piggy bank cradled in hand

The scholarship process for all undergraduates and all scholarships (both major specific ones and all general scholarships) begins with UWM’s Panther Scholarship Portal. Graduate students can also follow this process, though most of the available scholarship funding is for undergraduates. See the graduate student funding page for more information.

How and when to apply:

  1. Log into the portal and your general application. This must be done a minimum of once per school year but we recommend doing this twice a year at the start of each semester (September and January).
  2. In the portal, complete the Letters & Science scholarship application. Here is where you will upload a copy of your transcript (also recommended to be done in September and January).

    Completing steps 1 and 2 will match you to most scholarships based on the information you enter.
  3. You may see scholarships on your Panther Scholarship Portal dashboard that you can “Apply To.” These are scholarships which require additional information beyond steps 1 and 2. Complete any of these you wish to apply for.

The Panther Scholarship Portal can also be used to find non-UWM (private) scholarships that have registered with UWM. These may be scholarships sponsored by local or national organizations, fraternal clubs or other companies outside of UWM.


In the portal, the Geography Department offers these scholarships and awards just for their students.

Greater Milwaukee Foundation Mary Jo Read Fellowship for Graduate Students

The Mary Jo Read Geography Fund, with estimated assets of more than $1 million, will benefit students in the Department of Geography by providing scholarships, fellowships, and merit awards to students who demonstrate academic excellence in the field. Fellowships for Geography graduate students typically provide additional financial support to those also holding teaching, project, or research assistantships. Selection is based on the student’s academic and research record. Students are considered by the faculty whenever funds are available throughout the school year.

Award: Varies

Donor: Greater Milwaukee Foundation Mary Jo Read Fund

View in Portal

Chancellor's Graduate Student Award in Geography

Chancellor’s award for graduate student in geography as chosen by the Department. Students do not need to submit an application to be considered for this award.

Award: Varies

View in Portal

Clinton Edwards Graduate Research Grant

Research grants are periodically given to graduate students in geography to support their fieldwork/field research necessary for their thesis or dissertation.

Award: Varies

Donor: Multiple Donors

View in Portal

Greater Milwaukee Foundation Mary Jo Read Undergraduate Scholarship

The Mary Jo Read Geography Fund, with estimated assets of more than $1 million, will benefit students in the Department of Geography by providing scholarships, fellowships, and merit awards to students who demonstrate academic excellence in the field. Specifically, the fund earmarks this scholarship for juniors and seniors with a declared major in Geography at UWM.

Criteria for this scholarship include:

  • A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0
  • Junior or Senior standing by August 31, 2025
  • Full-time enrollment
  • Financial need may be considered but is not required

Students who have an up-to-date Panther Scholarship Portal General Application and the College of Letters & Science Scholarships and Awards Application will be considered, typically in spring each year. No additional or separate application is required; students should thoroughly fill out the Panther Scholarship Portal General Application and the College of Letters & Science Scholarships and Awards Application. Awards given in spring are for the following school year so students graduating that same spring or summer are not eligible. E.G. applications reviewed in Spring 2025 are for Fall 2025; students graduating in May or August 2025 are not eligible.

Award: Varies up to $3,000

Donor: Greater Milwaukee Foundation Mary Jo Read Fund

View in Portal

UWM Land Acknowledgement: We acknowledge in Milwaukee that we are on traditional Potawatomi, Ho-Chunk and Menominee homeland along the southwest shores of Michigami, North America’s largest system of freshwater lakes, where the Milwaukee, Menominee and Kinnickinnic rivers meet and the people of Wisconsin’s sovereign Anishinaabe, Ho-Chunk, Menominee, Oneida and Mohican nations remain present.   |   To learn more, visit the Electa Quinney Institute website.