Wisconsin Department of Education Financial Aid for College

The Wisconsin Department of Education oversees college tuition assistance for state residents.

Wisconsin does not have an overall state loan program for college students, but it does have some smaller, targeted loan programs for some groups.


The Minority Teacher Loan Program

This is a loan program for minority juniors, seniors and grad students that offers student loan forgiveness for teachers who teach in a Wisconsin school district composed of at least 29% minority students. "Minority" means:

• African American
• American Indian
• Hispanic
• Southeast Asian (Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam- admitted to the U.S. after Dec. 31, 1975)

- must be a Wisconsin citizen, enrolled at least half-time in a program leading to a teacher license at an independent college or University of Wisconsin school

- The loan award per year is $250 to $2,500 (with a lifetime cap of $5,000).

- Student loan forgiveness is offered at a rate of 25% for each year of service. If not taken advantage of, the loan must be repaid with 5% interest.

The Nursing Student Loan Program

This is a loan program for undergraduate or graduate students that offers some nursing student loan forgiveness for working as a licensed nurse in Wisconsin. - must be a Wisconsin citizen, enrolled at least half-time in a program leading to licensing as either an R.N. or L.P.N.

- The loan award per year is $250 to $3,000 (with a lifetime cap of $15,000).

- Student loan forgiveness is offered at a rate of 25% for each of the first two years of service. The remaining 50% must be repaid at 5% interest. If the loan forgiveness is not used, the loan balance must be repaid with 5% interest.

The Teacher Education Loan Program

This loan program offers student loan forgiveness for teachers who teach in the Milwaukee Public Schools.

- must be a Wisconsin citizen, enrolled in teacher education programs at the Milwaukee Teacher Education Center (MTEC)

- The award has a $250 minimum. The maximum is set each year by the Wisconsin Department of Education (HEAB).

- Student loan forgiveness is offered at a rate of 50% per year of service. If loan forgiveness is not used, the loan balance must be repaid with 5% interest.

The Teacher of the Visually Impaired Loan Program

This program offers teacher loan forgiveness for students who go on to teach in a Wisconsin school district, the Wisconsin Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired or a cooperative educational service agency in Wisconsin.

- must be a Wisconsin citizen, enrolled at least half-time in a program (either in-state or in an adjacent state) which leads to licensing as a teacher of the visually impaired or as an orientation and mobility instructor

- The award is $250 to $10,000 per year with a lifetime cap of $40,000.

- - Student loan forgiveness is offered at a rate of 25% per year of service for the first two years and 50% for the third year. If loan forgiveness is not used, the loans must be repaid with 55 interest.

These are the only loans for which the Wisconsin Department of Education offers college loan forgiveness.

Wisconsin Grants and Scholarships

• for Wisconsin residents enrolled in degree or certificate programs at least half-time (University of Wisconsin, Wisconsin Technical College, and Tribal institutions, only)
• need-based aid based on the FAFSA
• awards are $250-$3,000
• maximum eligibility is 10 semesters

• for Wisconsin residents enrolled in degree or certificate programs at least half-time (Wisconsin non-profit, independent colleges or universities, only)
• need-based aid using the FAFSA application
• award minimum is $250- maximum is set yearly
• award formula is also based on the amount that is more than UW - Madison costs
• maximum eligibility is 10 semesters

• for nominated students, enrolled at least half-time in Wisconsin colleges and universities who demonstrate the most financial need.
• first time awards are $600 to $1,800; after that- $250 to $1,800; must be in consecutively enrolled terms
• eligibility for 10 semesters only

Indian Student Assistance Grant

• for(financial need) Wisconsin undergraduate and graduate students who are at least 25% Native American and enrolled at least part-time in the University of Wisconsin, Wisconsin Technical College, independent colleges and universities, tribal colleges, or Wisconsin proprietary institutions
• awards are $250 to $1,100
• 10 semester maximum eligibility

Minority Undergraduate Retention Grant

• for (financial need) minority Wisconsin undergraduates (except freshmen) enrolled at least half-time in independent, tribal, or Wisconsin Technical College institutions
• awards are $250 to$2,500
• limit of 8 semesters or 12 quarters

Hearing and Visually Handicapped Student Grant

• for (financial need) visually and hearing handicapped undergraduate Wisconsin residents who go to public or independent schools in or out-of-state, at least half-time
• awards are $250 to $1,800
• eligibility for 10 semesters

The Wisconsin Department of Education oversees one scholarship program:

Academic Excellence Scholarships

• for Wisconsin high school seniors who have achieved the highest GPA in their graduating class in a Wisconsin public or private high school
• awards are $2,250 per year for tuition at the University of Wisconsin, Wisconsin Technical College, or an independent Wisconsin institution
• full-time and continuous enrollment required

Wisconsin Department of Education Tuition Subsidies

• available at the at the Marquette University School of Dentistry, only
• 160 awards of $8,753 per year for Wisconsin residents

Medical College of Wisconsin Capitation Program

-provides tuition assistance (unspecified amount) to Wisconsin full time students, enrolled in the Doctor of Medicine program

Wisconsin also has a reciprocity agreement with Minnesota. Wisconsin students may enroll in an eligible Minnesota public institution program and pay in-state tuition.

Certain community and technical colleges in Michigan, Illinois, and Iowa, also allow Wisconsin residents to pay in-state tuition.


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