Academic Excellence Scholarship (AES)
Wisconsin Higher Educational Aids Board (HEAB)
$2,250 a year toward tuition for the Wisconsin high school seniors with the top GPAs at each school, used at a Wisconsin college.
- How much
- $2,250 per year toward tuition
- Who qualifies
- Highest GPA among seniors at the student's high school (count depends on enrollment); homeschool: 33 ACT / 1500 SAT; full-time enrollment at a participating Wisconsin college by Sept 30 after designation; up to 8 semesters.
- For high school seniors, students starting college, undergrads
- When to apply
- Opens later School nominations annually in late winter; for the class of 2026 the window was Feb 18 - Mar 13, 2026. Expect a similar window in early 2027.
- How to apply
- No application: your high school designates its scholars by GPA and nominates them to HEAB through GLASS
- Homeschooled seniors with a 33+ ACT or 1500+ SAT can be nominated
- Ask your school counselor
- What you'll need
- school nomination + transcript
- Last checked
- October 5, 2026, against the official page (heab.wi.gov) and page 2
The details
Awarded to the Wisconsin high school seniors with the highest GPA at each public and private high school; the number per school depends on grades 9-12 enrollment. Under 2025 Wisconsin Act 80, every high school with 1-499 students now gets one scholarship (previously schools under 80 students shared a statewide pool of 10), and homeschooled seniors can be nominated if they have at least a 33 ACT or 1500 SAT. Recipients must enroll full-time by September 30 of the academic year after being designated, at a participating UW, Wisconsin Technical College, independent or tribal college in Wisconsin. Worth $2,250 a year toward tuition (half paid by the state, half matched by the college), for up to 8 semesters with full-time, continuous enrollment.
More money from Wisconsin
- Contract for Dental Education$8,753 tuition subsidy per year
- Wisconsin Grant - Private Non-Profit (WG-PNP)up to $4,850 per year (2026-27, full-time)
- Wisconsin Grant - University of Wisconsin (WG-UW)up to $3,700 per year (2026-27, full-time)
- Wisconsin Grant - Tribal Colleges (WG-TR)up to $2,450 per year (2026-27, full-time)
- Technical Excellence Scholarship (TES)up to $2,250 per year toward tuition
Keep looking
- Answer a few questions to see every program you qualify for
- Nearby states: Iowa, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota
- Federal aid and national scholarships (open to students in any state)
- The FAFSA in plain English (2027-28)
- Should I file the FAFSA if I don't think I'll qualify?
- FAFSA deadlines by state (2027-28)
- The FAFSA for parents: what you need to do
- How to save on textbooks: free, rented and cheaper options
We list programs; we don't decide who gets them. Always check the official page before you apply. Spot something wrong? Tell us.