Student Financial Planning

Grants & Scholarships

Grants and scholarships are a form of gift aid, which means that they do not need to be paid back.

  • A scholarship is a form of financial assistance that does not require repayment or employment, and which is usually offered to students who show potential for distinction, or who possess certain characteristics important to the scholarship provider (such as religious beliefs, hobbies, ethnicity, etc.).

  • A grant is a form of aid that does not need to be paid back, and is typically based on need. Need-based grants require students to file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to determine if they qualify.

Carthage participates in the following grant and scholarship programs:

Federal Programs

Federal Pell Grant
A Federal Pell Grant does not need to be repaid. Pell Grants are awarded only to undergraduate students who have not earned a bachelor's or professional degree.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG)
SEOG is for full-time undergraduate students with exceptional financial need as determined by the FAFSA. These funds are limited and do not need to be repaid.

Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant Program (PDF Fact Sheet)
Through the College Cost Reduction and Access Act of 2007, Congress created the Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant Program that provides grants of up to $4,000 per year to students who are considering or intend to complete, coursework to begin a career in teaching and who agree to serve for a minimum of four years as a full-time, highly-qualified, high-need field teacher in a low-income school. If, after reading the fact sheet above, you are interested in learning more about the TEACH Grant Program, you should you should fill out the 2011-2012 Federal Teach Grant Consideration form (PDF).

Wisconsin Programs

Academic Excellence Scholarship
Academic Excellence Scholarships are awarded to Wisconsin high school seniors who have the highest grade point average in each public and private high school throughout the State of Wisconsin. The value of the scholarship is $2,250 per year, to be applied towards tuition. Half of the scholarship is funded by the state, while the other half is matched by the institution.

Hearing & Visually Handicapped Student Grant
The state offers funding for WI residents who demonstrate financial need and have severe or profound hearing or visual impairment. Students are eligible to receive up to $1,800 per year for up to five years. The FAFSA must be filed in order to qualify for this grant and the student must be at least half-time. 

Indian Student Assistance Grant
The state offers up to $1,100 per year to any Wisconsin resident who is at least twenty-five percent Native American and is enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate degree or certificate program for up to ten semesters. Students who apply early and demonstrate exceptional financial need, will be nominated by the Carthage Office of Student Financial Planning. 

Talent Incentive Program Grant (TIP)
This state program provides grants to students who demonstrate exceptional need. Students who qualify may be nominated in their freshman year through Carthage to the state agency or can apply for this program at their Wisconsin Educational Opportunity Program (WEOP) Office. Once accepted, this aid lasts for four years.The FAFSA must also be filed to be considered for the Talent Incentive Program Grant. 

Minority Undergraduate Retention Grant
This grant program provides limited funds to selected minority students with exceptional financial need. Students must be nominated in their sophomore year. The FAFSA must be filed to be considered. 

Minority Teacher Loan (forgivable loan program)
The state offers a forgivable loan to any full-time, eligible junior or senior enrolled in a Teacher Certification Program with a minimum GPA of 2.50. This loan ranges up to $2,500 per year for a maximum of two years. 25 percent of the loan is forgiven for each year spent teaching in an eligible school. Students who apply early and demonstrate exceptional financial need, will be nominated by the Carthage Office of Student Financial Planning. For more information see http://www.heab.state.wi.us/programs.html

Wisconsin Tuition Grant (WTG)
The state provides a grant program for Wisconsin residents attending a private college within the state. Students must submit the FAFSA to be considered. The WTG is based on need and may range up to $2,900. To qualify as a resident of Wisconsin for students under the age of 24, your parents must have resided in Wisconsin for six months prior to the beginning of the academic school year.

Institutional Programs

In addition to a broad range of Federal and State Programs, Carthage supplements these awards with a generous commitment of institutional need-based grants. The Financial Grant is just one form of institutional aid in which the amount varies based on need and completion of the FAFSA. For further information, go to www.carthage.edu/finaid/scholarships