Veteran Scholarships in Wisconsin: Who Actually Pays for School

Jun 15
4 min read

College is one of the benefits veterans earned, and one of the most underused. Here are the scholarships and programs that help Wisconsin veterans, their spouses, and their children pay for school, starting with the state benefit most people overlook.

Wisconsin Veterans & Families Updated 2026

The short answer

Wisconsin veterans should start with the Wisconsin GI Bill, which can remit up to full tuition at UW System and Wisconsin Technical College System schools for eligible veterans and certain family members, on top of the federal Post-9/11 GI Bill. Beyond that, national organizations like AMVETS, the VFW, the American Legion, the Pat Tillman Foundation, and Folds of Honor offer scholarships for veterans, spouses, and children. Eligibility and amounts vary, so confirm current details with each program.

There are more ways to pay for school as a veteran or military family than almost anyone realizes, and they stack. The mistake we see most often is a veteran reaching for student loans before checking the benefits and scholarships they already qualify for. Here is where to look, in the order that usually makes sense for a Wisconsin family.

Start with the state benefit: the Wisconsin GI Bill

1. The Wisconsin GI Bill (state tuition remission)

This is the one most people miss because they assume "GI Bill" only means the federal program. The Wisconsin GI Bill is a separate state benefit that can remit up to 100% of tuition and fees at University of Wisconsin System and Wisconsin Technical College System schools for eligible veterans, and in some cases their spouses and children. Used alongside the federal Post-9/11 GI Bill, it can dramatically cut or eliminate tuition. We break down exactly how it works in our Wisconsin GI Bill guide.

Organizations that provide veteran scholarships

Once the GI Bill benefits are in place, these well-known organizations offer scholarships that help cover the gaps, books, living costs, second degrees, or education for family members.

2. AMVETS

AMVETS offers national scholarship programs for veterans, active-duty service members, and their children and grandchildren. It is one of the more established veteran scholarship sources and worth checking annually, since cycles and eligibility windows change.

3. The VFW and American Legion

Both run scholarship and education-assistance programs. The VFW's "Sport Clips Help A Hero" scholarship supports service members and veterans pursuing a degree, and the American Legion offers scholarships often aimed at the children and grandchildren of veterans. Your local Wisconsin post can point you to current opportunities.

4. The Pat Tillman Foundation

The Tillman Scholars program supports veterans, active-duty service members, and military spouses with both funding and a leadership network. It is competitive and prestigious, and a strong fit for veterans pursuing graduate or professional degrees.

5. Folds of Honor & Fisher House (for families)

For the children and spouses of fallen or disabled service members, Folds of Honor provides educational scholarships, and Fisher House administers the Scholarships for Military Children program. These are family-focused, an important option since so many education searches are parents looking for their kids.

6. Reward Our Heroes Foundation Scholarships

Our own Foundation runs a scholarship program for Wisconsin's hero community, including veterans and military families, as part of our mission of hero supporting hero. Award amounts and eligibility change by cycle, so check the current round before you apply. See Reward Our Heroes scholarship details and how to apply.

How to actually get the money

1. Talk to your County Veteran Service Officer first. They know the Wisconsin GI Bill paperwork and state benefits cold, and the help is free. 2. File for the GI Bill benefits before chasing scholarships, they are the largest dollars and they anchor everything else. 3. Apply to scholarships every cycle, many go unawarded for lack of applicants. 4. Do not forget family members, spouses and children qualify for far more than most families realize. Start with our Wisconsin Veteran Resource Guide.

Not sure which education benefits you qualify for?

We help Wisconsin veterans and families connect the dots between state benefits, federal benefits, and scholarships, and we will point you to the right people to apply.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the Wisconsin GI Bill and how is it different from the federal GI Bill?

The Wisconsin GI Bill is a state benefit that can remit up to full tuition at UW System and Wisconsin Technical College System schools for eligible veterans and certain family members. It is separate from, and can be used alongside, the federal Post-9/11 GI Bill.

Are there scholarships for the children of veterans?

Yes. The American Legion, AMVETS, Folds of Honor, and Fisher House's Scholarships for Military Children all support children of veterans and service members. The Wisconsin GI Bill may also extend to dependents in certain cases.

Are there scholarships for military spouses?

Yes. The Pat Tillman Foundation includes military spouses, and several other organizations offer spouse-specific education funding. Eligibility varies, so check each program's current cycle.

Where should a Wisconsin veteran start when looking for education funding?

Start with your County Veteran Service Officer and the Wisconsin GI Bill, which are the largest and most reliable benefits. Then layer on scholarships from organizations like AMVETS, the VFW, the American Legion, and Reward Our Heroes.

Does Reward Our Heroes offer scholarships?

Yes. As part of supporting Wisconsin's hero community, the Reward Our Heroes™ Foundation runs a scholarship program. See our scholarships page for current details and eligibility. Reward Our Heroes is an IRS-approved 501(c)(3), EIN 39-3358820.

John Reuter

Founder, Reward Our Heroes™ Foundation. Retired U.S. Air Force veteran (115th Fighter Wing, Security Forces). John advocates for Wisconsin veterans and families to use every education benefit they earned, starting with the state programs most people overlook.

About Reward Our Heroes™ Reward Our Heroes™ Foundation supports veterans, active-duty military, military spouses, law enforcement, firefighters, EMS, educators, healthcare workers, and Wisconsin's broader hero community through real estate savings, emergency housing grants, scholarships, and direct support programs. Our mission: hero supporting hero, across Wisconsin.

EIN 39-3358820 | IRS-Approved 501(c)(3) Nonprofit | Serving Wisconsin Statewide | rewardourheroes.com | 608-492-0515

Keep Reading: Wisconsin Veteran Benefits & Resources

Want the full picture? Start with the Wisconsin Veteran Resource Guide, or see how Reward Our Heroes helps Wisconsin veterans.