UW Colleges Financial Aid
Types of Financial Aid
Please review the 2011-2012 Financial Aid Award Guide and 2011-2012 Financial Aid Program Chart for important information about your financial aid. For 2012-2013, review these documents: 2012-2013 Award Guide 2012-2013 Financial Aid Programs Chart
The information below provides details about the types of aid offered at UW Colleges.
Grants
Grants are considered gift aid and do not have to be repaid. Most gift aid is based on some type of need-based eligibility requirement; therefore, you must complete the FAFSA to apply for most grants. Sources of grants include federal, state, private, and institutional funds. Although grants are a very desirable source of financial aid, the availability of grants is generally limited to the neediest students.
Please refer to the links below for more detailed information about the different types of grants that may be available to you while enrolled at the UW Colleges.
Grant Options
- Federal Pell Grant
- Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
- Wisconsin Higher Education Grant (WHEG)
- Wisconsin Talent Incentive Program (TIP)
- Wisconsin Indian Student Assistance Grant
- Wisconsin Hearing and Visually Handicapped Student Grant
Scholarships
Scholarships are monetary gifts from community, private, and campus sources and are usually based on academic merit or some other criteria. Some scholarships also require verification of financial need. Therefore, all scholarship applicants are strongly encouraged to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Campus foundations, local businesses, and other sources provide scholarships for students at the 13 UW Colleges campuses. No repayment of scholarships is required. Contact your high school counselor and/or your campus Student Services Office for scholarship information.
Loans
Student loans are a major source of financial aid for many students. All loans, including student loans, represent debt that must be repaid; however, most student loans do not go into repayment until after you graduate or drop below half-time enrollment (6 credits). In addition to delayed repayment, most student loans have:
- relatively low interest rates
- several repayment options from which to choose
- circumstances under which you can postpone repayment
- other favorable terms and conditions
Student loans can be thought of as an investment in your future as long as you are prepared to meet your repayment responsibilities. Failure to repay your student loans will have serious adverse consequences. Please refer to the links below for more detailed information about the different types of loans that may be available to you.
When borrowing, it is important to carefully plan your budget so that you borrow only what you need, keep track of how much you are borrowing each year, and have some idea as to how you will pay your loans back when the time comes.
Special Note: If you are accepting loans on your UW Colleges Financial Aid Award Offer, you must return your completed Award Offer to the UW Colleges Student Financial Aid Office before the end of your enrollment and associated loan period. If received afterward, the loan cannot be processed.
Loan Options
- Direct Loan Program
- Federal Direct PLUS Loan (Parent Loans for Undergraduate Students)
- Alternative Loans
- School-Lender Code of Conduct
Employment
Federal Work-Study is a federal financial aid program. It is one of the three campus-based aid programs. (Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant and Federal Perkins Loan are the other two campus-based programs.) Work-Study allows you to earn money to help pay educational expenses and encourages community service work and work related to your course of study to the extent possible.
In order to apply for Work-Study, you must complete the FAFSA. You should complete your FAFSA as soon as possible after January 1 in order to be considered for the limited funding for Federal Work Study. In addition, you must have sufficient financial need based on the analysis of your FAFSA.
Students who are awarded Federal Work-Study should go to the Student Services Office on their campus to inquire about job positions that are available. Students apply for a Federal Work-Study job through the campus and jobs may be limited.
Students employed through the Federal Work-Study Program are paid at least the current federal minimum wage (or state-wide minimum wage if higher). Students work approximately ten hours per week although the number of hours an individual student can work is determined by the amount of the Work-Study award and pay rate. Students cannot earn more than the amount of their awards.
Federal Work-Study does not disburse in the same way as other types of aid. Students are issued a paycheck on a bi-weekly basis, this is typically done by direct deposit.
Veterans Services
The University of Wisconsin Colleges is fully approved for the certification of education benefits for veterans and veterans' dependents under both federal and state Veterans Affairs programs.
The United States Department of Veteran Affairs provides information regarding federal benefits.
The Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs provides information regarding state-provided benefits, and a County Veterans Service Office list. Contact the nearest Veterans Affairs office for information on and assistance with obtaining federal and state VA benefits.
The Wisconsin Department of Military Affairs provides additional information regarding state-provided benefits.
Specialized academic advising, support groups, and family services are available through the campus Office of Student Services. For further information, contact the Campus Coordinator of Veterans Services at the campus in which you are interested.