There are two basic types of financial aid – gift aid and self-help aid. Scholarships and grants are forms of gift aid as these are sources of aid that typically do not need to be repaid, provided the enrollment period is completed. Self-help aid refers to sources of aid that the student needs to either earn or pay back. Loans and Federal Work Study are forms of self-help aid.
For more information visit UWM’s Department of Financial Aid.
University-Wide Aid
Federal & Wisconsin Grants
Loans
New Freshmen University-Wide Scholarships
Undergraduate Research
Graduate Student Funding
UWM Private Scholarships
Work Study
Midwest Residence Savings
UW-Milwaukee Peck School of the Arts participates in the Midwest Student Exchange Program (MSEP), which awards reduced tuition rates to residents of Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, and North Dakota.
Illinois residents save with an automatic $1,000 Milwaukee Advantage Award.
Minnesota residents are eligible for the Minnesota Reciprocity program and are encouraged to apply as early as possible.
Peck School of the Arts Aid
Students are eligible to receive PSOA specific scholarships after filling out the general scholarship application and a supplemental department application (if applicable) by logging in to the Panther Scholarship Portal found on the UWM scholarship page. Students must also have a declared major in Art & Design, Dance, Film, Music, or Theatre. For more information please read the Panther Portal FAQ.
Chancellor’s Merit Scholarship Program
UW-Milwaukee Chancellor Mark Mone
Criteria: Available for new freshmen at the Milwaukee campus starting in Fall 2021. Awarded based on unweighted high school GPA, renewable for up to four years, if students remain in good academic standing at UWM. This program replaces the previous CEMAT scholarships.
Students who qualify for a Chancellor’s Merit Scholarship will receive their scholarships automatically upon full-time enrollment at UWM. They will be notified of the award shortly after they are admitted. No scholarship application is required.
Rath Foundation Merit Scholarship
Rath Family Foundation
Criteria: Student must have maintained an overall academic average of at least 3.8 while in high school or in University of Wisconsin Colleges. Maintained a GPA of at least 3.25 during freshman and sophomore years at UWM (or other UW system college). Two-year award to a student of junior standing. Recommended by department chair and awarded by the Dean.
The Randy R. Reddemann Emerging Artists Scholarships
Randy R. Reddemann
Criteria: Open to all PSOA Undergraduate students in visual or performing arts to support emerging artists. Typically awarded to a senior. Recommended by department chair and awarded by the Dean.
Slovenian Arts Program Scholarship
Frank & Mary Ermenc, Friends of UWM Slovenian Arts Program
Criteria: Full-time PSOA undergraduate or graduate student of Slovenian descent. Student must be a sophomore with at least a 3.0 cumulative grade point average.
Apply: Slovenian Arts Program Scholarship | Deadline: MAY 1
The Department of Art & Design distributed $177,000 in scholarships and fellowships to students in 2019-20.
Questions: art-admission@uwm.edu
Incoming students should prepare 8-10 examples of artwork from the past two years. If including drawings, we recommend at least three from observation (not photographs). Identify each image by media, size, and year of completion in a separate document. JPEG files at 2000px max preferred. Submit to the Art & Design portfolio submission form by December 15 for priority consideration.
Undergraduate students with a declared major in Art & Design should fill out the general scholarship application and a supplemental department application (if applicable) by logging in to the Panther Scholarship Portal found on the UWM scholarship page. For more information please read the Panther Portal FAQ.
Graduate students are eligible for Advanced Opportunity Program Fellowships, Chancellor’s Graduate Student Awards, Layton Fellowships, and Layton Research and Travel Awards. To learn more and apply, see Types of Funding for more information.
Art & Design Graduate Awards
Bradley Family Foundation
Criteria: Art & Design graduate students; Please visit uwm.edu/graduateschool/types-of-funding for eligibility for assistantships, fellowships, and awards.
Cosier-Osborne Scholarship
Kim Cosier, Josie Osborne, Anonymous Donors
Criteria: Undergraduate or Graduate Students enrolled in Art Education
Design & Visual Communication Scholarship
Darian & Mary Ellen Griffin
Criteria: An undergraduate or graduate student majoring in Design & Visual Communications in good academic standing and showcasing artistic merit.
