Wisconsin Talent Incentive Program (TIP) Grant

The Talent Incentive Program Grant is Wisconsin's grant for the most financially needy and educationally disadvantaged Wisconsin residents starting college in the state. A first-time freshman cannot apply directly: the student files the FAFSA and is nominated either by a college financial aid office or by a counselor with the Wisconsin Educational Opportunity Programs, the state's college access counselors who work with low-income and first-generation students. Initial awards range from $600 to $1,800 a year, and the grant can continue in later years at a minimum of $250, up to an annual maximum set by HEAB that cannot exceed $1,800. It can be used at UW System universities, Wisconsin technical colleges, independent nonprofit colleges and tribal colleges in Wisconsin, with at least half-time enrollment. It stacks with the Wisconsin Grant and the federal Pell Grant. Families who think they qualify should file the FAFSA early and ask the college aid office or a WEOP counselor about a nomination.

Other deadlines near this one

How hard is the Wisconsin Talent Incentive Program (TIP) Grant to win?

A large applicant pool chases this award. Apply if the student is a genuinely strong fit, but build the plan around better-odds awards first. The provider does not publish applicant or winner counts, so Solyo shows no odds figure for this award.

Odds: not published by the provider
Paperwork: ~1 hr to file

What drives the odds here

Odds on a scholarship are mostly a question of how many students can enter. Each rule below changes the size of that field.

Fewer rivalsOpen only to Wisconsin residents
Fewer rivalsOpen to a single grade level only

How Solyo estimates this: We model the applicant field from how narrow the eligibility rules are, then divide the awards available by that field. Requirements such as essays and recommendation letters improve a serious applicant’s odds, because most browsers never complete them. These are estimates derived from each award's published structure, not reported acceptance rates, which almost no scholarship provider discloses. Treat them as a way to rank where the hours go, not as a guarantee.

Who can apply for the Wisconsin Talent Incentive Program (TIP) Grant?

These are the eligibility rules Solyo verified against the official award page, translated into plain English. Your student must meet each one.

Must be a resident of Wisconsin
Must attend a college in Wisconsin (the award does not travel out of state)
Open to high school seniors

Confirm these before applying

Must be nominated as a first-time freshman by a college aid office or a WEOP counselor
Must have high financial need and meet the state's educationally disadvantaged criteria

What the application takes

No essay, recommendation letters, or transcript are required. This is one of the lighter applications in the directory.

Deadline and application cycle

The next projected deadline is June 30, 2027 (estimated). The last verified deadline has passed; the next cycle is projected from this award's usual June 30 deadline. Confirm the exact date on the official site. Applications open October 1 (FAFSA opens). Nomination happens only for first-time freshmen, so the window is senior year and the first fall of college.

2027-28 FAFSA opens: October 1, 2026
Nomination by the college aid office or a WEOP counselor: Before or at freshman enrollment

Track the next deadline Apply on the official site

Free to apply. Legitimate scholarships never charge a fee. We use your student's information only to build their plan.

Common questions about the Wisconsin Talent Incentive Program (TIP) Grant

How much is the Wisconsin Talent Incentive Program (TIP) Grant worth?

The Wisconsin Talent Incentive Program (TIP) Grant awards $600 to $1,800 for the first year; renewals $250 up to $1,800 and is renewable in later years.

When is the Wisconsin Talent Incentive Program (TIP) Grant deadline?

The next projected deadline is June 30, 2027 (estimated). The last verified deadline has passed; the next cycle is projected from this award's usual June 30 deadline. Confirm the exact date on the official site. Applications open October 1 (FAFSA opens). Nomination happens only for first-time freshmen, so the window is senior year and the first fall of college.

When do Wisconsin Talent Incentive Program (TIP) Grant applications open?

Applications open October 1 (FAFSA opens), and close June 30, 2027 (estimated). Nomination happens only for first-time freshmen, so the window is senior year and the first fall of college.

Who is eligible for the Wisconsin Talent Incentive Program (TIP) Grant?

Key requirements: Must be a resident of Wisconsin; Must attend a college in Wisconsin (the award does not travel out of state); Open to high school seniors.

Does the Wisconsin Talent Incentive Program (TIP) Grant require an essay?

No essay is required. The application is light on requirements. Expect to spend about 1 hour on it.

How hard is it to win the Wisconsin Talent Incentive Program (TIP) Grant?

A large applicant pool chases this award. Apply if the student is a genuinely strong fit, but build the plan around better-odds awards first. The provider does not publish applicant or winner counts, so Solyo shows no odds figure for this award. What is known: open only to Wisconsin residents and open to a single grade level only. Plan on about 1 hr of work.

Is the Wisconsin Talent Incentive Program (TIP) Grant free to apply?

Yes. The Wisconsin Talent Incentive Program (TIP) Grant is free to apply. Legitimate scholarships never charge an application fee, and Solyo verifies every listed award against its official page.