Skip Navigation

Veterans Resources

Are you a military-connected student looking to attend a private college in Wisconsin? You’re in the right place! Whether you’re active-duty, a veteran, or a family member, this is your one-stop resource for exploring Wisconsin’s private colleges, understanding your education benefits, and finding the support you need to reach your goals.

Wisconsin Veterans Grant for Private Nonprofit Colleges

The Wisconsin Veterans Grant for Private, Nonprofit Colleges is a State of Wisconsin veterans benefit available to qualified veterans, as well as certain spouses and children of qualified veterans, for use at Wisconsin private, nonprofit higher educational institutions. Dependent children of qualified veterans must be at least 17 but not yet 26 years of age to qualify.

The Wisconsin Veterans Grant for Private, Nonprofit Colleges includes a maximum grant per semester/session (including summer) for qualifying veterans, spouses, or dependents, with a per semester/session matching grant from the participating college or university.

Grants apply toward bachelor’s and graduate degree programs at Wisconsin’s participating private, nonprofit colleges and universities. Qualifying veterans, their spouses, and dependent(s) may receive up to a total of $12,000 annually in grants depending on other educational benefits for which veterans and their dependents may qualify. Those eligible may receive a maximum of eight semesters of grant funding or 128 credits, whichever is longer, less any Wisconsin GI bill benefits already received at public institutions.

The Wisconsin Veterans Grant for Private, Nonprofit Colleges is a collaboration between the Wisconsin Higher Educational Aids Board, which administers the program, and the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs, which acts as the certifying agency and determines a veteran’s eligibility for the program.

Please see the Wisconsin Higher Educational Aids Board website for more information and to apply.

See also the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs website for eligibility determinations for the grant.

JOINT COMMITMENT TO ACCEPT STUDENT MILITARY TRANSFER CREDIT

WAICU-member colleges and universities are committed to ensuring that both active duty and military veterans receive the appropriate college credit for military education and training as applicable to their programs of study.

The WAICU-member colleges and universities participating in this commitment evaluate basic and advanced military training on the Joint Services Transcript using the American Council on Education (ACE) “A Guide to the Evaluation of Educational Experiences in the Armed Services” to help interpret and recommend credit for college courses.

Detail on the type of credit that these colleges and universities accept for transfer are found below:

THE POST-9/11 GI BILL

The “Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008” is the most comprehensive education benefits package for veterans since the original GI Bill was enacted in 1944. Below you will find details on what the benefits package mean for you (a veteran, or spouse or dependent of a veteran) at Wisconsin’s private, nonprofit colleges. A printable/downloadable list of the certifying officials at each of the WAICU member colleges and universities can be found below.

At private colleges in Wisconsin, the Post-9/11 GI Bill maximum annual payment for tuition & fees for the 2025-2026 Private College Maximum of $29,920.95. The tuition and fees payment is prorated by the student’s benefit level. If a college or university is participating in the voluntary Yellow Ribbon program, and the tuition and fees exceed this amount, additional funds (see “Yellow Ribbon Program” below) may be available, in some cases closing the gap completely.

This program will pay eligible individuals:
•  tuition & fees directly to the school, not to exceed $29,920.95
•  a monthly housing allowance based on the Basic Allowance for Housing for an E-5 with dependents at the location of the school;
•  an annual stipend of $1,000 for books and supplies, paid proportionately based on enrollment;
•  a one-time rural benefit payment for eligible individuals (see comparison chart for more information).

YELLOW RIBBON PROGRAM

Colleges and universities that voluntarily enter into a Yellow Ribbon agreement with the VA cover costs that exceeds the basic VA tuition and fee payment of $29,920.95 for the 2025-2026 academic year. The VA will match that amount and issue payment directly to the college or university. Benefits are payable for education pursued on or after August 1, 2009.

Yellow Ribbon Program benefits, where available, are in addition to the Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits (see above).

How to Apply

The VA application form includes instructions for submitting completed applications.
For complete information on these programs, go to www.gibill.va.gov.

WAICU Veterans Certifying Officials List

A list of the certifying officials at each of the WAICU member colleges and universities can be found here.

Alverno College: Blake Taylor – Veterans Certifying Officer – blake.taylor@alverno.edu

Bellin College: Jenny Clayton – Bursar – jennifer.clayton@bellincollege.edu

Beloit College: Yaffa Grossman – Registrar; Associate Dean – grossman@beloit.edu

Carroll University: Ian Burgard – Assistant Registrar; Veterans Certifying Official – iburgard@carrollu.edu

Carthage College: Ethan Ashworth – Student Experience Associate – eashworth@carthage.edu

Concordia University Wisconsin: Barb Ellmaker – Veterans Certifying Official – barb.ellmaker@cuw.edu

Edgewood University: Kyler Liegl – School Certifying Official; Operations Specialist – kliegl@edgewood.edu

Edgewood University: Michael Shumway – Academic Records Coordinator; School Certifying Official – mshumway@edgewood.edu

Herzing University: Missy Jaehnke – Associate Director of Financial Aid – mjaehnke@herzing.edu

Lakeland University: Sue Bialk – Associate Director Financial Aid & Educational Funding; Director Veterans Services – bialkse@lakeland.edu

Lawrence University: Ryan Gebler – Director of Financial Aid – ryan.l.gebler@lawrence.edu

Marian University of Wisconsin: Debra Barrett – Associate Registrar; Veterans Certifying Official – dabarrett08@marianuniversity.edu

Marquette University: Mechelle Cockfield – Assistant Registrar; Veterans Certifying Official – mechelle.cockfield@marquette.edu

Marquette University: Alex Frain – Associate Registrar; Veterans Certifying Official – alexander.frain@marquette.edu

Medical College of Wisconsin: Kari McDermott – Registrar – kamcdermott@mcw.edu

Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design: Jean Weimer – Registrar – jeanweimer@miad.edu

Mount Mary University: Financial Aid Office – mmu-finaid@mtmary.edu

Milwaukee School of Engineering: Justin Sorenson – Assistant Director of Financial Aid – sorenson@msoe.edu

Milwaukee School of Engineering: Neolitsa “Litsa” Mirakis – Senior Financial Aid Counselor – mirakis@msoe.edu

Ripon College: Linda Kinziger – Director of Financial Aid – kinzigerl@ripon.edu

St. Norbert College: Caralyn Karck – Degree Specialist – caralyn.karck@snc.edu

Viterbo University: Carey Jennings – Assistant Director; School Certifying Official – cdjennings@viterbo.edu

Wisconsin Lutheran College: David Leverence – Financial Aid Specialist – david.leverence@wlc.edu