Scholarships
A great education should also be an affordable one, and 80% of our students receive financial aid — usually in a combination of scholarships, loans, grants and work-study.
To apply for financial aid, submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for maximum financial aid consideration. We use the FAFSA results to determine what kind of aid you’re eligible to receive.
Scholarships & Information by Student Type
Discover a wealth of scholarship opportunities tailored to your unique student profile. Explore a diverse range of scholarships designed to meet the specific needs and characteristics of different student types. Whether you’re an aspiring undergraduate, a graduate student, an international scholar, or someone with unique talents and interests, there are scholarships available to help you achieve your educational goals.
Some scholarships for new freshmen require no action from the student as they are considered automatically through the admission process. Other scholarship opportunities require the student to complete an application in the Panther Scholarship Portal to be considered. Use the New Freshman Scholarships filter to see opportunities specific to you.
Once you have been admitted to UWM, use your ePantherID to sign in to the Panther Scholarship Portal and complete the General Application. Complete as much as possible, as this will be the primary source of information used to select recipients. Based on your answers in the General Application, you will be directed to fill out more specific applications tied to scholarships for which you are eligible.
Each scholarship offered by UWM has unique eligibility criteria. Some are open to most or all students. Others have specific requirements about academic achievements, intended majors or careers, or even which high school a student attended. But the Panther Scholarship Portal uses your student data and your answers on the General Application to match you with open scholarship opportunities for which you are eligible. You can then complete and submit applications online.
Incoming students are assigned a school or college based on information they have listed in their application for admission.
Chancellor’s Merit Scholarship
The Chancellor’s Merit Scholarship is automatically awarded to new freshmen based on high school grade point average (GPA).
Black & Gold Scholarship
The Black & Gold Scholarship is automatically awarded to new freshmen based on high school grade point average (GPA).
Admission Scholarships
In recognition of outstanding academic achievement, UWM awards merit-based admission scholarships to incoming first-year students each year through a competitive scholarship awarding process. Awards range from $500 to $5,000, and some may be renewable.
How can I qualify for an admission scholarship?
After being admitted, new freshmen students are encouraged to complete the Panther Scholarship Portal General Application to be considered for merit-based scholarships.
What is considered in the awarding process?
In addition to the student’s responses on the Panther Scholarship Portal General Application, criteria such as high school grade point average, class rank, and ACT/SAT scores (if provided) may be considered.
When will I hear if I’ve been awarded an admission scholarship?
Scholarship award offers are emailed beginning in late fall and continuing through the spring. Students with questions should contact the Office of Student Scholarships.
Academic Excellence Scholarship
The Wisconsin Academic Excellence Scholarship (AES) is awarded to Wisconsin high school seniors who have the highest grade point average in each public and private high school throughout the State of Wisconsin.
Out-of-State Students
UWM is a great value and an even better investment because we’re competitively priced and students qualify for special discount programs that bring your costs close to Wisconsin resident rates—and far below the price tags of private colleges. The $1,000 annual Milwaukee Advantage Program (MAP) award is offered to students from Illinois, Minnesota, and other Midwest states.
International Students
International students are eligible for many scholarships at UWM. The Panther Scholarship Portal allows international students, like all students, to explore the scholarships they are eligible for, be considered for those with automatic offers when their ePantherID is activated, and apply to any scholarships that require additional information for consideration.
New transfer students at UWM are encouraged to complete the Panther Scholarship Portal General Application to be automatically considered for admission scholarships and others. Use the Transfer Student Scholarships filter to view opportunities specific to you.
New transfer students first enrolling at UWM for the spring semester should plan on being admitted by December 1st to be considered for University-Wide scholarships.
The following Schools and Colleges offer scholarship opportunities unique to incoming transfer students:
- Architecture and Urban Planning, School of
- Arts, Peck School of the
- Biomedical Sciences & Health Care Administration, School of
- Business, Sheldon B. Lubar College of
- Education, School of
- Information Studies, School of
- Nursing, School of
- Public Health, Joseph J. Zilber College of
- Rehabilitation Sciences & Technology, School of
- Social Welfare, Helen Bader School of
Out-of-State Students
UWM is a great value and an even better investment because we’re competitively priced and students qualify for special discount programs that bring your costs close to Wisconsin resident rates—and far below the price tags of private colleges. The $1,000 annual Milwaukee Advantage Program (MAP) award is offered to students from Illinois, Minnesota, and other Midwest states.
Most scholarship opportunities for graduate students come in the form of fellowships, assistantships, and tuition waivers and are offered by departments within the School or College. Visit the Graduate School for more information.
Graduate students are encouraged to visit the Panther Scholarship Portal for other scholarship opportunities.
Fellowships, as well as some tuition remissions or waivers, can affect your financial aid package. Teaching, Research, and Project Assistantships (TAs/RAs/PAs) do not affect your eligibility for federal aid. Although TAs and PAs are no longer considered a financial aid resource, the earnings should be listed as untaxed income on your FAFSA. If you are receiving a tuition waiver or fellowship from the university, and it does not appear in your PAWS financial aid award, notify the Office of Student Scholarships as soon as possible.
