Despite the wealth of available scholarships for Wisconsin residents, students across the state are taking on thousands – sometimes tens of thousands – of dollars in debt for the privilege of obtaining a college education when there are over a dozen state-sponsored scholarships and grants that they could be taking advantage of. There’s no reason for it, in a state that not only has some of the highest-ranked and most affordable public universities in the US, but a wealth of scholarship opportunities. If you’re looking for Wisconsin college grants and scholarships and you live in Wisconsin, you’re in luck.
The College Consensus list of the Top 5 Wisconsin Scholarships is just a taste – there’s a lot more out there for first-generation, nontraditional, minority, and every other kind of student. We have listed programs alphabetically by title.
See Also: Best Scholarships for Online Students
1
Association of Wisconsin Snowmobile Clubs Scholarship
The scholarships offered by the Association of Wisconsin Snowmobile Clubs are for high school seniors who are actively involved in snowmobiling. There are six Wisconsin scholarships ranging in size from $500 to $2,000. Applicants must be a member or the child of a member of a snowmobile club recognized by the AWSC. Students must submit their application in the form of a .pdf file. The application requires a cover page, a profile of student activities, a transcript, and a short essay related to snowmobiling. The deadline for applying is January 10.
The Association of Wisconsin Snowmobile Clubs works to maintain existing snowmobile trails, establish new trails, and keep snowmobiling going strong in the state of Wisconsin. Thanks to the diligent work of the AWSC, Wisconsin has a system of more than 25,000 miles of trails for snowmobilers to enjoy. Members can purchase a discounted pass that gives them access to Wisconsin snowmobile trails. Membership in the AWSC also includes a decal and a subscription to Wisconsin Snowmobile News magazine.
2
The Lawton Wisconsin Minority Undergraduate Retention Grant
The Lawton Grant is a scholarship in Wisconsin that is intended to help minority students who have reached at least sophomore standing to stay in school and finish their degrees. Students of African American, Cambodian, Hmong, Laotian, Latino, Native American, and Vietnamese descent are eligible to apply. Applicants must be nominated by their school’s coordinator in order to apply. Students who are interested in applying should speak to the coordinator and ask to be nominated. The grant ranges from $1,000-$3,000 per year and students can qualify for up to 8 semesters or $16,000. The deadline to apply is April 30.
The Lawton Wisconsin Minority Undergraduate Retention Grant is administered by the University of Wisconsin—Madison. There are Lawton coordinators at the College of Agricultural & Life Sciences, the College of Letters & Science, the School of Human Ecology, the School of Pharmacy, the Wisconsin School of Business, the College of Engineering, the School of Education, the School of Nursing, and the School of Financial Aid.
3
Roma Lodge Merit Scholarship
The Roma Lodge Merit Scholarship is awarded annually to graduating seniors whose parents are members of the Roma Lodge. There is one $4,000 scholarship awarded each year, as well as three $500 scholarships. The scholarship is awarded based on academic merit. Applicants must be accepted into a 4-year baccalaureate program at a college or university and must attend full-time. To apply, students must submit the scholarship application by the deadline of March 30.
The Roma Lodge is committed to serving the needs of the Italian community and preserve its heritage. Members must be men who were born in Italy or descended from Italian heritage and live in Wisconsin in Racine, Milwaukee, or Kenosha county. The Lodge provides a place for Italian Americans to gather and celebrate through heritage through cultural and social events and entertainment. The Lodge promotes Italian heritage and honors the Italian immigrants who worked hard to make homes for themselves and their families in the US.
4
Wisconsin Academic Excellence Scholarship
The Wisconsin Academic Excellence Scholarship awards scholarships in Wisconsin for academic excellence. The award is given to the students with the highest GPAs at each high school in the state of Wisconsin. Half of the scholarship is funded by the state, and the school provides the other half. To be eligible for an Academic Excellence Scholarship, students must be attending one of the Wisconsin colleges and universities that have been approved to receive the scholarship funds. The scholarship is worth $2,250 per year.
The State of Wisconsin Higher Educational Aids Board oversees the Wisconsin Academic Excellence Scholarship, along with other financial aid programs funded by the state of Wisconsin. The Board also has responsibility for determining whether to enter into reciprocal interstate tuition agreements with other states. All students applying for financial aid through the State of Wisconsin Higher Educational Aids Board must live in Wisconsin and be attending a Wisconsin college or university.
5
Wisconsin Occupational Therapy Scholarship
The Wisconsin Occupational Therapy Scholarship has been around since 1965 and was expanded in the 1980s to allow state associations to offer scholarships in Wisconsin and other states on behalf of The American Occupational Therapy Foundation (AOTF). Students must be enrolled in an accredited occupational therapy program to apply. Applicants will be considered for all scholarships they qualify for, but an applicant can only be awarded one scholarship per year. Scholarships are awarded annually, and the application deadline is in late fall. For 2020, the deadline is October 17.
