Scholarships
The scholarship application process for 2024 summer programs is now closed.
Badger Precollege has varied funds to provide assistance to Wisconsin youth who demonstrate financial need. Applications will be review by the Badger Precollege financial aid committee. All requests will be answered and maintained in confidentiality. The Badger Precollege financial aid committee is committed to making an allocation of financial aid funds to allow the largest possible number of students to receive necessary financial support to attend our programs.
Please note that acceptance to the program and financial aid allocation are two different parallel processes. Submission of the program application or program acceptance does not guarantee financial aid allocation. All materials supporting your application for financial aid and program registration must be received no later than April 1, 2024.
For questions on scholarships, please contact the coordinator of your program of interest directly or email Badger Precollege at info@precollege.wisc.edu.
NEW in 2024: Badger Precollege has initiated an updated process for payments made by school districts, external partners, and other groups or individuals making tuition payments on behalf of any student participating in a Badger Precollege program. If you plan on making a payment on behalf of a student, please reach out to info@precollege.wisc.edu for specific directions.
Financial aid policies
As part of the application process, please remember:
- Financial aid is available primarily for Wisconsin students.
- Limited financial aid up to 50% of total tuition costs is available for out of state students.
- There is no support for international participants unless it is written in a specific program as a requirement.
- Depending on availability, students are eligible for up to two financial aid scholarships per year to attend Badger Precollege Programs.
- Applicants should also inquire about local financial support through their schools, businesses, service organizations, etc. to see if local monies are available for program costs.
- All materials supporting your application must be received no later than April 1, 2024.
- Scholarships cannot be allocated to students who have not been admitted to a program. As such, a student’s program application (including application fee and supporting documentation such as their grade report, etc.) must be completely submitted by the scholarship deadline.
- Program application materials can still be submitted after the financial aid deadline, but the student will not be eligible for aid through Badger Precollege.
- Applicants will be notified of awards before the first payment deadline.
- Families will be required to submit their intent to accept financial aid. Failure to do so by the deadline posted in your award letter may result in a loss of partial or full aid award.
- Aid is determined by analyzing family income and extenuating economic circumstances according to the Income Eligibility Guidelines used by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s School Lunch Program.
- Available funds for financial aid vary from year to year, and past aid awards may not be an indication of current available support.
- Additional information (essay, interview, phone conversation, etc.) may be requested from students and/or families prior to notification of aid.
Scholarship deadlines
The deadline for all summer scholarship applications is April 1. Winter GEM scholarship applications are due January 10. Scholarships cannot be allocated to students who have not been admitted to a program.* As such, a student’s program application (including application fee and supporting documentation, such as their grade report, etc.) must be completed by the scholarship deadline.
*Application materials can still be submitted after the financial aid deadline, but the student will not be eligible for the aid.
Notification of aid
Families will be notified of scholarship decisions via written letter prior to the first tuition payment due date. Badger Precollege is committed to making an allocation of financial aid funds to allow the largest possible number of students to attend our programs. Families will be required to submit their intent to accept financial aid. Failure to do so by the deadline posted in your award letter may result in a loss of partial or full aid award.
Applying for a scholarship
GEM program scholarships
If you are applying for Growing Early Minds (GEM), submit the GEM scholarship application. If you are eligible for free or reduced lunch at school, please also complete section 2 of the GEM scholarship application. You will need to have a school administrator sign the section, so please plan ahead and make sure to have the form signed before returning it to Badger Precollege.
PACE Program Scholarship
To support as many students as possible with limited funds, students applying for PACE financial aid in summer 2024 can get support for up to two out of three one-week sessions of PACE.
If you are eligible for free or reduced lunch, submit the Wisconsin DPI Financial Aid Form.
If you are not eligible for free or reduced lunch, Badger Precollege offers a very limited number of need-based, partial scholarships. To apply for a need-based, partial scholarship, please submit the first page of the 1040 form of the most recent year’s tax return. If extenuating circumstances (i.e. loans, loss of employment) are not reflected on tax return but are affecting your family’s finances, please also submit a letter of explanation.
Residential Middle and High School Programs (SMC, STEP, ALP, Badger Summer Scholars)
If you are eligible for free or reduced lunch, submit the Wisconsin DPI Financial Aid Form.
If you are not eligible for free or reduced lunch, Badger Precollege offers a very limited number of need-based, partial scholarships. To apply for a need-based, partial scholarship, please submit the first page of the 1040 form of the most recent year’s tax return. If extenuating circumstances (i.e. loans, loss of employment) are not reflected on tax return but are affecting your family’s finances, please also submit a letter of explanation.
Tuition
Each precollege program at the University of Wisconsin–Madison sets tuition based on program costs and sponsorships. Please visit individual programs’ websites for details about fees and payment.
How to pay
Payment for summer programs will be made through the registration system.
GEM Tuition Payments:
GEM Program tuition will be due at the time of registration.
Middle and High School Programs
After you have been accepted into your program, a tuition balance will be added to your registration account. You may log on and pay at any time after acceptance. You will also receive a bill and instructions on how to pay for any remaining amounts ahead of each tuition deadline. PACE payments are all due by May 15, 2024. Summer Music Clinic payments are due by June 1, 2024. For all other middle and high school programs, the first half of tuition is due on May 15, 2024 and the second half of tuition is due on June 1, 2024.
Special Rates
ALP, Badger Summer Scholars, and STEP
Submit your completed application early (accompanied by the application fee) to receive 5% off your total tuition cost. The balance of your tuition will be due by the tuition deadlines, only the application fee is due at registration. We hope you will take advantage of this opportunity to not only save money but ensure the best course selection as well!
GEM and PACE
Multi-session registration discounts are available for GEM and PACE. If a student registers for both GEM sessions, they will receive a $20 discount on the total tuition cost. If a student registers for two or more PACE sessions, they will receive a $30 discount on the total tuition cost.
Refund policy and schedule
The following refund policy information is applicable to all Badger Precollege summer programs. For refund information specific to the College Ready program, please visit College Ready @ Badger Precollege.
The application or registration fee is nonrefundable. Refunds may take up to eight weeks to process, starting from the time a written request is received by Badger Precollege.
| Period | Percent of Refund |
|---|---|
| Withdraw during the period of registration up to 1 month prior to first day of program | 100% refund
Full refund will also be issued in the following cases regardless of date:
|
| Withdraw during the period of one month prior to the first day of the program – two weeks before program start | 90% refund
Nonrefundable 10% is used to cover class supplies, books, transportation, and administrative and teacher salary costs that were incurred during this period of program planning. |
| Withdraw during the period of two weeks before program start – opening day of camp | 80% refund
Nonrefundable 20% is used to cover risk management fees, University Health Services fees, class supplies, books, transportation, and administrative and teacher salary costs that were incurred during this period of program planning |
| Other | No refund
Students dismissed for disciplinary reasons are not eligible for any refund. Students voluntarily leaving while the program is in session are not eligible for any refund. |
Cancellation Policy
Badger Precollege reserves the right to cancel classes when necessary, including those for which enrollment numbers are not sufficient, or those for which a highly qualified instructor is unavailable. In the case of course cancellations, we will be happy to help you choose an alternative course. If no acceptable alternative is available, we will refund any tuition paid, minus any non-refundable application fees or deposits.