Scholarships and Aid
Through the generous support of alumni, faculty and friends, the School of Education offers funding support awarded for both academic achievement and financial need to eligible students entering or enrolled in our academic programs.
- Undergraduate students must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 (including transfer credits).
- Most (but not all) scholarships through the School of Education are offered based on financial need. To be considered for need-based scholarships, you must have a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on file for the 2026-2027 academic year. Students who are not eligible to complete their FAFSA may contact scholarship coordinator, Michaela Kaiser at kaisermr@uwm.edu, to talk about alternative options.
- All students who have applied and been accepted into UWM and are in the School of Education are welcome to apply.
- All graduate and post-bacc students are eligible to apply but must be enrolled in at least 6 credits for the semester they are receiving the scholarship.
- In addition, the Scholarship Committee, made up of faculty and staff from the School of Education, bases its decision on the strength of your academic career, the information listed in the job/volunteer experiences, and any unique or unusual circumstances in relation to the scholarship eligibility requirements
Note that additional eligibility requirements specific to each scholarship and an explanation of the criteria used in making the awards are indicated with the description of individual scholarships.
To stay informed, please regularly check your UWM Panther Scholarship Portal. Students will receive award notifications for the 2026-2027 school year scholarship opportunities on March 1, 2026.
For more information or questions about scholarships and micro-scholarships, contact:
Michaela Kaiser, Scholarship Coordinator
kaisermr@uwm.edu
Panther Scholarship Portal
The Panther Scholarship Portal (uwm.academicworks.com/) is your resource for all UWM scholarships. It provides information about deadlines, eligibility criteria, award amounts, donors and more. The scholarship portal will allow you to complete an application for SOE-specific scholarships as well as an application for campus-wide funding opportunities. To get started, complete your general application today!
Featured Funding Opportunities
Dual Enrollment Scholarships
Start your teaching journey early—and get rewarded for it! The Dual Enrollment Scholarship recognizes high school students who’ve taken dual enrollment courses at UWM and are continuing their path toward becoming teachers. Earn $1,000 per year, renewable for up to four years, as you pursue your degree in education at UW–Milwaukee.
Award Amount: $1,000 annually.
Renewable: Up to four years
Teacher Excellence Scholarships
The SOE Teacher Excellence Scholarship celebrates high-achieving freshmen who are ready to make a difference in the classroom. Earn up to $12,000 total over four years toward your education—no extra application required!
Award Amount: $2,000-$4,000 annually
Renewable: Up to four years with full-time enrollment and continued academic excellence.
Additional Aid
Graduate students and applicants are also eligible to apply for Graduate School Fellowships. These university-wide fellowships provide recipients with a monthly stipend for the academic year, coverage of in-state tuition and remission of out-of-state tuition.
- For more information on the kinds of fellowships available, please visit the Graduate School Financial Support webpage.
- Departments set internal deadlines for reviewing fellowship applications, generally in late January.
- Contact the Graduate Representative from the program you are applying to for information on internal application deadlines.
SPARK is a partnership involving UWM, The Boys and Girls Club of Greater Milwaukee, Milwaukee Public Schools, and AmeriCorps. The program hires 50-60 students to provide reading instruction to students in grades K-3. Hours are flexible but require a minimum of 13 hours per week. It is a paid position where tutors receive a bi-weekly living stipend.
- SPARK Brochure (PDF)
- For questions or to receive an application form, contact Jeremy Page at pagejd@uwm.edu.
The TEACH Grant (Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education) is available to students who are enrolled full-time in a teaching certificate program. Students must maintain a 3.25 cumulative GPA and sign an agreement to serve in high-need field areas and teach in schools designated as serving low-income students.
- For more information, please visit the One Stop Grants webpage.
- For questions about the grant, contact Michaela Kaiser at kaisermr@uwm.edu.