George Goundie Memorial Scholarship
Goundie Family, Anonymous Donors
Criteria: Undergraduate Students majoring in Sculpture
Frederick R. Layton Graduate Fellowship
Frederick R. Layton
Criteria: Graduate Students
Frederick R. Layton Scholarship
Frederick R. Layton
Criteria: Undergraduate students as incoming freshmen
Clarice George Logan Award
George Logan and Thomas Logan
Criteria: Undergraduate students with Sophomore or Junior standing in Art & Design coursework with high academic standing seeking art enrichment travel; preference to female students who have recently completed their Junior year and present a written statement on how a travel award will enrich their education; awarded biennially in odd numbered years for summer travel
Loose Bead Society of Greater Milwaukee Scholarship
Loose Bead Society of Greater Milwaukee
Criteria: Undergraduate Jewelry & Metalsmithing Student
Harold A. Milbrath Memorial Jewelry & Metalsmithing Prize
Harold A. Milbrath family, Joan Sander, Anonymous Donors
Criteria: Undergraduate Jewelry & Metalsmithing Students exhibiting at the annual Jewelry & Metalsmith show
Raja Family Scholarship Fund
Dr. Sharath Raja and Nirmal Raja ’10 MA/’12 MFA
Criteria: Undergraduate Art & Design students demonstrating artistic achievement or potential for excellence; 1 scholarship per year for student in the Community Arts BA Program; financial need may be considered; preference for member of racial or ethnic minority group
Laurence Rathsack Art Scholarship
Rathsack Family, Anonymous Donors
Criteria: Undergraduate Painting & Drawing Students, demonstrated financial need, minimum 3.5 cumulative GPA in their major, Junior or Senior status, exhibit work at the annual Junior Scholarship Exhibition
Shannon Rorabeck Memorial Scholarship
Don and Kay Rorabeck, Anonymous Donors
Criteria: Undergraduate Students who exhibit a high caliber of work in the field of visual arts
Greater Milwaukee Foundation’s Dorothy G. and Ruth M. Smith Scholarship
Dorothy G. and Ruth M. Smith
Criteria: Undergraduate or Graduate Students
UW Trust/Esther Ulbricht
Estate of Esther Ulbricht
Criteria: Undergraduate Art & Design students
Mary E. Van Deven Memorial Scholarship
Mary E. Van Deven
Criteria: Undergraduate Students who meet the following: high academic achievement, demonstrated financial need, full-time student, Junior standing in Art & Design coursework, minimum 3.0GPA
UW Trust/Esther Claire Waldheim Scholarship
Estate of Esther Claire Waldheim
Criteria: Undergraduate or Graduate Art & Design students; awarded biennially in even numbered years
Ware Scholarship
P. Andrew Ware and Nancy D. Ware
Criteria: Undergraduate Art & Design students who demonstrates artistic achievement and potential for excellence
The Department of Dance distributed $31,500 in scholarships to students in 2019-20. Undergraduate scholarships range from $500-3,000 per year (amount split over fall/spring semesters), and departmental graduate scholarships range from $500-4,000. In most cases, students may be awarded multiple awards.
Questions: dance-scholarship@uwm.edu
Undergraduate students with a declared major in Dance should fill out the general scholarship application and a supplemental department application (if applicable) by logging in to the Panther Scholarship Portal found on the UWM scholarship page. For more information please read the Panther Portal FAQ.
Graduate students are eligible to receive summer session Departmental and Chancellor Awards, which are awarded based on faculty nomination following review of the student’s entrance application materials. The Chancellor Award can only be awarded twice. UWM’s Graduate School also awards several assistantships, fellowships, and travel awards every year.
Due to the program structure, the UW-Milwaukee Dance Department does not offer any Teaching or Project Assistantships to MFA students.
Ed Burgess Legacy Scholarship
Dance Department Faculty & Staff, Anonymous Donors
Criteria: Undergraduate students (priority to Juniors/Seniors) awarded based on discretion by Dance Faculty.
Marcia Parsons Legacy Scholarship
Dance Department Faculty & Staff, Anonymous Donors
Criteria: Undergraduate students awarded based on discretion by Dance Faculty.
Undergraduate Dance Scholarship
Supported in part by event outreach and ticket revenue
Criteria: Completion of 1 semester as Dance BA or BFA student, Dance GPA minimum of 3.5, demonstrated excellence
The Department of Film, Video, Animation and New Genres distributed $22,000 in scholarships to students in 2019-20.
Questions: film-admission@uwm.edu
Undergraduate students with a declared major in Film, Video, Animation and New Genres should fill out the general scholarship application and a supplemental department application (if applicable) by logging in to the Panther Scholarship Portal found on the UWM scholarship page. For more information please read the Panther Portal FAQ.
NOTE: Incoming students interested in the Robert A. Nelson scholarship should prepare a 500-word (or less) writing sample that addresses this question: What is the relationship between art and filmmaking (or art and movies)? DEADLINE: December 15.
