Financial Aid & Scholarships - Graduate

Financial aid programs

Information concerning the various types of financial aid is available on each Graduate program's website as well as the Financial Aid Office's website.

Need-Based Aid: Some financial aid programs are based on financial need as determined using the student financial information provided on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Need-based programs include Advanced Opportunity Program, School Psychology (Online), Student Affairs Administration, and Public Health: Community Health Education Program (the Master of Public Health online program).

Non-Need-Based Aid: This includes Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans, Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loans, most UWL scholarships, private scholarships, and private student loans for higher education. For more information, visit the Financial Aid Office.

Eligibility requirements

Academic Requirements: Admission to the university is a prerequisite to consideration for financial aid. Special non-degree students are not eligible for aid unless they are working for a qualifying, approved teacher certification or certificate. Add-on teaching certifications are not eligible for federal aid. Students must demonstrate satisfactory academic progress in order to receive aid. 

Other Requirements: These include eligible U.S. citizenship status and not being in default on any federal student loan. See the withdrawal from the university policy for additional requirements. Awards are subject to change at any time pursuant to changes to federal funding levels or regulatory mandates.

Credit Load Required for Financial Aid

Graduate financial aid is awarded based on university enrollment status of degree or certificate seeking students. Students must be enrolled in at least five credits within a single enrollment term to be eligible for financial aid. Students must be enrolled in at least nine credits within a single semester term to be considered full-time. Credits must be applicable to the student's declared degree program or certificate program. Financial aid is reduced accordingly for students enrolled less than full-time, but at least half-time (five credits).

Application procedures

Financial aid applicants must submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to the Federal Processing System. Applications are available after October 1 each year. File the FAFSA by February 1 for priority consideration, although applications are accepted throughout the academic year.

Notification dates

Graduate students in programs with summer sessions may receive their summer financial aid offer beginning in April. Academic year aid offers begin in mid-June. Applications received after June 1 may not be processed in time for students to receive their aid by the start of the fall semester. These students should be prepared to pay their initial expenses from their own resources.

Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy

Information regarding UWL's satisfactory academic progress policy is available in the Financial Aid Office.

Scholarships and awards

Many scholarships and awards have been established by alumni, faculty and staff, parents, students, businesses, and organizations. Recipients are selected by scholarship committees on the basis of an application, grade point average, and other materials as deemed appropriate by departmental committees. Scholarships are presented to students whose qualifications best fit the stipulations of the donor. Amounts may vary annually based on funding from gifts or investment earnings available from a fund. Almost all scholarships are contingent upon full-time enrollment both fall and spring semesters at UWL. Scholarships and awards for the academic year are usually paid in two payments, the first half in the fall semester and the other half in the spring semester.

UWL Foundation Scholarship applications are available to currently enrolled students or admitted incoming students through the UWL Alumni & Friends Foundation.1 All applications (unless otherwise indicated) must be submitted to the UWL Foundation Office. The deadline for these applications is February 1 each year. Scholarships and awards are typically announced during the last week in April. For additional information, visit the Scholarship Resource Center's UWL Foundation scholarships or call 608.785.8760.

Visit the Scholarship Resource Center to learn about and apply for additional private scholarships.

1

The UWL Alumni & Friends Foundation, Inc., is an independent non-profit, tax-exempt Wisconsin corporation and a tax-exempt public charity under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Created in 1967 to promote the welfare of the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, it accomplishes this by encouraging, soliciting, receiving, managing, and administering gifts from alumni, friends, businesses, and other programs that advance the mission of the University. Gifts to the Foundation are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law as applied to the individual circumstances of each donor.

Further resources

  • For more information regarding student financial aid programs, visit the Financial Aid Office (215 Graff Main Hall) or contact Financial Aid at 608.785.8604 or finaid@uwlax.edu.
  • For more information about graduate scholarships, visit the UWL Alumni & Friends Foundation (Cleary Alumni and Friends Center) or contact the Foundation at 608.785.8760 or foundation@uwlax.edu.
  • For more information about graduate assistantships, contact the graduate program's director.