Grants

Types of Grants

Federal Grants


Federal Pell Grant

Description:

The Federal Pell Grant offers assistance to high need students working toward their first bachelor’s degree. The Pell Grant is funded each year by Congress, which sets the minimum and maximum award amounts. If you are eligible for the Pell Grant, it will be listed in Self-Service under your financial aid award. Eligibility is determined by the information on your FAFSA. There is no separate application, and the award will disburse automatically after the census date. If you are enrolled less than full-time (12 credits) the amount disbursed will be less than the amount listed on your award offer.

If you are enrolled full-time (12 or more credits year-round), you will receive your full eligibility. If you are enrolled in 9 to 11 credits, you will receive 75% of your eligibility. If you are enrolled in 6 to 8 credits, you will receive one-half of your eligibility. If you are enrolled with less than 6 credits, you might be eligible for a small amount each semester.

Do I Qualify?

You must be an undergraduate student in order to receive the Federal Pell Grant. In other words, if you have not earned a baccalaureate degree or its equivalent and you are not working on a Professional Degree.

How much can I get?

Amounts can change yearly. The maximum Federal Pell Grant award is $7,395 for the 2023–24 award year (July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024).

The amount you get will depend on:

  • your Expected Family Contribution,
  • the cost of attendance (determined by your school for your specific program,
  • your status as a full-time or part-time student, and
  • your plans to attend school for a full academic year or less.

Learn more at https://studentaid.gov/understand-aid/types/grants/pell.

What is the Expected Family Contribution and how is it calculated?

Your Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) is not the amount of money your family will have to pay for college, nor is it the amount of federal aid you will receive. It is a number used to calculate how much financial aid you are eligible to receive.

The EFC is calculated according to a formula established by The Department of Education. Your family’s taxed and untaxed income, assets, and benefits could be considered in the formula. The size of your family in the household and the number who will be attending college during the year is also considered. To learn how the EFC is calculated and more, visit https://studentaid.gov/complete-aid-process/how-calculated “The EFC formula”.

Will I qualify for The Federal Pell Grant during the summer semester?

If you are Federal Pell Grant eligible and attended full-time both semesters, you may be eligible for an additional Pell Grant if you are enrolled in 6 credits or more.

A student awarded Year-Round Pell which includes the summer semester must be enrolled in a minimum of 6 credit hours.  If enrollment falls below 6 credit hours due to being withdrawn for lack of attendance or dropping a course, then the total summer Pell award will be cancelled.

If you were not enrolled full time for the fall and spring semesters, the difference in what you were awarded and what you received may be available to you during the summer semester based on your enrollment status and credits.

Can I receive Federal Pell Grant funds at more than one school at a time?

No. A student may not receive Pell Grant payments concurrently from more than one institution or from the Department and a school.

Is there a limit to the amount of Federal Pell Grant I can receive?

Yes. You can receive the Federal Pell Grant for a total equivalent to 6 full time years of enrollment showing as 100% for each full-time year of enrollment. You qualify for 600% Pell funds in total.

Full-time enrollment equals 12+ college level credits. One full-time semester equals 50% of Pell for the year. Two full time semesters (12+ credits for fall and spring semesters) equal 100% Pell for the year. If you are enrolled in less than full time credits, the 50% is reduced according to the number of credits you are enrolled in. Please see below for the percentage breakdown per semester and year.

Pell usage per semester
Enrolled Credits Percent of Pell usage
12+ 50%
9-11 38%
6-8 25%
less than 6 13%

*To determine the usage for the year, add the percentages together for each semester (fall and spring) based on each semester enrollment status.

If you receive the Federal Pell Grant for summer, it will count towards your 600% eligibility. Summer usage is also calculated using the above table.

To see what you have used towards your lifetime limit, go to nslds.ed.gov then log in using your FSA ID and password.

Will my Federal Pell Grant award be recalculated if I drop a class?

Your Pell award may be recalculated if you drop a class before the start date, drop a class you never attended or if an instructor drops you for never attending. The new award will reflect the number of credits/courses you have attended.

Do I qualify for the Federal Pell Grant if I have been incarcerated?

