Financial Aid at UWM

At UWM we’re working on two years at once for most of the year. Be sure to select the resource for the appropriate year! The school year 2023-24 (we call it aid year 2024) applies to Fall 2023, Winter 2024, Spring 2024, and Summer 2024. The school year 2024-25 (we call it aid year 2025) applies to Fall 2024, Winter 2025, Spring 2025, and Summer 2025.

Financial Aid Presentations at UWM

Meet Milwaukee Presentation – An event for prospective students to learn more about UWM. Get an introduction to paying for your college experience in this presentation!

 Admitted Student Day – An event for admitted students to get to know UWM. Get to know the financial aid process in this presentation!

New Student Orientation Presentation – An event to help students in their first year of college. Get our recommendations for your next steps to get started on the right foot in this presentation!

How to Pay For College

  • My Future, My Way – Assists students (elementary, middle, and high school), as well as adults/parents, prepare financially and academically for college. Includes a basic checklist for FAFSA filing time.
  • Federal Student Aid for Adult Students – Adult students can receive federal aid regardless of age or credit rating. This web page answers adult students’ questions. It provides information on how to apply for federal student aid, important deadlines, types of aid available to adult students, and tips about going to or returning to college.
  • KnowHow2Go – Resource for career, college, and financial aid for middle school through senior year in high school.
  • Kiplinger – Kiplinger’s information on paying for college.
  • NASFAA Resources for Students, Parents, and Counselors – Financial Aid resource developed by the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators.
  • Look Forward to Your Future – A collection of financial aid and money management resources for students and families compiled by the state of Wisconsin.

College Saving Programs & Tax Credits

There’s great news for parents and students: the federal government provides a number of tax incentives that can help defray the cost of higher education. These incentives come in a couple of forms: Tax Credits, which directly reduce the amount of tax you are liable for; and Tax Deductions, which reduce the amount of income on which you pay taxes. You can find more information here.

In addition to tax credits & deductions, Wisconsin offers educational investment opportunities for families to save money for their student’s college expenses:

Understanding the FAFSA

  • Aid Estimator – Found under Thinking About College, you can forecast an early estimate of eligibility for federal student aid- Great for HS Juniors!
  • Studentaid.gov – Allows users to find federal student aid information, apply for federal aid, and repay student loans
  • College Goal Wisconsin– a state event that provides free information and assistance to families who need to complete the FAFSA. Great for HS Seniors entering in the Fall!

Money Management

  • GradReady – A UWM-specific financial literacy tool. Learn more about managing your tuition, budget, and bills.
  • Cash Course – Tools for managing your money
  • 360 Degrees of Financial Literacy – a program from the AICPA that has many helpful articles and tips about spending, saving, and managing money habits.
  • MyMoney.gov -A government website dedicated to teaching all Americans the basics of financial education.

Loans & Debt Repayment

  • Loan Repayment Options – This tool can help you find the best student repayment option.
  • Debt Resolution – Information and activities related to defaulted education debt for the U.S. Department of Education.
  • Nelnet (formerly Great Lakes) – Federal loan servicer. Many student loan borrowers from Wisconsin will have their loans serviced by Great Lakes.
  • Student Debt Repayment Assistant — Tool offered by the Federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau that can help you evaluate possible student loan repayment options.
  • Direct Loan Repayment Answers – Having difficulty making loan payments? Get answers to your questions on Repayment, Deferment, and Forbearance.
  • Federal Loan Consolidation – See if Loan Consolidation is a viable option for you.
  • National Student Loan Data System – Log into studentaid.gov with your Federal Student Aid ID and you will have access to your dashboard which displays information on loan and/or grant amounts, outstanding balances, etc.
  • Office of Student Financial Aid Ombudsman – Works with student loan borrowers to informally resolve loan disputes and problems.
  • Entrance Counseling Guide – Provides a general overview of information students will need when deciding how much money to borrow to pay for college costs. Discusses the types of Federal Direct Loans, costs of borrowing, steps on how to get a loan, and the responsibility to repay the loan.
  • Federal Student Loans: Repaying Your Loans – Intended for student loan borrowers who are repaying their federal student loans. Includes “to do” lists to help borrowers navigate the repayment process from before a borrower enters repayment to making payments.
  • Federal Student Loans Direct PLUS Loan Basics for Parents – Provides parents of dependent undergraduate students information about Federal Direct PLUS loans which are federal loans that can be taken out to help pay the cost of their child’s education after high school.

Campus Resources

  • Personal computer purchases – Though computers may be purchased anywhere, the UWM TechStore offers a selection of Dell computers as well as the full line of Apple Macintosh and iPad models – conveniently on campus.
  • UWM LGBTQ+ Resource Center – LGBTQ+ students can sometimes face unique obstacles in obtaining financial aid. Find guidance and resources regarding some common ones you may encounter here.
  • DACA & Undocumented Student Toolkit– While there may not be federal financial aid options available, learn more about the resources available to you here at UWM.
  • UWM Career Planning & Resource Center – Look for on and off-campus student employment opportunities on Handshake. 
  • Fostering Success at UWM – Find support resources for foster youth, orphans, and homeless youth.