University of Wisconsin–Green Bay Scholarships (2026–2027)

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Last Updated on October 20, 2026
What This Page Covers:
  • Tuition, housing, and average family net price
  • Automatic merit ranges and qualifier benchmarks
  • Flagship and hidden-gem awards
  • Honors and stacking strategy

📊 Admissions Snapshot

  • Acceptance Rate: ~90%
  • Middle 50% ACT: N/A
  • Middle 50% SAT: N/A
  • Average GPA: N/A

UW-Green Bay is an access school, and it means it. More than half of its students are the first in their family to go to college, more than a third of its student population is high schoolers taking UW-Green Bay classes for college credit, and it calls itself the fastest-growing university in the Universities of Wisconsin. Admission is test-optional, the Fall 2027 application opened August 1, and UW-Green Bay suggests applying in the fall of senior year. For families, the money story splits cleanly in two: out-of-state students with good grades get an automatic tuition discount that can bring them all the way down to the in-state price, and everyone (Wisconsin families included) gets access to more than $1 million a year in Foundation scholarships through one application.

Comparing multiple schools? Try the Scholarship Tool to search by GPA, test scores, and state →

📌 University of Wisconsin–Green Bay at a Glance

Average Net Price
$11,393/year (in-state estimate)
Average paid for residents.
Automatic Merit
Phoenix Scholar: in-state tuition for qualifying out-of-state students
No separate application.
Scholarships Tracked
9 opportunities
3 automatic · 2 competitive · 4 hidden gem
Typical Qualifiers
GPA 3.25+ or ACT 23+ / SAT 1130+ (nonresidents)
Entry-level benchmarks for automatic merit.
Testing Policy
Test-optional admission
Automatic merit has a no-test path
No superscore.
Key Deadlines
Priority: Feb 15 • FAFSA: TBD
Residency & Waivers
Minnesota Reciprocity; Midwest Tuition Rate; Michigan Compact (Upper Michigan residents pay the Wisconsin resident rate)
🚨 Easy-to-Miss “Gotchas” at UW-Green Bay (Read This First)

  • Wisconsin residents do not get automatic merit here. The Phoenix Scholar Award is only for out-of-state and international students. For Wisconsin families, the scholarship money comes from the portal application and the FAFSA, so skipping either one leaves money behind.
  • Getting admitted is not applying for scholarships. The scholarship portal is a separate General Application. Submit it by February 15 for maximum consideration. It stays open until June 30, but the selection process starts right after February 15.
  • Winning it is not the same as keeping it. Scholarship offers must be accepted in the portal by July 1, and first-year students must also register for fall classes or reserve a GB Orientation date by July 1.
  • Test-optional for admission, but not useless for money. Phoenix Scholar only needs one of GPA, ACT or SAT. An out-of-state student with a 3.1 GPA and a 23 ACT qualifies for Phoenix Green; the same student without the score does not.
  • Phoenix only counts in-person credits. Online classes are already billed at the Wisconsin rate, so a half-online schedule cuts the Phoenix award in half.
  • No news is not bad news. UW-Green Bay does not send “sorry” emails because it keeps making scholarship offers as more funding frees up. Keep checking campus email after March.

FAQ

Is this college test-optional? Yes, for admission. University of Wisconsin–Green Bay is test-optional for admission, but scholarships can work differently (see the next question).

Do you need test scores for scholarships at University of Wisconsin–Green Bay? Phoenix Scholar awards can be earned with an ACT, an SAT, or GPA alone, so a student without scores can still qualify with strong grades.

What is the middle 50% ACT/SAT? ACT: N/A; SAT: N/A.

Average net price? About $11,393/year after aid.

Does this school use waivers/reciprocity? Yes. It participates in Minnesota Reciprocity; Midwest Tuition Rate; Michigan Compact (Upper Michigan residents pay the Wisconsin resident rate).

💰 Cost of Attendance at University of Wisconsin–Green Bay: 2026–2027 Rates

Figures verified against official sources in October 2026.

📅 Planning for 2027–2028? These are the 2026–2027 rates, the newest University of Wisconsin–Green Bay has published. Colleges usually release next year's costs in the spring, and we update this page when they do.

Budgeting tip: costs typically rise 2% to 5% a year. For 2027–2028, plan on roughly $300 to $900 more than the in-state total below. $500 to $1,300 more than the out-of-state total below.

In-State: billed cost per year
$17,377
Tuition, fees, housing, and meals for two semesters
Tuition & mandatory fees $9,133
Housing & meals (typical) $8,244
Total billed cost $17,377
Out-of-State: billed cost per year
$25,965
Tuition, fees, housing, and meals for two semesters
Tuition & mandatory fees $17,721
Housing & meals (typical) $8,244
Total billed cost $25,965

That is $8,588 more per year than Wisconsin residents pay, before any waivers or scholarships.

