmen. Your school's financial aid office (or a Wisconsin Educational Opportunity Programs counselor) has to nominate you first.
- Apply with: FAFSA + nomination by your financial aid office
- Enrollment: at least half-time
- Max time: 10 semesters
Indian Student Assistance Grant
For Wisconsin residents who are at least 25% Native American, undergrad or grad. Wisconsin also tries to coordinate this with funding from the Bureau of Indian Affairs and tribal governments.
- Apply with: FAFSA + Indian Student Assistance Grant application
- Enrollment: at least part-time
- Max time: 10 semesters
Hearing / Visually Impaired Student Grant
For undergrads with a severe or profound hearing or visual impairment. One of the few programs that can follow you to an eligible out-of-state school.
- Apply with: FAFSA + program application
- Enrollment: at least half-time
- Max time: 10 semesters
Academic Excellence Scholarship
Awarded to the student with the highest GPA at every public and private Wisconsin high school (bigger schools get more than one). Half is paid by the state, half by the college. There's no application — your high school designates the winner.
- Apply with: nothing — your high school nominates you
- Enrollment: full-time, continuous
- Max time: 8 semesters
Technical Excellence Scholarship
Same idea as the Academic Excellence Scholarship, but for high schoolers who stand out in technical education — welding, health sciences, IT, and similar programs. Your high school nominates you.
- Apply with: nothing — your high school nominates you
- Enrollment: full-time, continuous
- Max time: 8 semesters
Money you do pay back — but with assistance options
Loans
Wisconsin runs loan programs tied to jobs the state needs filled — mostly teaching and nursing. Work in that field in Wisconsin after you graduate, and you may qualify for a portion of loan forgiveness each year. If you leave Wisconsin, you must repay the balance at 5% interest.
Minority Teacher Loan
For Wisconsin resident, minority sophomores+ (3.0 GPA+) training to teach in a licensure area the state has flagged as short-staffed.
- Forgiveness: 25%/year for teaching in a WI school where 40%+ of students are minority
- Apply with: nomination by your financial aid office
Nursing Student Loan
For Wisconsin resident undergrad or grad students studying to become licensed nurses.
- Forgiveness: 25%/year for your first 2 years working as a nurse or nurse educator in WI
- Apply with: FAFSA + nomination by your financial aid office
Teacher Loan Program
Similar to the Minority Teacher Loan, but tied to teaching in Milwaukee or in a county the state classifies as rural, in a subject with a teacher shortage.
- Forgiveness: 25%/year for teaching in Milwaukee or an eligible rural county
- Apply with: nomination by your financial aid office
Teacher of the Visually Impaired Loan
For students becoming licensed teachers of the visually impaired, or orientation & mobility instructors.
- Forgiveness: 25% in years 1 & 2, then 50% in year 3, for working in that role in Wisconsin
- Apply with: FAFSA + nomination by your financial aid office
Going to school just across the border
Reciprocity & Tuition Cap Agreements
These offerings aren't grants you apply for with the FAFSA — they're agreements that let Wisconsin residents pay in-state tuition at specific out-of-state (or specialty) schools, or that reserve a set number of subsidized seats each year.
Minnesota–Wisconsin Tuition Reciprocity
If you're a Wisconsin resident going to a public college or university in Minnesota, this lets you pay Minnesota's in-state tuition rate instead of the (much higher) out-of-state rate — and it works the other way for Minnesota residents coming to Wisconsin.
- Apply: before the deadline, at wisconsin.edu/reciprocity
Regional agreements: Michigan, Illinois & Iowa
Smaller, county-specific deals let residents of certain border counties/districts attend particular technical or community colleges in Michigan, Illinois, or Iowa (and vice versa) at the in-state rate. These are tied to specific schools and counties, not open to everyone — ask your financial aid office if your area qualifies.
Contract for Dental Education
Reserves about 160 seats a year for Wisconsin residents in Marquette's dental program at a reduced, "resident" tuition rate. No application — it's built into admission.
Medical College of Wisconsin Capitation
Provides tuition assistance for a limited number of Wisconsin residents in the M.D. program. No separate application required.
Frequent questions
Questions students ask
How do I apply for Wisconsin state financial aid?
Why do I have to file a federal form (the FAFSA) to get state aid?
Do I need to register with Selective Service?
Which state grant serves the most students?
Where do I get an application for the Wisconsin Grant?
I don't have much information about my tribe or degree of Native American heritage — what should I do?
Do Wisconsin tribes offer additional funding alongside this grant?
