Applying for Aid

You need to take a few steps to apply for financial aid at Wisconsin:

1. 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.
2. 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.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. Please note that there is no charge to file the FAFSA. There is also no benefit to paying a company to file your federal financial aid form for you. If you have any questions on completing the FAFSA, contact our Office of Student Financial Aid.
3. 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 our Scholarships@UW–Madison Web site, 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 FastWeb or FinAid.
4. Check Your Aid Status. Visit our Application Status Web site to learn more.

Complete the FAFSA

Completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid is your first step in becoming eligible for financial aid and scholarships at UW. Learn more and complete the form online at www.fafsa.gov.