Scholarships in Wisconsin to Help You Pay for College

Wisconsin is home to several respected universities, including the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Marquette University, but the rising cost of tuition presents the same obstacle to education as it does in most other states.

To study in Wisconsin, in-state tuition costs an average of $6,615 per year, while the average out-of-state tuition rises to $21,485. It’s no surprise that many students don’t have this money lying around and are forced to explore different options to fund their education.

Jump to:

When it comes to paying for college, scholarships are one of the best options. Here’s why:

Why scholarships?

Thinking about how to afford college? Saddle up for this college scholarship overview. Scholarships are a common form of financial support for education. And in particular, local scholarships are a good bet because they are often less competitive–meaning there’s a higher chance of winning that scholarship award money.

Find local and statewide scholarships on Going Merry. For example, here are just some of the great, local Wisconsin scholarships.

Scholarships in Wisconsin

1. Alice E. Smith Fellowship

Amount: Up to $2,000

Provider: Wisconsin Historical Society

Who Can Apply: Undergraduate, Graduate, and Doctorate students majoring in Foreign Languages and Literature, English Language and Literature, Creative Writing, and History

Application Requirements: Resume and a completed book proposal

The Alice E. Smith Fellowship supports research and writing for publication of books by the Wisconsin Historical Society Press. Professional and nonprofessional writers, academics, and independent scholars are invited to apply. Only individuals, not organizations, are eligible, and grants are given in the amount of $1,000-$2,000.

2. Wisconsin Private Non-Profit Scholarship

Amount: Varies

Provider: College Board

Who Can Apply: High School Seniors, Community College students, and Undergraduate students planning to/ attending an eligible school in Wisconsin.

Wisconsin Private Non-Profit Scholarship provides financial assistance to financially needy undergraduate students attending private institutions of higher education in Wisconsin or abroad.

3. Ripon Education Foundation Scholarships

Amount: Up to $500

Provider: Ripon Education Foundation

Application Requirements: Transcript

Every spring, the Ripon Education Foundation awards more than a dozen scholarships, ranging from $500 to $5,000, to college-bound Ripon High School seniors. To date, the Foundation awarded more than $250,000 in scholarships to more than 350 deserving students. Scholarship recipients are selected by the Ripon Education Foundation Scholarship Committee according to the specific criteria for each scholarship.

4. $5,000 Chief Simon Kahquados Scholarship

The Chief Simon Scholarship Recipient will receive a one-time $5,000 scholarship awarded for the academic year. The scholarship award may be applied to tuition & fees. The Foundation’s Advisory Committee reviews and scores all scholarship application documents. Applicants must volunteer academic documents to the Forest County Potawatomi Foundation for the application process and during the scholarship term.

Amount: $5,000

Provider: Forest County Potawatomi Community Foundation

Who Can Apply: U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents that register as a full-time or part-time student (6 credit minimum) at an accredited Wisconsin Educational Institute for Fall and completed at least one year of coursework.

5. Vida Cummins Stanton Scholarship

The Vida Cummins Stanton Scholarship is a fantastic opportunity for those looking to pursue a career in librarianship. This scholarship aims to provide support to those admitted to a master’s degree program in library and information science or library media at a Wisconsin school.

Amount: $1,600

Provider: Wisconsin Library Association (WLA)

Who Can Apply: Undergraduate seniors, graduate students, and doctorate students majoring in library sciences at the University of Wisconsin.

6. Roma Lodge Merit Scholarship

The Roma Lodge celebrates Italian culture and life in the USA for Italian-Americans. The Roma Lodge Merit Scholarship is available to high school seniors who are children of Roma Lodge members.

Amount: Up to $4,000

Provider: Roma Lodge

Who Can Apply: High School Seniors with high academic achievement, and who plan to attend a four-year college or university.

7. Association of Wisconsin Snowmobile Clubs Scholarship

The Association of Wisconsin Snowmobile Clubs Scholarship is available to members or dependents of members of the Association of Wisconsin Snowmobile Clubs. In order to qualify, graduating seniors should be actively involved in snowmobiling and successfully pass a snowmobile safety course.

Amount: $1,000 to $2,000

Provider: Association of Wisconsin Snowmobile Clubs

Who Can Apply: High School Seniors who are a member of dependent of a member of a Wisconsin Snowmobile Club. Must reside in Wisconsin.

Application Requirements: Transcript, Essay.

8. Wisconsin Sheriff’s and Deputy Sheriff’s Association Scholarship

The Wisconsin Sheriff’s and Deputy Sheriff’s Association Scholarship provides financial assistance to residents of Wisconsin seeking a professional certificate, associate, or bachelor’s degree. Students studying for a criminal justice or law enforcement degree are welcome to apply.

Amount: $500

Provider: Wisconsin Sheriff’s and Deputy Sheriff’s Association

Who Can Apply: High School Seniors, Community College Students, or Undergraduate Students.

Additional eligibility: (a) Must be full-time enrolled, (b) Pursuing Law and Legal Studies or Criminology and Criminal Justice.

Loving these scholarships, but need help applying for your government financial aid? We can help you fill out your FAFSA and state aid.

Learn more

Still have questions about your financial aid and college scholarships?

We know. It can feel impossible to figure out how finance your college education. No worries. We’ve got your back with this three-step plan:

First, you’ll need to understand the financial aid process, calculate your Expected Family Contribution (EFC), and submit your FAFSA as soon as possible (more details on FAFSA deadlines here).

Second, you’ll want to research some state-specific or university-specific financial aid options. For example, check out these Wisconsin scholarship application options:

Finally, you’ll want to supplement your federal and state student aid, with independent scholarships. That’s where Going Merry comes in. At Going Merry, we make finding and applying for scholarships easy (and, of course, free)! Get started today. Sign up here.

Author
Recent Posts

Brittany Mailhot

Latest posts by Brittany Mailhot (see all)

7 Outstanding Oregon Scholarships for 2024 - November 6, 2020
Great Scholarships for Students in Ohio for 2024 - November 4, 2020
Great Scholarships for Students in Texas for 2024 - July 30, 2020

Wonderful Wisconsin Scholarships for 2024