The Wisconsin Veterans Grant for Private Nonprofit Schools provides financial assistance to qualified veterans, spouses, and dependent children for education at private nonprofit institutions that are members of the Wisconsin Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (WAICU).
Overview
- Dependent children must be between 17 and 26 years old to qualify.
- The grant covers the lesser of:
- $2,000 per semester OR
- 50% of tuition (minus applicable federal education benefits).
Matching Requirement:
The private institution must match the grant amount to offset tuition.
Credit Limits:
- Up to 128 credits or eight semesters, combined with Wisconsin GI Bill benefits.
- Credits and semesters for which the student received tuition remission under the Wisconsin GI Bill are subtracted from the 128 credits or eight semesters for which a student may receive a tuition grant under the Wisconsin Veterans Grant for Private Nonprofit Schools.
Administration:
- Wisconsin Higher Educational Aids Board (HEAB) administers the program.
- Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA) certifies veteran eligibility.
For more details, visit:
Wisconsin Higher Educational Aids Board – Wisconsin Veterans Grant for Private Nonprofit Schools
Eligibility – Veteran Students
The veteran must be a current Wisconsin resident and currently living in Wisconsin at time of applying who was either:
- A Wisconsin resident at time of entry (or re-entry) into active-duty service (Home of Record WI)
- A Wisconsin resident for at least five consecutive years preceding the beginning of any semester or session for which he or she registers at a qualifying institution
The veteran must have been discharged under honorable conditions from active duty in the U.S. armed forces and meet at least one of the following:
- Served on active duty for at least 90 days during a war period
- Served on active duty for 2 consecutive years (or full period initial service obligation) during peace time
- Was discharged due to:
- A service-connected disability
- A disability subsequently adjudicated to have been service-connected
- Hardship
- Reduction in force
- Served on active duty under Executive Order 10957 (August 10, 1961)
- Received the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, the Navy Expeditionary Medal, the Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal, or an equivalent expeditionary or service medal.
- Served in a designated crisis zone
Eligibility – Spouse/Child Students
The veteran may qualify in one of two ways:
- The first way a veteran may qualify is if the veteran (all of the following must be met):
- Served in the U.S. armed forces, the National Guard, or a reserve component of the U.S. armed forces
- Entered service as a Wisconsin resident or resided in Wisconsin for at least five consecutive years immediately preceding the beginning of any semester or session for which the veteran’s spouse or child registers at an institution
- Has been awarded at least a 30% service-connected disability rating by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
- The second way a veteran may qualify is if the veteran (all of the following must be met):
- Served on active duty in the U.S. armed forces under honorable conditions
- Entered active duty as a Wisconsin resident or resided in Wisconsin for at least five consecutive years after attaining the age of 18
- Died on active duty, died as the result of a service-connected disability, or died in the line of duty while on active or inactive duty for training purposes
- Died while a resident of Wisconsin
Note: The child of an eligible veteran must be at least 17 but not yet 26 years old.
Note: the spouse or child must meet the school’s “residency for tuition purposes” requirements.
How to Apply
- Complete the Request for Certification for the Wisconsin Veterans Grant for Private Nonprofit Schools.
- Submit WDVA 2059 via:
- Email: Madison.Records@dva.wisconsin.gov
- Fax: (608) 267-0403
- Mail:
Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs
PO Box 7843
Madison, WI 53707-7843
- Complete the Student Section of the HEAB Wisconsin Veterans Grant for Private Nonprofit Schools Form and submit it to your school’s financial aid office.
- Once completed, submit the form to the Wisconsin Higher Educational Aids Board (HEAB).
- If eligible, you will receive a WDVA 2060 Certification confirming your qualification for the grant.
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