Grants
What are Grants?
Grants are a form of financial assistance that do not have to be repaid. For exceptions please see Return of Title IV (R2T4) Federal Funds Policy.
Federal Grants
Federal Pell Grant
The Pell Grant is a federally-funding grant awarded to students with high financial need. Eligibility for the Pell Grant is determined by the Department of Education based on the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) calculated from the student’s FAFSA for the 2023-2024 award year. Note that the EFC is being replaced by the Student Aid Index (SAI) starting with the 2024-2025 award year.
Pell Grants are only awarded to undergraduate students who have not earned a bachelor’s or professional degree. Students are eligible for up to six full-time years (12 full-time semesters or 600%) during their lifetime. Each full-time full-year maximum Pell grant is equal to 100% of a student’s Pell Lifetime Eligibility Used (LEU).
Pell Grants are pro-rated based upon a student’s credit load. As part of the FAFSA Simplification Act, the method used to prorate is changing starting with the 2024 – 2025 award year. Please see the chart below for a comparison of the two methods.
| Credit Hours |
2023 – 2024 Enrollment Level |
2024 – 2025 Credit Intensity |
|---|---|---|
| 12 or more | Full-time – 100% | 100% |
| 11 | Three-Quarter Time – 75% | 92% |
| 10 | Three-Quarter Time – 75% | 83% |
| 9 | Three-Quarter Time – 75% | 75% |
| 8 | Half-Time – 50% | 67% |
| 7 | Half-Time – 50% | 58% |
| 6 | Half-Time – 50% | 50% |
| 5 | Less-than-Half-Time – 25% | 42% |
| 4 | Less-than-Half-Time – 25% | 33% |
| 3 | Less-than-Half-Time – 25% | 25% |
| 2 | Less-than-Half-Time – 25% | 17% |
| 1 | Less-than-Half-Time – 25% | 8% |
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
The Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant is a federally-funded grant available on a limited basis to students who demonstrate high financial need, have a low Expected Family Contribution (EFC), and are Pell Grant recipients. There is a limited amount of funding for the FSEOG.
Wisconsin Grants
There are general requirements students must meet for any of the state grants.
- Be a resident of the state of Wisconsin.
- Have a high school diploma, GED, or equivalent.
- Be enrolled in an undergraduate degree or certificate program.
- Male students are required to register with the United State Selective Service System https://www.sss.gov/
- May not be listed on the Department of Workforce Development’s statewide Child Support Lien Docket, unless the student has an approved payment plan.
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 System, or Tribal institutions. Awards are based on financial need. Eligibility cannot exceed ten semesters.
Talent Incentive Program (TIP) Grant
The Talent Incentive Program 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. To continue to receive the TIP Grant, students must continue to show financial need. Eligibility cannot exceed 10 semesters.
Indian Student Assistance Grant
Awards under this program are made to Wisconsin residents who are at least 25% Native American and are undergraduate or graduate students enrolled in degree or certificate programs at University of Wisconsin, Wisconsin Technical Colleges, independent colleges and universities, tribal colleges, or proprietary institutions based in Wisconsin. Awards are based on financial need with a limit of ten semesters of eligibility.
Minority Undergraduate Retention Grant
Awards under this program are made to Wisconsin resident minority undergraduates, excluding first year students, enrolled at least half-time in independent, tribal, or Wisconsin Technical College Institutions. According to the statutes, a minority student is defined as a student who is either an African American; American Indian; Hispanic; or Southeast Asian from Laos, Cambodia, or Vietnam admitted to the U.S. after December 31, 1975. Awards are based on financial need, with a limit of eight semesters or twelve quarters.
Hearing and Visually Handicapped Student Grant
The Handicapped Student Grant program was established to provide funding for undergraduate Wisconsin residents, enrolled at in-state or eligible out-of-state public or independent institutions that show financial need and have a severe or profound hearing or visual impairment. Students are eligible to receive the grant for up to ten semesters.