When it comes to paying for college, many Wisconsin students wonder how they will manage the cost. If you are a resident of the Badger State, there are plenty of scholarships and grants available to help make your educational journey more affordable.
Famous for its cheese, the Green Bay Packers, and the stunning Great Lakes, Wisconsin is also home to world-class schools including the University of Wisconsin-Madison (UW-Madison), Marquette University, and the Medical College of Wisconsin. With its commitment to education through the “Wisconsin Idea” the state believes education should influence people's lives beyond the boundaries of the classroom.
Nearly 280,000 students are enrolled in over 85 Wisconsin colleges and universities as of 2024. If you are considering going to college in Wisconsin, these scholarships can help reduce your expenses.
$1,000
Award Amount
1
Award
Mar 1
Deadline
Current or former military students who have been honorably discharged and attend the University of Wisconsin at Eau Claire are eligible for this award.
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$20,000
Award Amount
4
Awards
Feb 1
Deadline
This scholarship is open to U.S. students who are in their third, fourth, or fifth year of undergraduate study in landscape architecture at a LAAB-accredited institution. Students must be members of ASLA and demonstrate financial need.
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$1,500
Award Amount
1
Award
Dec 1
Deadline
Non-traditional and first generation incoming students to the University of Wisconsin Eau Claire who have earned no more than 30 college credit hours and graduated from a Wisconsin high school are eligible for this award. Students must demonstrate financial need; preference is given to students from Durand High School.
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$1,000
Award Amount
1
Award
Mar 1
Deadline
Wisconsin residents who are veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces are eligible for this award. Students must be current undergraduate or graduate students attending a University of Wisconsin institution.
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$3,000
Award Amount
1
Award
Feb 1
Deadline
This scholarship is for international and U.S. students who are in their final year of full-time undergraduate study in landscape architecture at a LAAB-accredited institution. Applicants must show a proven contribution to the design of public spaces that integrates landscape design and the use of amenities to promote social interaction.
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$5,300
Award Amount
1
Award
Apr 1
Deadline
U.S. service veterans currently majoring in biology, chemistry or physics at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire are eligible for this award.
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$15,000
Award Amount
15
Awards
Mar 15
Deadline
To be eligible for Wisconsin 4-H Foundation scholarships students must have been a Wisconsin 4-H member for at least three years; should have a grade point average of at least 2.5 on a 4.0 scale, and be enrolled or planning to enroll at a university, college or technical school during the 2022-2023 academic school year. Scholarship winners from previous years are not eligible to receive a second 4-H Foundation scholarship.
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$500
Award Amount
1
Award
Mar 15
Deadline
Wisconsin graduating high school seniors or older who have a grade point average of 2.5 or higher and have been a 4-H member for one or more years are eligible for this award. Students must plan to attend a University of Wisconsin system school and major in home economics or other degree related to home economics, such as childhood development, interior design, fashion design, or human ecology.
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$500
Award Amount
1
Award
Mar 15
Deadline
Wisconsin graduating high school seniors or older students who have a grade point average of 2.5 or higher and are majoring in agriculture or family living at a Wisconsin institution are eligible for this award. Students must have been a 4-H member for five or more years.
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$24,000
Award Amount
4
Awards
Feb 1
Deadline
Graduating high school seniors who are minorities or economically disadvantage are eligible for this award. Students must rank in the top 25% of their graduating class and have an ACT/SAT of 25/1150 or higher.
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$6,000
Award Amount
3
Awards
Feb 1
Deadline
Graduating high school seniors who are minorities or economically disadvantage are eligible for this award. Students must rank in the top 25% of their graduating class and have an ACT/SAT of 25/1150 or higher.
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$25,000
Award Amount
5
Awards
May 1
Deadline
This award is available for female U.S. college sophomores and juniors who major in electrical engineering, computer engineering, computer science, software engineering, or systems engineering. Students must have a grade point average of 3.0 or higher and attend select institutions as listed on the SWE website.
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$5,000
Award Amount
1
Award
Feb 1
Deadline
This scholarship is open to international and U.S. students who are in their final two years of undergraduate study or are in graduate programs at a LAAB-accredited institution. Students must be studying landscape architecture with a demonstrated interest and aptitude in the design of play environments.
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$1,000
Award Amount
1
Award
Jan 4
Deadline
This award is open to international and U.S. licensed radio amateurs who reside in the ARRL Central Division (IL, IN, WI). Students must be studying electrical/electronics engineering, computer science, or related fields.