If your other financial aid funds are disbursed prior to your remission/waiver, these will automatically be applied to your tuition account balance. You may not receive any expected refund check until after your tuition remission/waiver has been processed.
Graduate students are automatically assigned a Cost of Attendance that assumes in-state tuition and enrollment in eight or more credits. If you are an out-of-state resident and you do not receive non-resident tuition remission, you may contact the Student Financial Service Center to request a review of your financial aid award for a possible revision. This may allow you to borrow additional loans (usually in the form of a Federal Direct Grad PLUS or a Private Alternative Loan.)
International Students
International students are eligible for many scholarships at UWM. The Panther Scholarship Portal allows international students, like all students, to explore the scholarships they are eligible for, be considered for those with automatic offers when their ePantherID is activated, and apply to any scholarships that require additional information for consideration.
Continuing students apply for UWM scholarship opportunities using the Panther Scholarship Portal.
New to the scholarship application process at UWM? Review our Getting Started with Scholarships guide.
Each scholarship offered by UWM has unique eligibility criteria. Some are open to most or all students. Others have specific requirements about academic achievements, intended majors or careers, or even which high school a student attended. The Panther Scholarship Portal uses your student data to match you with open scholarship opportunities for which you are eligible. You can then complete and submit applications online.
Continuing students are encouraged to submit the General Application each year by February 1 to ensure consideration for next year’s scholarships. The best time to apply for scholarships for next year is between November 1 and February 1.
New scholarship applications open throughout the year, so be certain to access the Panther Scholarship Portal periodically to stay up to date with available opportunities. If you’re not currently matching to any recommended scholarships, there are likely no scholarship opportunities open.
Check your UWM email for announcements about open applications, and explore the Panther Scholarship Portal for more information regarding start dates and new opportunities.
Non-traditional students typically include students who are returning adults looking to complete their education, students with children and/or dependents, and active members of the military or veterans. Visit the Panther Scholarship Portal for scholarship opportunities.
Students who previously attended UWM and are planning for re-entry may also be eligible for scholarships.
Signature Scholarship Opportunities
UWM awards more than $28 million in student scholarships annually.
Visit the Panther Scholarship Portal to learn more.
Additional Information & Resources
Exploring scholarship information further, you’ll find a wealth of additional information and resources to deepen your understanding and expand your knowledge of how scholarships work and how the Office of Student Scholarships can help.
Use the resources below to understand how scholarships work at UWM.
To apply for scholarships, visit the Panther Scholarship Portal.
All UWM campuses and schools/colleges offer scholarships to their students. Visit their pages below for additional information.
To apply for scholarships, visit the Panther Scholarship Portal.
- Architecture and Urban Planning, School of
- Arts, Peck School of the
- Biomedical Sciences & Health Care Administration, School of
- Business, Sheldon B. Lubar College of
- Education, School of
- Engineering & Applied Science, College of
- Freshwater Sciences, School of
- Graduate School
- Honors College
- Information Studies, School of
- International Education, Center for
- Letters and Science, College of
- Nursing, School of
- Public Health, Joseph J. Zilber College of
- Rehabilitation Sciences & Technology, School of
- Social Welfare, Helen Bader School of
- UWM at Waukesha Foundation
To apply for scholarships, visit the Panther Scholarship Portal.
Private scholarships are a form of gift aid that is awarded to students by external organizations like community nonprofits or local businesses. These are scholarships given by donors and organizations not affiliated with UWM.
We encourage you to use caution when providing personal information to private scholarship providers, and you should never have to pay or purchase products or services in order to be eligible for a scholarship.
Do I have to report receiving a scholarship to anyone? Yes. If you do not report the private scholarship(s) you receive, you may have to repay federal and/or state aid.
Donors or organizations who want to notify UW-Milwaukee of a scholarship for a UWM student may do so here:
It may take up to three weeks from the time UWM receives a private scholarship check to add and disburse it to a student’s PAWS account.
Do you have a scholarship you would like us to post on our site? Complete our Post a Scholarship Form for consideration.
Use the links below to learn more about our scholarship recipients.
Other Sources for Financial Assistance
Grants
A grant is generally based on financial need and does not have to be repaid. UWM offers need-based grants that can be paired with other awards to further reduce costs. To qualify, students should complete and submit the FAFSA.
Student Loans
Student loans are federal and private funds that must be repaid at a later date. In order to qualify for federal loan funding, submit the FAFSA.
Work-Study
Federal work-study provides part-time employment to degree-seeking students with financial need. Federal work-study funds are limited, so students seeking employment are encouraged to look for jobs posted on Handshake.
Amazon Career Choice
The Career Choice collaboration offers hourly Amazon employees in Wisconsin support to pursue a UWM undergraduate degree or certificate. Learn more about the Amazon Career Choice Program.