Welcome to the College of Letters & Science Scholarships page for incoming freshmen. We hope that you consider the College of Letters & Science (L&S) a great home to explore your interests, pursue your passions, and earn your degree.
Applying to college is both exciting and complex. Please keep in mind that each institution has its own processes that differ dramatically from one another. The earlier you research scholarships and financial assistance processes the better. Do not wait until your admittance decision arrives before applying for scholarships and aid. Many deadlines occur prior to the admittance decision.
At this time, College of Letters & Science incoming freshmen students do not need to apply for general college scholarships but are automatically considered based on the undergraduate admissions application and financial aid information from the FAFSA. No additional information is required to be considered for Letters & Science incoming freshmen scholarships.
The UW-Madison admissions decision process is completely independent of the College of Letters & Science scholarship awarding process.
Scholarship Information
Typically 100 Letters & Science scholarships are awarded to a class of over 3,000 incoming freshmen. Scholarship opportunities are very limited for non-residents. International students are not eligible for incoming freshmen scholarships.
Letters & Science scholarships are for students intending to earn their degrees from the College of Letters & Science. Those students planning to pursue a degree in another College or School are not considered.
Most College of Letters & Science scholarships require some financial need. It is strongly recommended that interested applicants complete the FAFSA by the December 1 priority date to be reviewed for consideration.
Awarding of Letters & Science scholarships include the following considerations: academic achievement and motivation; creative accomplishment; community involvement and leadership; diversity of interests, background, and experiences; force of character; and/or financial need.
Scholarship amounts range from $500 to $8,000 per year (with the exception of 1 or 2 larger awards each year). Recipients must be enrolled full-time and meet academic and scholarship requirements.
Students will be notified between February and April if offered a Letters & Science scholarship. Updates regarding the awarding process for Letters & Science incoming freshmen can be accessed here.
In some instances scholarship awards may be posted after a student receives their financial aid package and require an aid adjustment.
There may be other opportunities for incoming freshmen that are not managed at the college-level. Please explore the Wisconsin Scholarships Hub.
All Letters & Science continuing students are eligible to apply for scholarships on an annual basis. Students not awarded scholarships as incoming freshmen need not be discouraged as more opportunities are available in subsequent years. Go to Letters & Science continuing student scholarships for more information.