Wisconsin Student Loans And Financial Aid Programs
Wisconsin has several private student loan and financial aid programs that can help you pay for college. If you're going to be attending college in Wisconsin, you need to be looking to take advantage of these programs.
These programs are designed to help make college more affordable - so that you can get the education you need. These programs can include scholarships, grants, and student loans.
Don't forget that there are Federal student loan programs available as well. You can find out more on how to get a Federal student loan here.
There is also a specific order of operations to pay for college that we recommend students follow. These programs specific to the State of Wisconsin can help you to avoid borrowing more money than you need to.
Wisconsin Student Loan Programs
Wisconsin doesn't have any unique student loan programs to help it's students pay for college. However, there are still Federal student loans available to students who attend college in Wisconsin.
If you're just looking for private student loan options, we recommend:
- Credible - Like the Kayak of student loans, they help you shop around and compare options. Try Credible here.
- Commonbond - One of the best private student loan lenders. Try Commonbond here.
If you're looking for more options, check out our list of the best places to get a private student loan.
Wisconsin Scholarship Programs
Wisconsin has several scholarships available to students who want to attend school in the state.
Academic Excellence Scholarship
Academic Excellence Scholarships (AES) 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. Eligibility must not exceed 8 semesters.
Learn more about the Academic Excellence Scholarship.
Technical Excellence Scholarship
Technical Excellence Scholarships (TES) are to be awarded by the State of Wisconsin to Wisconsin high school seniors who have the highest demonstrated level of proficiency in technical education subjects.The TES scholarship program is to begin awarding scholarships in the 2015-2016 college academic year. The scholarships are only for use at a school within the Wisconsin Technical College System (WTCS) located within the state.
The value of the scholarship is up to $2,250 per year, to be applied towards tuition. Students wishing to be considered for the TES must meet eligibility criteria set by the Wisconsin Higher Educational Aids Board (HEAB) and must be nominated by their school.
Learn more about the Technical Excellence Scholarship.
Governor's Dairy Scholarship
Governor's Dairy Scholarships (GDS) are to be awarded to Wisconsin students who have the demonstrated an involvement in the state's dairy industry and who intend to continue in or return to dairying after a period of vocational study in dairy science and dairy issues which the GDS award will support.The GDS program is to begin awarding scholarships in the fall of 2018. GDS awards are open to prospective students at any age and at any point in a dairying career.
The awards are meant for use in obtaining vocational, applied training in dairy production, dairy industry development, and dairy promotion. Degrees, diplomas, certificates, or other credentials that can be completed in two years or less are acceptable courses of study; four-year bachelor's degrees are not eligible for funding under the program. The scholarships are only for use at a school within the Wisconsin Technical College System (WTCS) or a University of Wisconsin System Colleges with a dairy science program or a dairy learning center. GDS awards may be used to support enrollment in the Farm and Industry Short Course (FISC) at UW-Madison.
The value of the scholarship is up to $2,500 per year, to be applied towards tuition.
Learn more about the Governor's Dairy Scholarship.
Wisconsin Grant Programs
Wisconsin also has a grant program to provide need based financial aid to Wisconsin residents.
Grants are one of the best forms of financial aid because, in most circumstances, you don't have to pay the money back.
Wisconsin Grant
The Wisconsin 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.
The minimum and maximum awards set annually by HEAB, minimum may not be less than $250, maximum may not exceed $3,000
You can learn more about the Wisconsin Grant.
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 Opportunity Programs (WEOP). To continue to receive the TIP Grant, students must continue to show financial need. Eligibility cannot exceed ten semesters. Funding for the TIP Grant is provided by the State of Wisconsin.
The award is $600 to $1,800 for initial awards, $250 minimum continuing award, maximum continuing award set annually by HEAB (may not exceed $1,800).
Learn about the Talent Incentive Program Grant.
Other Options
If you already have student loans and are looking for options as a Wisconsin resident, check out our Wisconsin Student Loan Forgiveness Program page. That page has all the different options available to Wisconsin residents to potentially get some of your student loan debt forgiven.
You might also look at refinancing your student loans and saving money in interest while also potentially lowering your payment. Check out our guide on the Best Places To Refinance Your Student Loans.
Finally, check out the other student loan and financial aid programs by state.
