University of Wisconsin-La Crosse
PA-8: Affordability and Access

The Admissions Office offers merit-based scholarships of varying amounts to students based upon their application to the university. They also offer merit-based scholarships for multicultural students. Additionally, the UW-La Crosse Foundation offers about 400 scholarships for which students may apply. The Financial Aid Office also offers programs and appointments to help students with the FAFSA, and other ways to help pay for college.

UW-La Crosse organizes a Diversity Dialogues event each spring which is sponsored by the Campus Climate and Diversity office within Student Affairs. The event showcases some of the work being done at UW-La Crosse in regards to diversity and inclusion, featuring hourly presentations by faculty, staff, and students.

Through the Office of Multicultural Student Services and Student Support Services, several pre-college programs exist, such as: U.S. Department of Education TRiO programs (Student Support Services, Upward Bound, and McNair programs), which support low income and first generation college students. Mississippi River Summer Adventures (a residential, week long program for students entering grades 7 through 9). Academic Success Institute (multi-week summer academic program designed to help students make a successful transition from high school to college.

The UW-L Foundation offers 75 scholarships in which criteria states that financial need should or must be a consideration in selecting a recipient.

UW-La Crosse is implementing an initiative referred to as the Parent College Program. This program invites parents of Latino/a students to campus to learn how to better support their students during the transition from high school to college. Many of these families are low-income. UW-La Crosse will also serve as a host location for the College Goal Wisconsin program. This program is designed to help future college students and their families apply for financial aid to make post-high school education more affordable. The Student Life Office and Financial Aid Office each maintain relationships with parents by distributing newsletters throughout the academic year.

UW-La Crosse is implementing an initiative referred to as the Parent College Program. This program invites parents of Latino/a students to campus to learn how to better support their students during the transition from high school to college. Many of these families are low-income. UW-La Crosse will also serve as a host location for the College Goal Wisconsin program. This program is designed to help future college students and their families apply for financial aid to make post-high school education more affordable. The Student Life Office and Financial Aid Office each maintain relationships with parents by distributing newsletters throughout the academic year.

A limited number of application fee waivers are available for applicants with extreme financial hardship. In addition, the Admissions Office will consider deferring enrollment and /or housing deposits for low-income students.

The Financial Aid Office has a variety of federal, state, institutional, and private award items that are based on financial need. Grants awarded to low-income students include the Federal Pell Grant, and Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, the Wisconsin Grant, the Talent Incentive Program Grant, the Lawton Retention Grant, and a need based non-resident tuition grant. We also participate in the Federal Perkins Loan and Federal Direct Subsidized Loan programs, as well as the Federal Work Study program. This past year we began an institutional grant program to assist students with unpaid balances to ensure students the ability to register for the next semester of classes and meet their goal of graduation. The Financial Aid Office is happy to work with Private Donors to partner in administration of their scholarship and grant programs. Two of our larger programs we currently are participating in are the Fund for Wisconsin Scholars, and the Supplemental Grant program. Both of these programs are based on assisting low-income students who meet or just miss the Pell grant eligibility requirements.

UW-La Crosse has a financial literacy program called It Make$ Cents! This program trains peer mentors to work with students on all financial aspects of college including minimizing debt, budgeting, managing credit, and avoiding identity theft. Many fun and informative programs are offered throughout the semester including Money Smart week, game night, and cash cart. We are also supporting a program for students to promote applying for private scholarships. Students show proof of applying for at least 10 private scholarships. They are then entered for one of five $1000 grants. Students not only have a chance to win a $1000 grant, but many chances to receive the private scholarships they have applied for by this incentive program. The Financial Aid Office maintains a database of private scholarships for students to search and apply for. We post a number of these scholarships in our monthly newsletter and also post opportunities just about daily on our Facebook page.

Robert Jedd Huff Scholarship: junior, senior or graduate non-traditional (25 years or older) student to be enrolled part or full time; no specific major required but someone pursuing the environmental studies minor would be preferred; should enjoy wide and diverse life experiences and a diversity of people and societies; good academic standing; financial need should be considered. Toward Self Reliance Scholarship: open to only a female with preference given, but not restricted to non-traditional (non-traditional defined as 25 years or older), non-degree, special or graduate seeking women's studies; full time status not required; must have completed 9 credits of the 15 required to certify in women's studies. Jean Foss & Norene Smith (OCW) Scholarship: female, non-traditional, 25 years or older and enrolled or accepted for admission at UW-L; no specific number of credits or GPA is stipulated; financial need will be considered as a factor; if spouse or family refuse to support higher education for the applicant, only her income will be considered. Gund Family Scholarship: undergraduate or graduate returning student (25 years of age or older); must be a part-time student (less than 9 credits for an undergraduate or less than 6 credits for a graduate student); at least a 3.5 gpa; financial need may be considered; scholarship is renewable up to three years if at least a 3.5 gpa is maintained and attending part-time.

UW-La Crosse offers a Campus Child Center for children ages 1 through 12. They provide care for children of UW-L students and employees. Campus Child Center is a state licensed and nationally accredited group child care setting providing care and education to the children of University of Wisconsin-La Crosse students, staff, and faculty.

Veterans Services: UW-La Crosse has Veterans Services to help veterans transition from the military to university life. Scholarships: The UW-L Foundation offers 10 scholarships for non-traditional students. Age 25 is used to classify non-traditional students. Self-Sufficiency Program (SSP): The university also offers the Self-Sufficiency Program, which aims to help low-income parents become successful college students. This is a free, one-semester program that offers participants an opportunity to discover their academic and career potential. Returning Adult Student Organization (RASO): Support for returning adult students offered through the Student Life Office. The It Make$ Cents! Financial literacy program mentioned previously is available to all students.

The percentage of students graduating with no interest-bearing student loan debt and percentage of students that participate in or directly benefit from the institution’s policies and programs to support low-income and non-traditional students are fairly rough estimates supplied by the Financial Aid office.