Unveiling Scholarship Opportunities at UW-Madison: A Comprehensive Guide

The University of Wisconsin-Madison (UW-Madison) offers a multitude of scholarship opportunities designed to support students from diverse backgrounds and academic pursuits. These scholarships range from covering full tuition to providing financial assistance for study abroad programs. This article provides a detailed overview of various scholarships available at UW-Madison, outlining their specific requirements and eligibility criteria.

Scholarships for Future Educators

UW-Madison is committed to supporting aspiring educators through several targeted scholarship programs.

Teacher Pledge

The Teacher Pledge program offers up to two years of in-state tuition coverage for students who commit to teaching in Wisconsin for three to four years after graduation. The duration of the teaching commitment typically depends on the specific educational role, with most language-related positions requiring a three-year commitment. This scholarship covers tuition for the two years students are enrolled in the teacher preparation program, typically during their junior and senior years.

General Scholarship Opportunities

The School of Education provides a general scholarship application for students to be considered for a wide array of scholarships.

All School Undergraduate and Teacher Education Scholarships

This general application allows students to be considered for most School of Education scholarships. It's important to note that the majority of these scholarships are awarded to students already admitted to their program, which usually occurs heading into a student’s junior year. However, some departments award scholarships to freshmen, sophomores, or even incoming freshmen. Several scholarships are also based on financial need.

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Subpage for Those Pursuing Curriculum and Instruction Degrees

Students pursuing degrees in Curriculum and Instruction can find specific scholarship opportunities tailored to their field of study.

Scholarships Promoting Diversity and Inclusion

UW-Madison is dedicated to fostering a diverse and inclusive campus community and offers several scholarships specifically designed to support students from underrepresented backgrounds.

POSSE Program

The POSSE program identifies public high school students with extraordinary academic and leadership potential who may be overlooked by traditional college selection processes. Posse extends to these students the opportunity to pursue personal and academic excellence by placing them in supportive, diverse teams-Posses-of 10 students. Posse partner colleges and universities award Posse Scholars four-year, full-tuition leadership scholarships.

Mercile J. Lee Scholars Program

As one of the campus’s strategic initiatives, the Chancellor's and Powers-Knapp scholarships help attract and develop gifted and talented individuals from underrepresented minority groups and educationally/culturally disadvantaged backgrounds. This program provides full tuition coverage.

PEOPLE Scholars

The PEOPLE program is designed for low-income and potential first-generation college students, accepting students in 8th grade only. Their journey in PEOPLE prepares them to be a viable college candidate, apply for admission to, and enroll at the University of Wisconsin System institution, with an emphasis on UW-Madison. Students who enroll at UW-Madison may be eligible for a four-year tuition scholarship.

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Need-Based Scholarships

UW-Madison offers several programs aimed at making college more accessible for students with financial need.

Bucky’s Tuition Promise

Bucky’s Tuition Promise guarantees scholarships and grants to pay for tuition & segregated fees for students whose household adjusted gross income (AGI) is $60,000 or less. Incoming freshmen will receive eight (8) consecutive semesters (4 years) of free tuition & segregated fees, and transfer students will receive four (4) semesters (2 years).

FASTrack

FASTrack, or the Financial Aid Security Track, is designed to assist Wisconsin students from low-income households pay for college through a combination of grants, scholarships, and work-study. It includes a commitment to meeting a student’s financial need for four consecutive years for incoming freshmen or two years for new transfer students.

BANNER

BANNER, or Badger Aid for Nonresidents, is designed to assist students in some of UW-Madison's DDEEA programs and MN residents whose family receives public assistance pay for college through a combination of grants, scholarships, work-study, and some loan. It includes a commitment to meeting a student’s financial need for four consecutive years for incoming freshmen or two years for new transfer students.

Scholarships for Transfer Students

UW-Madison recognizes the unique circumstances of transfer students and offers programs to support their transition to the university.

Badger Promise

The Badger Promise is a commitment to Wisconsin resident, first-generation college students. The program guarantees a period of free tuition and segregated fees to those who have successfully transferred from any of the two-year UW Branch campuses (formerly UW Colleges) or from liberal arts associate degree programs at Madison College (Madison Area Technical College), Milwaukee Area Technical College, Western Technical College, Nicolet College, the College of Menominee Nation, the Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwa Community College, and Chippewa Valley Technical College.

Study Abroad Scholarships

UW-Madison encourages students to broaden their horizons through study abroad experiences and offers several scholarships to help offset the costs.

Claire Shaffer Study Abroad Award

This award provides $2,000 to UW-Madison undergraduate students pursuing degrees in the School of Education who are studying abroad on an IAP program. Any School of Education undergraduate, including students in "pre" status (e.g., pre-Elementary Education, pre-Kinesiology), students earning the Certificate in Educational Policy Studies, or the Certificate in Education and Educational Services are eligible to apply.

Lois E. Hack Study Abroad Scholarship

This scholarship offers $3,000 to UW-Madison undergraduate students pursuing degrees in the School of Education who are studying abroad on an IAP program. Any School of Education undergraduate, including students in "pre" status (e.g., pre-Elementary Education, pre-Kinesiology), students earning the Certificate in Educational Policy Studies, or the Certificate in Education and Educational Services are eligible to apply. Preference will be given to applicants for whom this would be their first study abroad experience, as well as for students on a program to Africa, Asia, or Latin America.

Wisconsin International Scholars Program

The Wisconsin International Scholars Program is an undergraduate enrichment program for students interested in global affairs, cultures, and languages. Students making satisfactory progress in the program are eligible for $2,000 in two study abroad grants, to be applied toward one short-term and one long-term UW-Madison study abroad program. Students apply to the WISc Program as incoming freshmen, before arriving at UW-Madison.

Global Gateway Fellowships

The Global Gateway Initiative makes study abroad and away accessible to students with demonstrated financial need through two different avenues: Summer programs and Fellowships. All students participate in pre- and post-program engagements and onsite activities to integrate their time away with academics and professional development. These fellowships can provide up to $10,000.

Additional Scholarship Resources

UW-Madison provides a comprehensive online platform called WiSH (Wisconsin Scholarship Hub) where students can explore various scholarship opportunities. WiSH allows students to explore the scholarships they are eligible for, be considered for those with automatic offers when their NetID is activated, and apply to any scholarships that require additional information for consideration.

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