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$1,500
Award Amount
1
Award
Jan 4
Deadline
This scholarship is open to international and U.S. undergraduate students who are licensed radio amateurs. Students must reside in Wisconsin; if no eligible students are identified from Wisconsin, students residing in the ARRL Central Division (IL, IN, WI) will be considered.
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$750
Award Amount
1
Award
Feb 1
Deadline
This scholarship is open to U.S. and international undergraduate and graduate students who are residents of one of the eligible Midwestern states. Students must major in education and have a grade point average of 2.5-3.5.
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$5,000
Award Amount
1
Award
Feb 12
Deadline
U.S. graduating high school seniors from the 26 northernmost counties in the Texas panhandle who demonstrate financial need are eligible for this award. Students must exhibit community service and leadership. Click here to learn more about how to apply.
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$6,000
Award Amount
1
Award
Feb 15
Deadline
This scholarship program is open to U.S. undergraduate students who are enrolled full time in a hospitality management degree-granting program. Students must have a grade point average of 3.0 or higher (with the exception of the Conrad Hilton Fund, which accepts students with grade point averages of 2.0 or higher).
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$550
Award Amount
1
Award
Feb 1
Deadline
This scholarship is open to U.S. and international undergraduate and graduate students who are residents of Wisconsin. Students must have a grade point average of 3.0 or higher.
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$1,500
Award Amount
2
Awards
Apr 30
Deadline
The Sherry Anklam Memorial Award provides $1,500 in scholarships to student members of CompTIA AITP attending a college, university or technical college located in Wisconsin or Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.
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$5,000
Award Amount
1
Award
Apr 30
Deadline
The Cindy Tang Career Opportunity Scholarship is open to women in Grant or Kewaunee counties in Wisconsin seeking to resume their education or pursue additional education after an interruption of three or more years. Applicants may be continuing or finishing a previously started degree, pursuing a new or different degree, or seeking additional or continuing education or training.
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$75,000
Award Amount
15
Awards
Feb 1
Deadline
Graduating high school seniors who have a grade point average of 3.5 or higher and plan to attend UW-Eau Claire are eligible for this award. Students must plan to major in computer science or software engineering; preference will be given to graduates of Rice Lake and Viroqua high schools in Wisconsin.
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$500
Award Amount
1
Award
Jan 4
Deadline
This scholarship is for a licensed radio amateur (any class license) who is a resident of and attends college in Illinois, Indiana, or Wisconsin. The applicant must be majoring in electrical engineering and must be a member of the ARRL.
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$500
Award Amount
1
Award
Jan 4
Deadline
This scholarship is available to undergraduate students who are licensed radio amateurs and reside in Illinois, Indiana, or Wisconsin. Preference will be given to students who have a grade point average of 2.5 or higher and are in good academic standing.
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$500
Award Amount
1
Award
Jan 4
Deadline
This scholarship is offered to licensed radio amateurs (technician class or higher) who are residents of Indiana, Illinois, or Wisconsin. The applicant must be a U.S. citizen, or be within three months of obtaining citizenship.
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Cost of College in Wisconsin
Before exploring the scholarships available to Wisconsin students, it is important to understand the cost of attending college in the state. For Wisconsin residents attending UW-Madison, tuition and fees for the 2024-25 academic year will be approximately $11,606 for undergraduates. Non-residents will pay $42,104, however, if you are from neighboring Minnesota, you will only pay $16,638 in tuition and fees.
Other schools, such as UW-Milwaukee, have in-state tuition of around $10,398 and out-of-state tuition from $14,584 to $22,398. At private schools like Marquette University, tuition and fees are significantly higher, averaging $50,070 annually.
While the cost of attending college may seem steep, there are many Wisconsin scholarships and grants available to help students make education more affordable.
Wisconsin State-Funded Scholarships and Grants
Wisconsin provides various state-funded scholarships and grants to help its residents afford the high cost of college. To be considered for most state financial aid programs, you will need to complete and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA),
Here are some of the state grant and scholarship opportunities available for Wisconsin students:
Wisconsin Academic Excellence Scholarship
The Wisconsin Academic Excellence Scholarship awards $2,250 per year for tuition, to top students from each high school in the state. To qualify, students must be high-achieving seniors, typically ranked in the top 1-2% of their graduating class, and planning to attend an eligible Wisconsin college or university.
Wisconsin Grant
The Wisconsin Grant is a need-based grant available to Wisconsin residents attending one of the state’s public universities or technical colleges. Grant awards vary depending on financial need with a maximum award of $3,150 per academic year.
