Important Details about the Wisconsin Veterans Grant for Private, Nonprofit Schools
The Wisconsin Veterans Grant for Private, Nonprofit Schools is a State of Wisconsin veterans benefit available to qualified veterans, as well as certain spouses and children of qualified veterans, for use at Wisconsin private, nonprofit higher educational institutions. Dependent children of qualified veterans must be at least 17 but not yet 26 years of age to qualify.
The Wisconsin Veterans Grant for Private, Nonprofit Schools includes a maximum grant per semester/session (including summer) for qualifying veterans, spouses, or dependents, with a per semester/session matching grant from the participating college or university.
Grants apply toward bachelor’s and graduate degree programs at Wisconsin’s participating private, nonprofit colleges and universities. Qualifying veterans, spouses, and dependents may receive up to a total of $12,000 annually in grants depending on other educational benefits for which veterans and their dependents may qualify. Those eligible may receive a maximum of eight semesters of grant funding or 128 credits, whichever is longer, less any Wisconsin GI bill benefits already received at public institutions.
The Wisconsin Veterans Grant for Private, Nonprofit Schools is a collaboration between the Wisconsin Higher Educational Aids Board, which administers the program, and the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs, which acts as the certifying agency and determines a veteran's eligibility for the program.
Please see the Wisconsin Higher Educational Aids Board website for more information and to apply.
See also the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs website for eligibility determinations for the grant.
JOINT COMMITMENT TO ACCEPT STUDENT MILITARY TRANSFER CREDIT
WAICU-member colleges and universities are committed to ensuring that both active duty and military veterans receive the appropriate college credit for military education and training as applicable to their programs of study.
The WAICU-member colleges and universities participating in this commitment evaluate basic and advanced military training on the Joint Services Transcript using the American Council on Education (ACE) “A Guide to the Evaluation of Educational Experiences in the Armed Services” to help interpret and recommend credit for college courses.
Detail on the type of credit that these colleges and universities accept for transfer are found below:
Credit for DANTES Subject Standardized Tests (DSSTs)
Veterans Transfer Credit Contacts
The Post-9/11 GI Bill
The “Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008” is the most comprehensive education benefits package for veterans since the original GI Bill was enacted in 1944. Below you will find details on what the benefits package mean for you (a veteran, or spouse or dependent of a veteran) at Wisconsin’s private, nonprofit colleges. A printable/downloadable list of the certifying officials at each of the WAICU member colleges and universities can be found below.
At private colleges in Wisconsin, the Post-9/11 GI Bill maximum annual payment for tuition & fees for the 2022-2023 Private College Maximum of $26,381.37. The tuition and fees payment is prorated by the student’s benefit level. If a college or university is participating in the voluntary Yellow Ribbon program, and the tuition and fees exceed this amount, additional funds (see “Yellow Ribbon Program” below) may be available, in some cases closing the gap completely.
This program will pay eligible individuals:
• tuition & fees directly to the school, not to exceed $26,381.37;
• a monthly housing allowance based on the Basic Allowance for Housing for an E-5 with dependents at the location of the school;
• an annual stipend of $1,000 for books and supplies, paid proportionately based on enrollment;
• a one-time rural benefit payment for eligible individuals (see comparison chart for more information).
Yellow Ribbon Program
Colleges and universities that voluntarily enter into a Yellow Ribbon agreement with the VA cover costs that exceeds the basic VA tuition and fee payment of $26,381.37 for the 2022-2023 academic year. The VA will match that amount and issue payment directly to the college or university. Benefits are payable for education pursued on or after August 1, 2009.
Yellow Ribbon Program benefits, where available, are in addition to the Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits (see above).
Chart of Veterans’ Benefits at Wisconsin’s Private Colleges and Universities.
How to Apply
The VA application form includes instructions for submitting completed applications.
For complete information on these programs, go to www.gibill.va.gov.
WAICU Veterans Certifying Officials List
A printable/downloadable list of the certifying officials at each of the WAICU member colleges and universities can be found here.
