Eligibility:

• Students must be attending at least part time.
• Students must be a first-time freshman.
• Students must be attending a public or private Wisconsin college or university.
• A student must meet one criteria from Group A based on financial need and one criteria from Group B based on nontraditional/ disadvantaged circumstances
• The TIP grant can be renewed for up to ten semesters of enrollment and must be used within six years of enrollment at a public, private, or technical college or university in Wisconsin.
• Funds are awarded on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Funding varies from year to year depending upon the number of continuing students. The Higher Educational Aids Board (HEAB) determines annually the amount of funds awarded for continuing students.  HEAB then divides the remaining funds between the WEOP offices and the college financial aid community to award to new freshman.    The TIP grant ranges from $600 to $1800 per school year. 

Student Application Process:

• PI-1577 TIP Grant / GEAR UP Scholarship Application
• A processed FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid).
• FAFSA confirmation page or the SAR (Student Aid Report).
• College acceptance letter or college award notification.
• Other documents may be requested by the WEOP staff if needed to determine eligibility.

To qualify for a DCF Scholarship award, the applicant must:

• Have been in an out-of-home care (OHC) court ordered (Ch. 48 or 938) placement (kinship, foster home, group home or residential care center) and left OHC at age 18 or older; or
• Have been in an OHC placement on their 16th birthday and gone to court ordered guardianship or adoption from an OHC placement any time after attaining the age of 16.
• Have aged out of OHC placement in another state but become a permanent resident of Wisconsin prior to attending a Wisconsin postsecondary institution.
• Be accepted into an accredited postsecondary institution (i.e., college, vocational or technical program) at the time the application is submitted.
• Be age 20 or less, unless enrolled in a postsecondary program and receiving the DCF Scholarship on his / her 21st birthday, thus extending eligibility to the student’s 23rd birthday. Scholarships may be awarded up to the cost of attendance and may not