Paying for college · Wisconsin
Wisconsin will help pay for college. Here's what you might qualify for.
The State of Wisconsin runs its own grants, scholarships, and loans for students at Wisconsin colleges & technical schools — on top of whatever federal aid you get. Most of it starts with one form. Here's what exists and how to get it.
Start here
Do I qualify for Wisconsin state aid?
Every program below has its own rules, but most of them start with the same basics. If these four are true for you, you're in the right place.
- You live in Wisconsin
- You have a high school diploma, GED, or equivalent
- You're going for an undergraduate degree or certificate
- You're attending a nonprofit college in Wisconsin (a few programs also cover out-of-state or for-profit schools — noted below)
Money you don't pay back
Grants & scholarships
Grants are awarded based on financial need — the FAFSA figures out who qualifies and for how much. Scholarships here are based on merit instead. None of this has to be repaid.
Wisconsin Grant — UW, Technical & Tribal Colleges
The main need-based grant for students at UW, technical college, or tribal college campuses. Your award is prorated if you're less than full-time.
- Apply with: FAFSA only
- Enrollment: at least part-time
- Max time: 10 semesters
Wisconsin Grant — Private Nonprofit Schools
Same idea as above, sized for the higher cost of Wisconsin's private nonprofit colleges.
- Apply with: FAFSA only
- Enrollment: at least part-time
- Max time: 10 semesters
Talent Incentive Program (TIP) Grant
For students with significant financial need who are also first-time freshmen. Your school's financial aid office (or a Wisconsin Educational Opportunity Programs counselor) has to nominate you first.
- Apply with: FAFSA + nomination by your financial aid office
- Enrollment: at least half-time
- Max time: 10 semesters
Indian Student Assistance Grant
For Wisconsin residents who are at least 25% Native American, undergrad or grad. Wisconsin also tries to coordinate this with funding from the Bureau of Indian Affairs and tribal governments.
- Apply with: FAFSA + Indian Student Assistance Grant application
- Enrollment: at least part-time
- Max time: 10 semesters
Hearing / Visually Impaired Student Grant
For undergrads with a severe or profound hearing or visual impairment. One of the few programs that can follow you to an eligible out-of-state school.
- Apply with: FAFSA + program application
- Enrollment: at least half-time
- Max time: 10 semesters
Academic Excellence Scholarship
Awarded to the student with the highest GPA at every public and private Wisconsin high school (bigger schools get more than one). Half is paid by the state, half by the college. There's no application — your high school designates the winner.
- Apply with: nothing — your high school nominates you
- Enrollment: full-time, continuous
- Max time: 8 semesters
Technical Excellence Scholarship
Same idea as the Academic Excellence Scholarship, but for high schoolers who stand out in technical education — welding, health sciences, IT, and similar programs. Your high school nominates you.
- Apply with: nothing — your high school nominates you
- Enrollment: full-time, continuous
- Max time: 8 semesters
Money you do pay back — usually with a way out
Loans
Wisconsin runs a handful of loan programs tied to jobs the state needs filled — mostly teaching and nursing. Work in that field in Wisconsin after you graduate, and a chunk of the loan gets forgiven every year. Skip it, and you repay the balance at 5% interest.
Minority Teacher Loan
For Wisconsin resident, minority sophomores+ (3.0 GPA+) training to teach in a licensure area the state has flagged as short-staffed.
- Forgiveness: 25%/year for teaching in a WI school where 40%+ of students are minority
- Apply with: nomination by your financial aid office
Nursing Student Loan
For Wisconsin resident undergrad or grad students studying to become licensed nurses.
- Forgiveness: 25%/year for your first 2 years working as a nurse or nurse educator in WI
- Apply with: FAFSA + nomination by your financial aid office
Teacher Loan Program
Similar to the Minority Teacher Loan, but tied to teaching in Milwaukee or in a county the state classifies as rural, in a subject with a teacher shortage.
- Forgiveness: 25%/year for teaching in Milwaukee or an eligible rural county
- Apply with: nomination by your financial aid office
Teacher of the Visually Impaired Loan
For students becoming licensed teachers of the visually impaired, or orientation & mobility instructors.
- Forgiveness: 25% in years 1 & 2, then 50% in year 3, for working in that role in Wisconsin
- Apply with: FAFSA + nomination by your financial aid office
Going to school just across the border
Reciprocity & capitation
These deals aren't grants you apply for with the FAFSA — they're agreements that let Wisconsin residents pay in-state tuition at specific out-of-state (or specialty) schools, or that reserve a set number of subsidized seats each year.
