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How do I apply for incoming freshman scholarships? When is the deadline?
All domestic UW-Madison applicants are considered for Letters & Science college scholarships by reviewing information contained in the admissions application and the FAFSA. For the 2023-2024 Freshman class, there is no separate scholarship application for College of Letters & Science students.
There are some other opportunities for Letters & Science incoming freshmen. Please log-in often to the Wisconsin Scholarship Hub (WiSH) to explore matching to applications.
Students who apply for Fall 2023 Early Action receive primary consideration for the College of Letters & Science scholarships. The UW-Madison admissions decision process is completely independent of the College of Letters & Science scholarship awarding process.
If I am a non-resident of the state of Wisconsin, can I apply (including international and Minnesota)?
For the entering class of 2023-2024, all non-resident Letters & Science freshmen students have no additional application to complete; however, scholarship awards for non-resident incoming freshmen are extremely limited (less than 5 available). As very few scholarships are available to non-residents, students will be considered based on the information contained in the admissions application.
Students from Minnesota are not considered residents for College of Letters & Science scholarships.
International students can apply for scholarships during their second, third, and fourth years. However, international students are ineligible for scholarships that require or have a preference for students with financial need. There are no Letters & Science scholarship opportunities for incoming first-year international students.
What are the eligibility criteria for College of Letters & Science freshmen scholarships?
Review the Letters & Science criteria found here.
Many Letters & Science scholarships require financial need. What defines financial need?
At UW-Madison, financial need is determined by the FAFSA. Cost of attendance and the estimated family contribution determine the student’s level of financial need. Most applications also include a section where a student can share extenuating circumstances. Prospective students are strongly encouraged to complete the FAFSA by the December 1st campus priority deadline.
Who do I contact with questions about Letters & Science scholarships?
Please send an email to scholarships@saa.ls.wisc.edu or call (608) 262-3912.
How and when will I be notified about the status of my scholarship awards?
Incoming Letters & Science freshmen will be notified between March 1 and April 15, only if offered a scholarship. If you do not receive an email communication by April 15, it is safe to assume a college scholarship will not be awarded.
For periodic updates regarding Letters & Science freshmen scholarships, click here.
How many scholarships are available for incoming freshmen?
Due to limited resources, there are an insufficient number of scholarships to award all the talented and exceptional students who apply for admission to UW-Madison. For the 2022-2023 school year, approximately 150 scholarships were awarded to incoming Wisconsin residents ranging from $500 to $8,000, (including only 3 full cost of attendance scholarships). Approximately 15 of these were 4-year awards. For non-resident freshmen, less than 5 scholarships were awarded ranging from $2,000 to $12,000.
Why does WiSH present me with several scholarships, but there are no applications to fill out? Am I being considered for all the scholarships or just one?
There are many scholarships listed on the WiSH website. However, there is no separate application for the incoming freshmen in the College of Letters & Science for the 2023-2024 incoming class. UW-Madison applicants will be reviewed for College of Letters & Science scholarships on the basis of the information contained in the admissions application and the FAFSA. Incoming freshmen will not match to a Letters & Science scholarship application, but there may be other opportunities for you to apply.
You may continue to check the system at any time. Check the WiSH website to explore other opportunities for scholarships.
Can I be considered if I intend to get my degree from another school or college like the School of Business or Pharmacy or the School of Education? What if I am also a declared major in another school or college or am interested in gaining entry to another school or college?
Many students are undecided and are considered for Letters & Science scholarships. However, if you intend to enter any other school or college, you are not eligible for Letters & Science scholarships. The scholarships are awarded to students intending to earn a degree from the College of Letters & Science.
Information regarding academic interests and intended major(s) contained in the admissions application is reviewed.
If you intend to major in two different schools or colleges, you are not considered to be receiving a degree from Letters & Sciences and are therefore ineligible.
How will getting a scholarship affect my financial aid?
Scholarships are considered financial aid whether or not they include a requirement for financial need. The scholarship amount is included as a part of the student’s aid package. Scholarship awards can result in financial aid adjustments. Contact finaid@finaid.wisc.edu.
Can I apply for scholarships if I am a part-time student enrolled for under 12 credits?
Scholarship opportunities are reserved for full-time (minimum enrollment of 12 credits) students. On occasion, exceptions are made. Please contact scholarships@saa.ls.wisc.edu with a summary of the particular circumstances.
If I do not receive a scholarship as a freshman, will there be there be future opportunities to apply for college scholarships?
Once a student is matriculated into the College of Letters & Science, the student can apply for scholarships during the annual cycle early each spring for awards paid out the following fall term.
There are also many opportunities across the institution depending on the student’s interest, activities and major(s).