Wisconsin benefits for college students

Food assistance: FoodShare

Wisconsin's name for SNAP, run by Wisconsin Department of Health Services. If you are enrolled at least half-time, you need a student exemption to qualify, such as working 20 hours a week, work-study or caring for a young child. If you are enrolled less than half-time, the student rule does not apply and only the regular SNAP rules do. See every exemption →

Wisconsin's FoodShare handbook (section 3.15.1) adds state-specific student exemptions beyond the usual federal ones: students enrolled in a career and technical education program (Carl D. Perkins Act definition) leading to a diploma, certificate, apprenticeship, journeyman card, or associate degree and designed to take two years or less qualify. The handbook says ALL Wisconsin Technical College System (WTCS) programs count, except programs designed only for transfer to a four-year school; personal-interest classes outside a program do not. Also exempt: programs limited to remedial courses, basic adult education, literacy or ESL; students placed in school through FSET, WIOA or Trade Act programs; and certain state or local employment and training programs for low-income households equivalent to FSET. Work exemption is 80 hours a month (averaged over a month, quarter, trimester or semester); work study has no minimum hours. Being claimed as a tax dependent by parents does not by itself make a student ineligible. Students on a meal plan covering more than 50% of daily meals are ineligible. The handbook's example says a four-year university nursing student with no other exemption is not eligible.

Apply for FoodShare · Wisconsin's page for students

Health coverage: BadgerCare Plus

Wisconsin has not adopted the Affordable Care Act's full Medicaid expansion, so coverage for adults without children is usually limited. See below for what this state does cover. All your health coverage options →

Even though Wisconsin did not adopt the full expansion, BadgerCare Plus covers adults 19-64, including those without children, with income up to 100% of the federal poverty level ($1,330 a month for one person, Feb. 2026-Jan. 2027), so low-income students can still qualify.

Apply for BadgerCare Plus

Child care help: Wisconsin Shares Child Care Subsidy Program

Going to college or training can count, with limits. Education is a stand-alone approved activity: there is no work requirement. Postsecondary education (including technical college or courses that teach an employment skill) counts if the local agency decides it will help the parent maintain employment, but subsidy for postsecondary education is limited to 24 months over the parent's lifetime (only months the subsidy is used count). Unpaid student teaching or internships count if school credit is awarded; online courses count. High school and basic education are also approved activities. Family income must be at or below 200% FPL to start.

Apply for Wisconsin Shares Child Care Subsidy Program · Help on campus (CCAMPIS) →

Phone and internet: Lifeline

We found no extra state Lifeline discount on Wisconsin's official pages, so the federal discount applies. Who qualifies →

Apply for Lifeline

Taxes

A refundable Wisconsin credit for full-year residents who qualify for the federal EITC AND have at least one qualifying child (4% of the federal credit for one child, 11% for two, 34% for three or more); workers with no children get no Wisconsin credit. WisTax is the Department of Revenue's free online system for filing the Wisconsin state return; for 2026 it is open to all full-year residents with a valid driver's license or Wisconsin ID (some forms are not supported). Free VITA help is also available.

Wisconsin Earned Income Credit · Free state filing · Federal education tax credits → · Free federal filing →

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