Graduate students are eligible to receive one of our 4-5 Teaching Assistantships awarded annually, which include full tuition remission, annual stipend, and affordable state health coverage through the University. Students are also eligible for Chancellor’s Graduate Student Awards that normally average $6,500 each and are invited to apply to two other scholarships listed below. Distinguished Graduate Student Fellowships, Advanced Opportunity Program Fellowships, and other aid available through the Graduate School. If you feel you qualify, please notify the Director of the Graduate Program in Film, Video, Animation and New Genres (Jesse McLean: mcleanj@uwm.edu) prior to December 1st.
Adoor Gopalakrishnan Award
Sponsored by Anonymous Donors
Criteria: Open to undergraduate and graduate Film students; based on the artistic merit of applicant’s portfolio. DEADLINE: March 15.
Ephemeral Animation Scholarship
Sponsored by Ephemeral, Inc.
Criteria: This award supports Senior Project development and production. Continuing undergraduate Animation students enrolling in Film 509 or 510 are eligible to apply by March 15 for the following Fall and Spring semesters.
D.A. Leonard Film Scholarship
Sponsored by D.A. Leonard
Criteria: This award supports Senior Project development and production. Continuing undergraduate students enrolling in Film 509 or 510 are eligible for the following Fall and Spring semesters.
Lubar Scholars in Film
Sponsored by Lubar Family Foundation
Criteria: Foundation Review awards are open to students who apply to the foundation review that occurs each semester and is juried by the department faculty.
Continuing undergraduate or graduate Film students are eligible to apply to be a Lubar Scholar in Film by March 15 for the following academic year.
Milwaukee LGBT Film/Video Festival Award
Supported by The Milwaukee LGBT Film/Video Festival, with support from Cream City Foundation, the Greater Milwaukee Foundation’s Eldon E. Murray Fund and Milwaukee Pride, Inc.
Criteria: Excellence in Artistic Merit created by artists who identify as LGBT+ and/or projects featuring subject matter in the spirit of LGBT+ issues and expressions of acceptance. DEADLINE: March 15.
This award is not exclusively for students who identity as LGBT+ but can also be in recognition of subject matter understood as “LGBT”; “queer” and/or related to understanding, making room for difference, acceptance and inclusion.
Robert A. Nelson Film Scholarship
UWM Film, Video, Animation and New Genres Faculty & Alumni
Criteria: Open to incoming freshmen and transfer students, based on availability of funds.
The Department of Music distributed $137,000 in scholarships to students in 2019-20.
Questions: music-admission@uwm.edu
Undergraduate students with a declared major in Music should fill out the general scholarship application and a supplemental department application (if applicable) by logging in to the Panther Scholarship Portal found on the UWM scholarship page. For more information please read the Panther Portal FAQ.
Graduate students who are enrolled in at least 6 credits in any Music program are eligible for scholarship support. Graduate Project or Teaching Assistantships (usually 33%), Chancellor’s Graduate Student Awards, and Non-Resident Tuition Remissions are also available. All graduate awards are based on faculty nomination following the student’s application, entrance audition and/or first year in program. Project and Teaching Assistantships appointed at 33% or higher receive full tuition waivers plus a stipend and benefits.
Graduate students can also apply for the following types of funding: UWM Graduate School’s Distinguished Graduate Student Fellowship, Advanced Opportunity Program Fellowship, and/or Graduate Student Travel Awards.
Joe Aaron Scholarship
Joseph Aaron, Marlene Lauwasser and family, Multiple Donors
Criteria: Undergraduate or Graduate Music Performance or Music Education majors (preference to undergrads) demonstrating financial need
Greater Milwaukee Foundation’s Adelaide F. Banaszynski Memorial Scholarship
Adelaide F. Banaszynski
Criteria: Undergraduate Music students in good academic standing demonstrating financial need; resident of Wisconsin with preference for Milwaukee, Waukkesha, Washington, or Ozaukee counties; award must be used for tuition, room and board, books, fees, or educational equipment
Classical Guitar Scholarship
James and Wendy Agah, Gregory Chrisafis, Multiple Donors
Criteria: Undergraduate or Graduate students majoring in classical guitar with high artistic merit
Professsor Thomas L. Dvorak Music Scholarship
Thomas L. Dvorak, Multiple Donors
Criteria: Undergraduate students whose primary instrument is Woodwind, Brass, or Percussion with high scholastic ability and artistic potential
Franklyn & Barbara Esenberg Clarinet Scholarship
Franklyn and Barbara Esenberg
Criteria: Undergraduate or Graduate students with high artistic merit whose primary instrument is clarinet
Friends of Music Scholarship
Multiple Donors