Wisconsin Grant – Private Non-Profit
This grant is specifically designed for Wisconsin residents attending private, non-profit colleges and universities in Wisconsin. The award amount varies depending on financial need and the cost of attendance at the institution. Award amounts are set annually by the Wisconsin Higher Educational Aids Board (HEAB)
Talent Incentive Program Grant (TIP)
The Talent Incentive Program (TIP) Grant is designed to support first-time college students who come from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. This need-based grant provides up to $1,800 per year for up to 10 semesters. Eligibility is determined by financial need as documented by a student’s FAFSA. For TIP awards, priority is given to first-generation college students and those with severe financial need.
Wisconsin National Guard Tuition Grant
If you are a member of the Wisconsin National Guard, you may qualify for a tuition and fee waiver of up to 100% if you plan to attend an eligible Wisconsin public college or university. This benefit is available for students pursuing their first bachelor’s degree,
Federal Grants
In addition to state grants and scholarships, Wisconsin students can apply for federal financial aid programs. These include the Pell Grant, which offers up to $7,395 in 2024-25, and the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG), which provides an additional $100 to $4,000 annually for qualifying low-income students. Both programs require students to submit the FAFSA and demonstrate financial need.
Institutional Scholarships and Grants at Wisconsin Colleges and Universities
Many Wisconsin institutions also offer grants and scholarships to reduce tuition costs. These scholarships are often awarded based on academic merit, financial need, or a combination of both Institutional grants and scholarships are often awarded on top of state and federal grants and scholarships you may be eligible for. Below are some examples of institutional scholarships available to Wisconsin students:
UW-Madison Chancellor’s Scholarship
The University of Wisconsin-Madison Chancellor’s Scholarship is awarded to high-achieving students from underrepresented backgrounds. The scholarship provides awards up to full tuition and fees for students attending UW-Madison. Eligible students must demonstrate both academic excellence as well as financial need.
Marquette University Merit Scholarships
Marquette University offers scholarships and grants to incoming freshmen who demonstrate outstanding academic achievement and leadership skills. Award amounts do vary. To qualify for a merit scholarship at Marquette, students must have an exceptional high school GPA and test scores, along with strong extracurricular involvement.
UW-Milwaukee Chancellor’s Merit Scholarship
The Chancellor’s Merit Scholarship at UW-Milwaukee is awarded to incoming freshmen with a GPA of at least 3.5. The scholarship provides awards up to $5,000 per year and is renewable for up to four years, provided students maintain satisfactory academic progress.
Private Scholarships for Wisconsin Students
Many private organizations inside and out of Wisconsin offer scholarships to help students cover their college costs. These scholarships often target specific groups or fields of study, making it important to research options that fit your background and career interests.
Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association Scholarship
The Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association offers scholarships to students pursuing degrees in dairy science, food science, or related fields. Awards are typically up to $3,000 and are intended for students who plan to contribute to the state’s vital dairy industry.
Wisconsin 4-H Foundation Scholarship
The Wisconsin 4-H Foundation provides scholarships to students who have been active in the 4-H program and plan to attend college in Wisconsin. Scholarships vary in amount and can be used for tuition, room, and board. Applicants must demonstrate leadership, community service, and academic success.
Tips for Applying for Scholarships and Grants in Wisconsin
Securing grants and scholarships does take careful planning and effort. Here are some tips to improve your chances of success in the application process:
- Submit the FAFSA early: Many scholarships are need-based, so it is very important to complete the FAFSA as soon as possible.
- Stay organized: Keep track of deadlines, requirements, and necessary materials for each scholarship and grant program.
- Write strong personal statements: Highlight your achievements, goals, and passion for learning in your application essays.
- Secure solid letters of recommendation: Ask teachers, mentors, or community leaders who know you well to write your letters of recommendation. Make sure and ask them early in the process as they are likely receiving many requests from your peers.
- Search locally: Don’t overlook smaller scholarships offered by local organizations, schools, houses of worship, and community groups in your area.
With these strategies and the scholarships available in Wisconsin, you will be well on your way to making your college dreams more affordable!
Our Scholarships
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$1,500 – I Have a Dream
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$10,000 – Unigo $10K Award
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$1,500 – Sweet and Simple
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$2,500 – Superpower
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$3,000 – All About Education
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$1,500 – Fifth Month Scholarship
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$1,500 – Do-Over
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$1,500 – Flavor of the Month
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$1,500 – Make Me Laugh
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$1,500 – Shout It Out
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$2,000 – Zombie Apocalypse
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$5,000 – Education Matters
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$1,500 – Top Ten List
Written by Dave Moniz
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Edited by Unigo Staff