Minnesota–Wisconsin Tuition Reciprocity
If you're a Wisconsin resident going to a public college or university in Minnesota, this lets you pay Minnesota's in-state tuition rate instead of the (much higher) out-of-state rate — and it works the other way for Minnesota residents coming to Wisconsin.
- Apply: before the deadline, at wisconsin.edu/reciprocity
Regional agreements: Michigan, Illinois & Iowa
Smaller, county-specific deals let residents of certain border counties/districts attend particular technical or community colleges in Michigan, Illinois, or Iowa (and vice versa) at the in-state rate. These are tied to specific schools and counties, not open to everyone — ask your financial aid office if your area qualifies.
Contract for Dental Education
Reserves about 160 seats a year for Wisconsin residents in Marquette's dental program at a reduced, "resident" tuition rate. No application — it's built into admission.
Medical College of Wisconsin Capitation
Provides tuition assistance for a limited number of Wisconsin residents in the M.D. program. No separate application required.
Making it real
How to actually apply
Most of this comes down to one form and one conversation with your financial aid office.
Fill out the FAFSA
Every need-based grant on this page uses your FAFSA to figure out eligibility and award amount. Do this every year you're in school — no FAFSA, no state grant. Start at studentaid.gov.
List a Wisconsin school on your FAFSA
Your school needs to receive your FAFSA results to consider you for state aid, so make sure it's listed as one of your schools.
Talk to your financial aid office
Several programs — TIP, the Minority Teacher Loan, the Teacher Loan Program, the Nursing Student Loan — need your school to nominate you. They can't do that if they don't know you're interested.
Send in any extra applications
The Indian Student Assistance Grant and the Hearing/Visually Impaired Student Grant each need their own short application in addition to the FAFSA.
Watch your semester count
Most grants cap out at 8–10 semesters of eligibility. Reapply (with a new FAFSA) every year you're still in school.
Before you email someone
Questions students ask
How do I apply for Wisconsin state financial aid?
Why do I have to file a federal form (the FAFSA) to get state aid?
Do I need to register with Selective Service?
Which state grant serves the most students?
Where do I get an application for the Wisconsin Grant?
Where can I find the official rules for this scholarship?
How many scholarships does each high school get?
It scales with how many students are in grades 9–12 at your school:
| School enrollment (grades 9–12) | Scholarships |
|---|---|
| 1–79 students | Compete statewide for 10 scholarships |
| 80–499 | 1 |
| 500–999 | 2 |
| 1,000–1,499 | 3 |
| 1,500–1,999 | 4 |
| 2,000–2,499 | 5 |
| Over 2,500 | 6 |
How much is the scholarship worth?
When does my high school submit my name as the winner?
Does my school use weighted or unweighted GPA to pick the winner?
Do courses from junior high count toward my GPA for this scholarship?
What if my school doesn't calculate GPA using all subjects?
How are GPA ties broken?
How do I qualify as an alternate if I don't win?
Will I be told if I'm an alternate?
What happens if the winner graduates early?
When do I have to use the scholarship?
Does it matter if I return the WAES form?
Which colleges can I use this scholarship at?
Who's eligible for this grant?
Do I need a new medical certification every year?
Can I use this grant at an out-of-state school?
I don't have much information about my tribe or degree of Native American heritage — what should I do?
Do Wisconsin tribes offer additional funding alongside this grant?
How do I apply?
How much can I borrow?
Can this loan be forgiven?
When do I start repaying it?
Who's eligible for TIP?
What counts as a "first-time freshman"?
What are the financial need requirements?
You need to meet at least one of these:
- Your (or your family's) expected contribution is $200 or less
- You or your family receives TANF or W-2 benefits
- You (and your parents, or spouse if independent) are ineligible for unemployment compensation and have no current income from a job
You'll also need to meet one of the non-traditional/educationally-disadvantaged criteria below — TIP requires both.
What counts as "non-traditional or educationally disadvantaged"?
- You're enrolled (or will be) in a special academic support program due to insufficient academic preparation
- You're a first-generation college student (neither parent graduated from a four-year college)
- You have a documented impairment recognized by the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation or your college's disability services office
- You're currently or were previously incarcerated
- Your background or environment has otherwise made it harder to pursue your education
Which schools offer TIP?
What do I need to apply?
Can I still get TIP if I missed it as a freshman?
What do I need to do to keep receiving TIP after year one?
Real people who can help