Save Money on Wisconsin Tuition

Updated: Feb 8, 2023

Get Wisconsin In-State Tuition

One of the more affordable ways to get a bachelor’s degree typically is to attend an in-State public school. Here is a website with information about how to qualify as a Wisconsin resident: https://www.wisconsin.edu/student-resources/determining-residency-for-tuition-purposes/. While in-State tuition for a public institution is not financial aid, it is subsidized. The cost of attending an in-State public institution should be compared to the cost of other institutions after financial aid awards are offered. Families often do not pay the sticker price.

Wisconsin Tuition Reciprocity

Minnesota has tuition reciprocity agreements with: Minnesota, Michigan, Illinois, and Iowa. Please note that the tuition reciprocity agreement with Minnesota appears to have fewer limits than the agreements with the other States. For information on how to apply for reciprocity, please see: https://heab.state.wi.us/programs.html#RECIP.

Midwest Student Exchange Program

The Midwest Student Exchange Program (MSEP) offers discounted tuition to students in certain Midwest States. The MSEP is less generous than tuition reciprocity. Under it, students pay up to 150 percent of the resident tuition rate (which is still below the non-resident rate) at participating public schools. In addition, students may receive a 10 percent reduction in tuition at participating private schools. The States participating in MSEP (that do not have tuition reciprocity agreements with Wisconsin) include: North Dakota, Indiana, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, and Ohio. For further information, please see: https://msep.mhec.org.

Wisconsin Need-Based Grants

The Wisconsin Grant Program provides need-based financial aid to Wisconsin residents who are enrolled at least half-time in colleges and universities located in Wisconsin. Students complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid or FAFSA ® to apply for a grant under this program. The awards may not be used for more than ten semesters. The awards for students attending public institutions may be as large as $3,150 annually. Information about the program can be found at: https://heab.state.wi.us/programs.html#WGPNP.

The Talent Incentive Program Grant is another need-based grant program. Information about it can be found here: https://heab.state.wi.us/programs.html#TIP. As is the case with the Wisconsin Grant Program Program, students complete the FAFSA ® to apply for the program. Financial aid offices or counselors of the Wisconsin Educational Opportunity Programs nominate freshmen students for these grants. The grants may not exceed $1,800 annually.

Wisconsin Merit-Based Financial Aid

Wisconsin awards Academic Excellence Scholarships (AES) to the student with the highest GPA in each Wisconsin high school – public or private. The scholarships may be used at colleges in Wisconsin – public or private. Students must enroll by September 30th of the academic year following the year the high school identified the student to receive the scholarship. The scholarships provide students with $2,250 each year. Half of the scholarship is funded by the State and half is funded by the student’s college. For more information, please see: https://heab.state.wi.us/features/aes.html

Other Wisconsin Grants and Scholarships

Other Wisconsin programs are more narrowly targeted to certain groups of students, including minorities, students enrolled in health studies, public defenders, and veterans. These programs can be found here: https://heab.state.wi.us/programs.html#TIP