Resources

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 2025-26 (we call it aid year 2026) applies to Fall 2025, Winter 2026, Spring 2026, and Summer 2026. The school year 2026-27 (we call it aid year 2027) applies to Fall 2026, Winter 2027, Spring 2027, and Summer 2027.

Important Updates Coming Soon for 2026-27

There are proposed changes to federal loan programs, including Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and reduced annual loan limits for students enrolled less than full-time. These changes are expected to be finalized in April or May.

Once the changes are official, we will release the 2026-27 financial aid handbooks and update our website so you have the most accurate details. Please check back for updates!

  • PAWS Tutorial – Includes step-by-step instructions for all of your financial aid PAWS needs.
  • Estimated Cost Of Attendance

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 high school 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 high school 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