Criteria: Full-time undergraduate music major
Dr. Henry and Julia Freund Scholarship
Estate of Julia Freund
Criteria: Undergraduate or Graduate Music student demonstrating strong artistic ability and financial need
Herschel Burke Gilbert Family Scholarship
Herschel and Gertrude Gilbert Family
Criteria: Undergraduate students studying, composition, viola, or violin
General Music Scholarship
Music Alumni
Criteria: Music Major demonstrating strong artistic ability
Gerald Grose Music Scholarship
Estate of James J. Magnino
Criteria: Music major, or intended major demonstrating strong artistic merit
Jan Jones Hartford Scholarship
Jan Jones, Dr. Lincoln Hartford, and other donors
Criteria: Undergraduate students majoring or intending to major in Music Education with preference to vocal music
Jeanne Henderson Memorial Harp Scholarship
Tracy Henderson, Henderson Family, and MacDowell Club of Milwaukee
Criteria: Undergraduate or Graduate student studying Harp as a primary or secondary instrument demonstrating artistic merit
InFaith Community FDN Rodney Johnson Scholarship
Estate of Rodney Johnson, InFaith Community
Criteria: Undergraduate or Graduate Music students with high scholastic ability and artistic potential; recipients must reflect the diversity of the school’s enrollment
Anita Hankwitz Kastner Music Scholarship
Anita Hankwitz Kastner
Criteria: Music major; Wisconsin resident; sophomore or higher standing; demonstrated outstanding music performance; high scholastic record as evidenced in academic performance prior to application
Greater Milwaukee Foundation’s Nancy McClellan Music Scholarship
Andrew McClellan
Criteria: Undergraduate or Graduate students studying piano for a career in music; demonstrated financial need, artistic merit, and commitment to the community; resident of Wisconsin with preference for Milwaukee, Waukesha, Washington, or Ozaukee counties; award must be used for tuition, room and board, books, fees, or educational equipment
UW Trust/Gilbert H. Meisel Music Scholarship
Estate of Gilbert H. Meisel
Criteria: Undergraduate or Graduate music students
Moebius Award for Excellence-Moebius Merit Award
Moebius Family
Criteria: Music Major demonstrating strong artistic ability
UW Trust/Music Scholarship
Anonymous Donors
Criteria: Undergraduate or Graduate music students
J. Thomas and Hazel Oakes Scholarship
J. Thomas and Hazel Oakes
Criteria: Undergraduate or Graduate Music students
Bernardine Sherman Music Education Scholarship
Estate of Bernardine G. Sherman
Criteria: Undergraduate or Graduate students majoring in Music Education with potential for success as a music educator
Gregoria Karides Suchy Music Scholarship
Gregoria Karides, Raymond Suchy and family, Multiple Donors
Criteria: Undergraduate senior or Graduate student majoring in Music Composition & Technology; minimum 3.0 GPA; award must be applied to tuition
UW Trust/Esther Claire Waldheim Scholarship
Estate of Esther Claire Waldheim
Criteria: Undergraduate or Graduate music students; awarded biennially in odd numbered years
Woodmansee Music Scholarship
Estate of Webster and Winifred Woodmansee
Criteria: Undergraduate music students demonstrating artistic merit and financial need.
The Department of Theatre distributed $28,000 in scholarships to students in 2019-20.
Questions: theatre-admission@uwm.edu
Undergraduate students with a declared major in Theatre should fill out the general scholarship application and a supplemental department application (if applicable) by logging in to the Panther Scholarship Portal found on the UWM scholarship page. For more information please read the Panther Portal FAQ.
Adolphus Ambrose Ward Theatre Scholarship
Theatre faculty, alumni & friends of Professor Adolphus Ambrose Ward
Criteria: Incoming freshmen in the Theatre Department with a preference for those who self-identify as as members of racial or ethnic minority groups under-represented at UWM.
Werner and Jermaine Buchel Foundation Scholarship
Estate of Werner and Jermaine Buchel
Criteria: Undergraduate Theatre Students demonstrating prior effort and training in theatre arts.
General Theatre Scholarship
Multiple Donors
Criteria: Undergraduate Theatre Students
Corliss Phillabaum Theatre Prize
Anonymous Donors
Criteria: Undergraduate Theatre Students; minimum 3.5 cumulative GPA in Theatre; demonstrate high achievements and contributions to the Theatre Department
Rehberg Costume Production/Design Scholarship
Randy Rehberg and Family, Anonymous Donors
Criteria: Undergraduate Junior/Senior Theatre Students possessing outstanding artistic and academic merit; active participant in theatre activities including costume design
Schoenleber Foundation Scholarship
Schoenleber Foundation
Criteria: Undergraduate Theatre Students demonstrating high artistic merit
Technical Theatre Scholarship
Multiple Donors
Criteria: Undergraduate Theatre Students
The Martha and LeRoy Stoner Fund
Martha and LeRoy Stoner
Criteria: A student intending to major in, or majoring in Theatre Production.