Financial Aid Programs
Eligibility Requirements
Most financial aid programs are based on financial need. This is demonstrated by applying a federal need analysis formula to the student and family financial information provided on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Exceptions to the financial need requirement include the Wisconsin Academic Excellence scholarship, Counselor's Choice scholarships, Return to Wisconsin scholarships, some UW-L Foundation scholarships, Federal Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Federal Parent Plus loans.
Admission to the university is a prerequisite to consideration for financial aid. Special non-degree students are not eligible for aid unless they are working toward an approved license or certificate.
Students must demonstrate satisfactory academic progress in order to receive aid. Several other federal and state requirements need to be met in order to receive financial aid. These include proper citizenship status, registration with the Selective Service System, and not being in default on any federal student loan.
Application Procedures
All financial aid applicants must file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at www.fafsa.ed.gov. File the FAFSA by March 15 for priority consideration, although applications are accepted throughout the academic year. A paper version of the FAFSA is available from high school guidance counselors or the UW-L Financial Aid Office.
Applicants also must submit the UW-L Financial Aid Information Form (FAIF) to the Financial Aid Office. The FAIF is available at www.uwlax.edu/finaid or from the Financial Aid Office.
Students whose application is selected for verification by the United States Department of Education or the Financial Aid Office will be required to submit student and parent federal income tax returns to the Financial Aid Office. Other documents may also be required.
Notification Dates
Students who complete their application by the March 15 priority date can expect to receive a financial aid offer by July 15. Students who complete their application after March 15 will receive a financial aid offer as soon as possible after July 15. Applications received after June 1 may not be processed in time for students to receive their aid by the start of the fall semester. These students should be prepared to pay their initial expenses from their own resources.
Financial Aid Programs
Federal Pell Grant
These need based grants are available to qualified undergraduate
students.
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant
These need based grants are available to qualified undergraduate
students.
Federal Academic Competitiveness Grant
These need based grants are available to qualified fulltime
first or second year undergraduate students who have completed a
rigorous high school program, are eligible for a Federal Pell
Grant, maintain fulltime enrollment and at least a 3.0 grade
point average (GPA).
Federal National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain
Talent (SMART) Grant
These need based grants are available to qualified fulltime
third and fourth year undergraduate students pursuing a major in
mathematics, science, technology, engineering, or a critical
foreign language, who are eligible for a Federal Pell Grant,
maintain fulltime enrollment and at least a 3.0 GPA.
Wisconsin Higher Education Grant
These need-based grants are available to qualified undergraduate
students who are Wisconsin residents.
Talent Incentive Program Grant
These need-based grants are available to qualified undergraduate
students who are Wisconsin residents and demonstrate exceptional
financial need.
Return to Wisconsin Scholarships
These scholarships provide a 25% discount of nonresident
tuition to children and grandchildren of UW-L graduates.
Non-Resident Fee Waivers
These need-based grants are available to residents of
states other than Wisconsin and Minnesota.
Wisconsin Study Abroad Grant
These need-based grants are available to Wisconsin residents who
study abroad through the UW-L Office of International Education.
Wisconsin Academic Excellence Scholarship
This program is available to top students at Wisconsin high
schools. The program is administered by local school boards, the
Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction and the Wisconsin
Higher Educational Aids Board.
Counselors Choice Scholarships
These scholarships are available to new ethnic minority freshmen
from Wisconsin and Minnesota and are administered by the UW-L
Admissions Office. All qualified students will automatically be
considered so no application is necessary.
Lawton Undergraduate Minority Retention Grant
These grants are available to statutorily defined ethnic
minority sophomores, juniors and seniors who are in good
standing academically and are residents of Wisconsin or
Minnesota.
Advanced Opportunity Program Grant
These grants are available to qualified ethnic minority graduate
students.
Native American Indian Grants (Federal/Tribal/Wisconsin)
Native American students should file an application with their
tribe.
Foreign Student Scholarships
These partial nonresident fee waivers are available to
qualified international students. International students should
file an application with the Office of International Education.
Academic Initiative Awards
These programs are student funded and offer funds to
international students and students studying abroad. Students
should file an application with the Office of International
Education. Submission of a services plan does not necessarily
guarantee that the student will receive an Academic Initiative
Award.
Federal Stafford Loan Subsidized
This loan is available to students who demonstrate financial
need. Students borrow from a private bank, credit union or
savings and loan association but the federal government pays the
interest while the student is in school and until six months
thereafter. Interest is at a fixed rate of 6.8%. Repayment
begins six months after the student ceases to be at least a
halftime student.
Federal Stafford Loan Unsubsidized
This loan is available to students who do not demonstrate
financial need as a result of filing the FAFSA. The terms are
the same as the Federal Stafford Loan Subsidized except that the
student is responsible for all interest charges from the date of
disbursement of the loan forward.
Federal Perkins Loan
This need-based loan is available to qualified students who
demonstrate exceptional financial need. The loan is
interest-free as long as the student is at least a halftime
student. Repayment begins nine months after the student ceases
halftime enrollment. Limited funding.
Federal Parent PLUS Loan
Parents of dependent undergraduate students are eligible to
borrow from private lenders (banks, credit unions and savings
and loan associations) under this program. Contact the Financial
Aid Office for the required Parent PLUS Loan request form.
Emergency Short Term Loan
These loans are for emergency purposes only. The applicant must
have completed at least one semester at UW-L, be in good
academic standing and be a fulltime student. Apply at the
Student Financial Aid Office.
Federal Work-study Program
This need-based program provides on-campus and off-campus
employment to qualified students. Students who do not qualify
for Federal Work-study can work on campus on the regular student
help payroll. These students should apply at academic
departments and administrative units. Students can also search
for off-campus jobs in the private sector at the Financial Aid
Office Web site at
www.uwlax.edu/finaid.
UW-L Scholarships
The UW-L Foundation awards several hundred scholarships each year to incoming freshmen and continuing students. For more information or an application, go to
www.foundation.uwlax.edu/sch.html
or contact the UW-L scholarship coordinator at (608)785-6803.
Private Scholarships
Students may want to search for private scholarships on the Internet at www.fastweb.com or at www.uwlax.edu/finaid/scholarships.html. These private nonprofit resources maintain large databases of private scholarships and do not charge for information.