Continuing Education (CE) Grant

Each semester UW-Madison’s Adult Career and Special Student Services offers grants to provide financial assistance to adults who have experienced a significant break in their formal education and are entering or currently attending UW-Madison on a less than half-time basis (cannot be enrolled in more than one course during the semester of the grant). 

Fall and spring semesters: Grants for in-state tuition may be awarded for one course, up to five credits, for undergraduate and Special students; and up to three credits for graduates and Capstone Certificate students. Dissertators (considered to be full-time) are not eligible for the grant.

Summer Session (excluding the Three-Week intersession): Grants for in-state tuition may be awarded for one three-credit course for undergraduates, graduates and Special students.

Please note: An individual may receive the grant a maximum of two times.

Application process

Applications for the Continuing Education grant are accepted beginning two months prior to each semester deadline (see below). The applications are reviewed after the deadline, and notifications of award are made as soon as possible. Once you have submitted a complete application, you will receive a completion message letting you know that your application was successfully submitted. If you do not receive this message after submitting your application, please contact the grant coordinator, Jane Schimmel, jschimmel@dcs.wisc.edu, as this may mean your application was not complete or received. If you are interested in applying but missed the deadline, please contact the coordinator to determine if funds are still available.

Getting started

If you’re not already a UW-Madison student, your first step is to apply for admission.  Once your application for admission has been filed, you can apply for the Continuing Education Grant.  A counselor in Adult Career and Special Student Services can assist you with general admissions information.

Application deadlines

Semester
CE Grant Application Deadline
Fall
July 1
Spring
Nov 1
Summer
May 1
* To be considered for a CE Grant, apply for admission through a UW-Madison Admission Office by the posted deadlines. If you are past the deadline to apply for admission please contact the appropriate admission office to find out if your application could still be considered.

To be eligible to receive the grant your application must be accurate at the time of submission. If something changes with your situation after you submit your application (e.g., change of address, financial information, academic plans, etc.) please contact the grant coordinator as soon as possible.

Contact Information
Grant coordinator: Jane Schimmel, 608-262-2862, jschimmel@dcs.wisc.edu
Office contact: Adult Career and Special Student Services, 608-263-6960, advising@dcs.wisc.edu

Selection criteria

  • Continuing Education Grant recipients must be returning adult students at UW-Madison, planning to enroll in a credited course, less than half-time (defined as 5 credits or less for undergraduate and Special students; 3 credits or less for graduate and Capstone Certificate students) and ineligible for all state and federal financial aid (this includes veterans benefits).
  • A significant break in education is usually five years or more. This includes the break between completion of high school and enrollment in college for those who are entering college for the first time.
  • Adults who have never gone to college can apply for the grant.
  • No specific income cutoff has been established since adults have such varying demands on their income.
  • "Extraordinary Financial Commitments" refers to whatever seems extraordinary to the applicant (i.e., outstanding loans, day care, medical bills, support for elderly parents, etc.).
  • Non-resident and international students will be considered for the Continuing Education Grant; however, only in-state tuition is covered. The recipient pays the difference between resident and non-resident tuition.
  • Applicants must have clearly stated educational goals.

Additional Information

  • The grant may not be used for UW-Extension courses, correspondence, or study at another institution.
  • If credits are added after registration, bringing the total above the maximum number, the grant will become void and the individual will be billed for the full amount of his/her tuition.
  • An individual may receive the grant a maximum of two semesters (they do not need to be consecutive semesters), although there is no guarantee that first-time recipients will receive a second grant. If a recipient withdraws from the University before the 50% tuition adjustment deadline, the award will not be counted against the two semesters' maximum.

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Selection process

Recipients will be selected primarily on the basis of financial need, clearly expressed educational goals, and significant interruption (usually five years or more) in formal education. The balancing of such factors as number of degrees already completed, length of interruption in education, proximity to completion of educational goal, recent academic performance and other indications of potential academic success at UW-Madison, etc. will result in the allocation of grants as funds allow in any given semester.

Applications received after the priority deadline will be considered and awards will be based on remaining available funds. 

Course Enrollment

If awarded the grant, you must add your class within the first two weeks of the semester. You must also pay close attention to the refund schedule for your class, because the grant may not cover your full tuition bill if you drop and add credits outside of the 100% refund period. For specific dates please visit the enrollment information on the Office of the Registrar's web page.

The funds are provided by tax-deductible contributions made by organizations and individuals to the UW Foundation Continuing Education Fund.

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