The American Occupational Therapy Foundation is committed to the advancement of occupational therapy and seeks to enable people to fully participate in work and other meaningful activities. The organization’s goals are to increase the number of researchers working on advancements in occupational therapy, to support occupational therapy research that is important to the profession, to distribute the results of the research, and to increase the amount of funding available for occupational therapy research.
Does the State of Wisconsin Offer Grants and Scholarships?
Here are all of the grant and scholarships for Wisconsin students available through the state:
- Carson Scholars Fund, Inc. – Deadline: 12/20/2019 – Amount: $1,000
- Presbyterian Student Opportunity Scholarship – Deadline: 5/15/2020 – Amount: $3,000
- Richard Weinreis Memorial Scholarship – Deadline: 3/31/2020 – Amount: $300
- Tall Clubs International Student Scholarships – Deadline: 3/1/2020 – Amount: $1,000
- Upper Midwest Emmy Chapter/Foundation Scholarships – Deadline: 2/5/2020 – Amount: $3,000
- Vincent L. Hawkinson Foundation Scholarship – Deadline: 3/15/2020 – Amount: $5,000
- Wisconsin Indian Student Assistance Grants – Deadline: Varies – Amount: $1,100
- Wisconsin Minority Undergraduate Retention Grants – Deadline: Varies – Amount: $2,500
- Wisconsin Talent Incentive Program (TIP) Grants – Deadline: Varies – Amount: $1,800
- Zonta Club of Madison Young Women in Public Affairs Award – Deadline: 8/1/2020 – Amount: $40,000
As you can see, there are plenty of opportunities to obtain scholarships for college students in Wisconsin. If you live in the state and are seeking to improve your career prospects through higher education, state of Wisconsin scholarships are your best bet.
Do I Need Good High School Grades to Get a Scholarship?
If you’re looking for valedictorian scholarships in Wisconsin, but haven’t got the grades, there is still hope for those seeking financial aid in obtaining a college education. You might also look outside of the regular values for your scholarship.
There are, for example, organizations that look at more than just your GPA to determine whether or not you are scholarship material. Consider the “A GPA Isn’t Everything Scholarship.” The requirements are that you should be enrolled in high school or college or plan to still be enrolled within the next 12 months. The scholarship is worth $1,000 and they look at extracurricular activities and your broader background when considering applications. There are also scholarships available through companies like Coca Cola and the GSMP. These look at extracurricular as well as your GPA. These are terrific scholarships in Wisconsin for high school seniors.
Also, when it comes to GPA, not every organization, looks down their nose at everything below a 3.0. Some state scholarships consider GPA starting at 2.0. So, if you’re worried that the Wisconsin excellence scholarship is beyond you, you still have options.
Are there Scholarships for Nurses in Wisconsin?
There are many types of scholarships available for students in Wisconsin, not the least of which are Wisconsin nursing scholarships and grants. Becoming a nurse is a rewarding and secure way to make a living, and there are at least three worthwhile nursing scholarships in Wisconsin that you should look into if you are interested in a career in nursing. Also, with national recognition of the need for professional nurses to have the ability to work across state borders increasing, the future for nurses in training is looking brighter than ever.
These include:
The Wisconsin Higher Education Grant: Grants are based on the applicant’s financial need and are offered to students attending Wisconsin Technical Colleges, University of Wisconsin, and Tribal Institutions on at least a part-time basis. Grants are worth between $250 and $3,000.
The Wisconsin Tuition Grant: This grant program is virtually identical to the one above, except that it applies only to students attending independent Wisconsin based colleges or universities.
The Nursing Student Loan Program: This program is tailor-made to serve nursing students and is worth between $250 and $3,000 per academic year.
Are there Scholarships for Women in Wisconsin?
There is broad recognition that promoting the success of women in academics is important for the health of our society, and the state of Wisconsin is no exception. There exists a wide range of scholarships in Wisconsin for women and other programs designed to help women get a leg up in their efforts to obtain higher education.
Current programs include but are not limited to:
American Association of University Women
For financially distressed minority women – $5,000 to $20,000
Jeannette Rankin Foundation
For applicants who can demonstrate ambition and financial need – $1,500
The Sunshine Lady Foundation
Primarily for battered women and victims of violence – Amounts Vary
Grants for the Arts
For women pursuing an education in arts and/or science – Amounts Vary
Minority Grants & Scholarships
Primarily for Black and Hispanic and other women of color – Amounts Vary
With all of these wonderful programs on offer for students in Wisconsin, opportunities for women and minorities to obtain higher education have never been better.
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