CALS Scholarships

CALS students receive more than $1.25 million annually in scholarship awards thanks to the generosity of our donors committed to the success of CALS students.

All CALS students who submit an application will be considered for all CALS scholarships, as appropriate, depending on some or all of the following: academic achievement, involvement level, financial need, residency, career interests, and/or major/program of interest. CALS scholarships are in addition to campus level financial aid awarded through the Office of Student Financial Aid.

Applying for CALS Scholarships

Incoming students are considered automatically for all CALS scholarships if they are admitted to CALS and have activated their NetID after submission of their UW-Madison application. More information can be found on this page.

Current CALS students must apply using the Wisconsin Scholarship Hub (WiSH) during the application period from early November to early February. One single application allows you to be considered for all CALS scholarships.

To be considered for scholarships with a financial need component, you must have a FAFSA on file at UW-Madison – the UW Madison School Code is 003895. More information on completing FAFSA can be found here.

All CALS Scholarship recipients must fulfill the thank you note requirement described in their award offer prior to receiving their funding.

Did you know?

> $1.2 million

CALS scholarships awarded in addition to University scholarships, grants, and loans.

600 +

Students Receive CALS Scholarship Awards

$2,500

average CALS scholarship award

1

One yearly application for CALS students to be considered for all CALS scholarships

FAQ’s

When should I apply for CALS Scholarships? expand_more

Incoming students are considered automatically if they are admitted to CALS and have activated their NetID after submission of their UW-Madison application. More information can be found on this page.

Current CALS students should fill out a scholarship application using the Wisconsin Scholarship Hub (WiSH) during the application period which is early November to early February. Your application must be completed and submitted by the February deadline to be eligible for the next year’s awards.

Some specialized scholarships, including scholarships for QuickStart and Study Abroad, have their own application cycle.

How do I apply for CALS scholarships?expand_more

  • Go to the Wisconsin Scholarship Hub also known as WiSH
  • Sign in with your NetID and password
  • Click on and complete the General Application
  • Click on and Complete the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences Application
  • Complete any “Other Recommended Opportunities” identified based upon your application information

Do I need to know which opportunities I am eligible for to apply? expand_more

Your application information will be used to match you to all the scholarship opportunities for which you are eligible.

What are the criteria for scholarships? Do I have to be a straight A student?expand_more

CALS has over 240 funds from which we award scholarships due to the many very generous donors who value the future of CALS. A variety of criteria are used to match students with scholarship opportunities. Some will take GPA and other scholarly activity into account; others may look at financial need, area or major of interest, career plans, or residency.

Are scholarships available for first-year students? expand_more

Yes! Incoming students are considered automatically for CALS scholarships if they are admitted to CALS and have activated their NetID after submission of their UW-Madison application. More information can be found on this page.

Are scholarships based on financial need?expand_more

Some CALS Scholarships are awarded based on financial need and some are not, so we encourage all students to apply. To be eligible for financial need-based scholarships, you must have a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on file at UW-Madison. More information about FAFSA can be found here.

What is FAFSA and what is it used for?expand_more

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is a form that can be prepared annually by current and prospective college students in the United States to determine their eligibility for student financial aid.

When filling out your FAFSA, the UW-Madison school code is: 003895. More information about FAFSA can be found here.

What is the difference between Financial Aid and CALS Scholarships?expand_more

At UW-Madison, campus level financial aid is administered by the Office of Student Financial Aid and is based on financial need of students, as assessed by FAFSA. There are many programs run through the Office of Student Financial Aid such as Bucky’s Tuition Promise and Chancellor-Knapp Scholars Program, all open to CALS students.

CALS Scholarships are funds administered by CALS to support CALS students, and may be awarded to students in addition to financial aid packages. Different CALS scholarships have different criteria to match with students – some will take GPA and other scholarly activity into account, others may look at financial need, area or major of interest, career plans, or residency.

Can I get a CALS scholarship in addition to scholarship/aid from UW Student Financial Aid Office?expand_more

Yes, many students receive a CALS Scholarship in addition to the financial aid received from the UW Student Financial Aid Office. Individual student situations (financial need, level of financial aid awarded) will determine eligibility for CALS Scholarships on top of financial aid awards.

How big is the average CALS scholarship?expand_more

CALS scholarships range from $250 – $10,000; awards average $2,500.

When will I hear if I will get a CALS scholarship?expand_more

The majority of CALS Scholarship notifications occur in mid-March and mid-April. However, students should monitor their emails and WiSH dashboards from January through August as awarding happens in cycles based on admissions, college, and departmental award decisions.

Specialized scholarship notification (e.g. for QuickStart and Study Abroad) will depend on the application cycle.

How do I get my scholarship funds?expand_more

For students who are US citizens, scholarship funds will go to the bursar’s office and be applied to any outstanding balance in their student account. International student scholarships must be paid via the payroll system. The CALS Scholarship team will be able to assist all students to ensure you get your scholarship award.

Supporting CALS Students

Gifts to support CALS scholarships and programs enable students to get the most out of their CALS experience and assist them in making a strong start, gaining a global perspective, customizing their path of study, learning through hands-on, real world experiences, and building their community and networks. 

Opportunities to support students include:

For additional giving options, visit https://cals.wisc.edu/cals-giving-opportunities/.

Agricultural & Applied Economics, Agricultural Business Management

Abagail Catania BS ‘19

Abagail Catania couldn’t wait until graduation to make a difference in the lives of students like herself. So she didn’t. Instead, she established a scholarship for her peers before even having her diploma in hand. Guided by her enthusiasm for expanding opportunities, Catania says she wants students of color to feel there is a place for them in agricultural studies.

After reflecting on her experience at UW-Madison as a mixed, black woman in agriculture, Catania created the Abagail Catania Agricultural & Applied Economics/Agricultural Business Management Diversity Scholarship. Catania knows that any amount of money can make a huge difference in someone’s life here at UW.

Office of Academic Affairs

116 Agricultural Hall
1450 Linden Drive
Madison, WI 53706

Office Hours: 7:45am – 4:30pm

For current & prospective student general inquiries:
Phone: 608.262.3003
Email: academicaffairs@cals.wisc.edu