Costs, Scholarships, and Aid
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Wisconsin's combination of academic excellence and great value place us at the top of many "best buy" lists, include those in The Princeton Review, Barron's Best Buys in College Education, and The Fiske Guide to Colleges.
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Tuition and Fees
A University of Wisconsin education is an investment in your future. When you compare our costs to those at many of the nation's top universities, you'll quickly discover Wisconsin truly offers affordable excellence.
The actual cost of attendance varies from student to student, but we provide the following estimates to help you plan for your education. These figures are projected expenses for the 2008–09 academic year.
Estimated Cost of Attendance (2008–09)
| Wisconsin Resident | Minnesota Resident | Nonresident | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition and Fees | $7,570 | $9,230 | $21,820 |
| Books and Supplies | $990 | $990 | $990 |
| Room and Board* | $7,700 | $7,700 | $7,700 |
| Travel and Personal | $2,770 | $2,770 | $2,770 |
| Estimated Total | $19,030 | $20,690 | $33,280 |
*Room cost is based on double occupancy in a University Residence Hall. Food (board) cost is a combined estimate for standard residence hall food service and typical off-campus food purchases.
For official university tuition figures, visit the Registrar's Office Web site. You can learn more about student financial account information, including payment deadlines, at the Bursar's Office Web site.
Residency for Tuition Purposes
Because UW-Madison is a state-funded public university, in-state students and out-of-state students pay different rates for tuition. Initial residency classification for tuition purposes is determined by the Office of the Registrar. In general, you must be a bona fide resident of Wisconsin for at least 12 months prior to enrollment to be eligible for in-state tuition. However, if you come to Wisconsin primarily for educational purposes, you do not qualify as a Wisconsin resident even after living in the state for a year or more. For complete information, visit the Residence Counselor's Office Web site.
Financial Aid
While we make every effort to keep our tuition rates affordable, we realize many students rely on financial assistance to help meet the difference between their resources and the cost of college.
Each year, 60 percent of Wisconsin undergraduates receive financial assistance totaling $155 million. Awards are based on demonstrated financial need and in recognition of academic merit, athletic ability, and artistic talent.
Aid comes in three forms:
- Scholarships and Grants, which do not need to be repaid
- Loans, which are generally based on financial need and have to be repaid
- Work-Study, which provides aid in exchange for work
The Office of Student Financial Services helps eligible students identify financial aid opportunities to assist with their college expenses. In addition to providing information about funding sources (including scholarships and grants, loans, work-study, and part-time jobs), the counselors review financial aid applications, award federal and state funds, and offer professional money-management advice to students.
Scholarships
Wisconsin offers hundreds of scholarships each year, in recognition of academic achievement, athletic ability, and artistic talent. View our online Guide to Undergraduate Scholarships for detailed information on the scholarship programs available to incoming freshmen and continuing students. The guide includes scholarship amounts, eligibility, deadlines, and application information.
Keep in mind that there are a great many other sources of scholarship and grant money, including business and professional groups, service organizations, churches, and alumni associations. For information on non-university scholarships that may be of interest to Wisconsin students, visit the Scholarship Information Board site, FastWeb, or FinAid.
How to Apply for Aid
You need to take a few steps to apply for financial aid at Wisconsin:
- Apply for Admission. While we cannot begin to process your financial aid application until you have been admitted to the university, you can apply for financial aid at any time. We suggest you apply for admission and financial aid by February 1 to receive your award notification on the earliest possible date. When you complete your application for admission, be sure to check "Yes" on the question that asks: Do you plan to apply for financial aid? We will then let you know about the necessary forms and next steps in the financial aid application process. It can take 3-6 weeks to receive your award notification after all forms have been received.
- Submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). All students seeking financial aid must complete the FAFSA. It's available online at www.fafsa.ed.gov. It is very important that you complete the FAFSA as soon after January 1 as possible to receive full consideration for awards. Wisconsin's FAFSA code is 003895.
- Apply for Scholarships. Applying for most scholarships is a separate process. There is not a single scholarship application that pertains to all. To get started, review the online Guide to Undergraduate Scholarships, which includes information on deadlines and eligibility, as well as links to specific applications. For information on non-university scholarships that may be of interest to Wisconsin students, visit the Scholarship Information Board site, FastWeb, or FinAid.
- Check Your Aid Status. Visit our Application Status Web site to learn more