Continuing Education Grant

Each semester UW-Madison’s Adult and Student Services Center offers grants to provide financial assistance to adults who have experienced a significant break in their formal education and are entering UW-Madison on a less than half-time basis. 

Resident tuition grants up to five credits for undergraduates and special students and up to three credits for graduates may be awarded to adult students for fall and spring semester. Resident tuition grants for one three-credit course in the Summer Sessions (excluding the Three-Week Intersession) for undergraduates, graduates and Special students may also be awarded. An individual may receive the grant a maximum of two semesters.

Application deadlines

Applications 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 three weeks later. Once you have submitted a complete application you will receive an e-mail from the grant coordinator letting you know your application was received. If you do not receive an e-mail after a couple of days, please contact the grant coordinator, as this may mean your application was not completed or received. If you are interested in applying but missed the deadline, please contact the coordinator to determine if funds are still available.

Fall semester - July 1
Spring semester - November 1
Summer semester - May 1

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

Contact Information
Grant coordinator: Katia Albright, 608-890-0331, kalbright@dcs.wisc.edu
Office contact: Adult & Student Services Center, 608-263-6960, assc@dcs.wisc.edu

Selection criteria

  • Continuing Education Grant recipients must be returning adult students at UW-Madison, enrolled for credit less than half-time and ineligible for all state and federal financial aid.
  • A “Returning Adult ” student refers to individuals who have been out of school five years or more.
  • A significant break in education is 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 resident tuition is covered. The recipient pays the difference between resident and non-resident tuition.
  • 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 when 50% or more of the tuition is refunded, the award will not be counted against the two semesters' maximum.

Apply Online

Other scholarships, grants, and financial assistance

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.

We will try to notify applicants of their status within six weeks of the priority deadline applicable to their indicated school term. Applications received after the priority deadline will be considered and awards will be based on remaining available funds. 

Admission to UW-Madison

Applicants seeking this grant must also file a separate application for admission to UW-Madison.  A counselor in the Adult and Student Services Center can assist you with general admissions information.

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

 

Menu