You may not qualify for the Federal Pell based on certain convictions. To learn more, please visit https://studentaid.gov/understand-aid/eligibility/requirements/criminal-convictions to learn more.

Federal Work-Study (FWS) Program

Description

The FWS Program provides funds that are earned through part-time employment to assist students in financing the costs of postsecondary education.

Iraq or Afghanistan Service Grant

The Iraq or Afghanistan Service Grant is awarded to a student whose parent or guardian died as a result of U.S. military service in Iraq or Afghanistan after September 11, 2001. Identified students may receive increased federal financial aid if at the time of the parent or guardian’s death they were either less than 24 years old or were enrolled in college.

Eligibility is based on the following:

  • You are Pell eligible but have not received the maximum amount based on your EFC, OR
  • You are not Pell Grant eligible because your EFC is too high, you may then receive the IASG.

For students who are eligible, the Financial Aid Office will automatically offer this grant based on information provided by the Department of Education.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)

Description

The FSEOG Program provides need-based grants to low-income undergraduate students to promote access to postsecondary education.

Who is Eligible?

Students who:

  • demonstrate significant financial need
  • show a low EFC or Expected Family Contribution
  • enrolled half time
  • will receive Federal Pell Grant

How Do I Apply?

To be considered for this grant, use the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FASFA) form to apply for financial aid. You can apply at http://studentaid.gov

How is the Award Determined?

The award is administered by MATC, and will be part of the student's overall aid package. The specific amount is set by the institution's financial aid office depending on the student's:

  • financial need
  • the funds available at the school
  • the amount of aid the student is already receiving

How Much Am I Eligible For?

  • MATC determines how much funds are available per student.
  • The federal minimum for FSEOG is $100 per academic year.

Additional Information

Additional information regarding the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant is available online via the U.S. Department of Education's “Do You Need Money for College or Career School? Click here to access more information http://studentaid.gov/understand-aid/types/grants/fseog

State Grants

Wisconsin Higher Education Grant (WHEG)
Provides assistance to Wisconsin residents enrolled at least half-time at colleges or universities based in Wisconsin. Awarded are based on financial need and eligibility cannot exceed ten semesters. The maximum award amount is established annually by the Higher Education Aids Board (HEAB).

Talent Incentive Program (TIP) GRANT
Provides grant assistance to the most financially needy and educationally disadvantaged Wisconsin resident students attending colleges and universities in the State of Wisconsin. First- time freshmen students are nominated for the TIP Grant by the school financial aid offices or by counselors of the Wisconsin Educational Opportunity Programs (WEOP). To continue to receive the TIP Grant, you must continue to show financial need. Eligibility cannot exceed ten semesters

Indian Student Assistance Grant
Awards under this program are made to Wisconsin residents who are at least 25% Native American and are undergraduate or graduate students enrolled in degree or certificate programs at University of Wisconsin, Wisconsin Technical College, independent colleges and universities, tribal colleges, or proprietary institutions based in Wisconsin. Awards are based on financial need with a limit of ten semesters of eligibility. HEAB has an informal matching arrangement with grant funds awarded by the Federal Bureau of Indian Affairs and Wisconsin Tribal governments.

Minority Undergraduate Retention Grant
Awards under this program are made to Wisconsin resident minority undergraduates, excluding first year students, enrolled at least half-time in independent, tribal, or Wisconsin Technical College institutions. According to the statutes, a minority student is defined as a student who is either an African American; American Indian; Hispanic; or Southeast Asian from Laos, Cambodia, or Vietnam admitted to the U. S. after December 31, 1975. Awards are based on financial need with a maximum grant of $2,500 per year for up to eight semesters or twelve quarters.

Hearing & Visually Handicapped Student Grant
The Handicapped Student Grant Program was established to provide funding for undergraduate Wisconsin residents, enrolled at in-state or eligible out-of-state public or independent institutions who show financial need and have a severe or profound hearing or visual impairment. Students are eligible to receive up to $1,800 per year for up to ten semesters.

Additional Information on State of Wisconsin Financial Aid Administered by HEAB