Average federal net price: $11,393 per year. This is what first-time, full-time students who received grant aid paid after grants and scholarships, for in-state students only, based on the most recent federal data. It counts books and living costs, so it can run higher than the billed total above. Families who got no grants are not in this average, so many middle-income families pay more. New to Net Price & SAI? Read our guide.

Out-of-state families: this average does not include you. Run the college's own net price calculator for a number based on your situation.

📌 Regional Tuition & Waiver Options

UW-Green Bay has more out-of-state discount paths than most schools its size. Minnesota residents can use Minnesota Reciprocity. Residents of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio and South Dakota are charged the Midwest Tuition Rate. Students from the 15 counties of Upper Michigan pay the Wisconsin resident rate. On top of that, the automatic Phoenix Scholar Award brings qualifying out-of-state students down to in-state tuition (Gold) or most of the way there (Green), and the Return to Wisconsin rate discounts tuition for out-of-state children and grandchildren of UW-Green Bay graduates. Tuition figures shown are combined tuition and segregated fees.
Out-of-State Price Paths at UW-Green Bay (2026-2027, tuition & fees)

The “out-of-state” number in the table above is the worst-case price. Very few out-of-state families should actually pay it. Here is what each path costs per year on the Green Bay campus, before any scholarships:

Who you are Tuition & fees
Wisconsin resident$9,133
Upper Michigan resident (15 counties, Michigan Compact)$9,133
Any out-of-state student with Phoenix Scholar Gold$9,133
Minnesota resident (Minnesota Reciprocity)$11,434
Midwest Tuition Rate (IL, IN, IA, KS, MI, MO, NE, ND, OH, SD)$12,912
Return to Wisconsin (child or grandchild of a UWGB grad)$13,684
Full non-resident, no discount$17,721

Figures come from UW-Green Bay’s 2026-2027 Student Billing rates for 12-18 credits per semester, doubled for a full year. Phoenix Green (75% off the non-resident portion) lands in between; use the estimator on UW-Green Bay’s Phoenix page for your state.

FAQ: Cost of Attendance at UW-Green Bay

Why is the out-of-state total almost double the in-state total?
Because the full non-resident rate ($17,721) does not include Wisconsin’s state subsidy. In practice, most out-of-state families pay less: Minnesota, the ten Midwest Tuition Rate states and Upper Michigan all get reduced rates, and the automatic Phoenix Scholar Award can bring any out-of-state student with a 3.51+ GPA (or a 26+ ACT or 1230+ SAT) down to the Wisconsin price.

Which states get the Midwest Tuition Rate?
Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio and South Dakota. It is $12,912 a year for 2026-2027, about $4,800 less than the full non-resident rate, and students from those states can still qualify for the Phoenix Scholar Award on top.

How does Minnesota Reciprocity work at UW-Green Bay?
Minnesota residents in eligible programs pay a special reciprocity rate. Eligibility runs through the Minnesota Office of Higher Education, not through UW-Green Bay. Heads up: the UW-Green Bay cost page still shows a 2025-2026 figure of $10,855, while the 2026-2027 billing rate is $5,717 per semester, or about $11,434 a year. Budget with the higher number.

Do students from Michigan pay in-state tuition?
Only students from the 15 counties of Upper Michigan. They pay the Wisconsin resident rate under the Michigan Compact or the Upper Michigan Award. Students from the rest of Michigan get the Midwest Tuition Rate instead.

Do some majors cost more?
Yes. For Wisconsin residents in 2026-2027, engineering runs about $1,540 a year more than the standard rate, computer science about $770 more and nursing about $317 more. The bump is similar in size for non-residents. If your student is headed into one of these, use the program rate when you compare offers.

Are the Manitowoc, Sheboygan and Marinette locations cheaper?
For Wisconsin residents, yes. The 2026-2027 full-time resident rate at those locations is $3,991 per semester, about $1,150 a year less than the Green Bay campus.

What else shows up on the first bill?
UW-Green Bay lists a $217 new student fee, optional parking at $210, and an estimate of $800 for books and supplies. Online courses carry an extra $15 per credit distance education fee.

Sources:
https://www.uwgb.edu/apply/cost/
https://www.uwgb.edu/student-billing/tuition-fees/
https://www.uwgb.edu/student-billing/tuition-fees/msep/

📅 UW-Green Bay Scholarship Timeline (Simple Version)

  • At admission: Phoenix Scholar is applied automatically for qualifying out-of-state students. Nothing to file.
  • October: The scholarship portal opens for the next school year. Students log in once they are admitted.
  • February 15: Submit the General Application for maximum consideration. This is the date that matters.
  • March onward: Offers arrive by campus email and keep rolling as funding frees up.
  • June 30: Portal closes.
  • July 1: Accept awards in the portal and register for classes (or reserve GB Orientation) or the money can go to someone else.

Parent rule of thumb: treat February 15 as the real deadline, even though the portal stays open into summer.

Automatic Merit Scholarships at UW-Green Bay

UW-Green Bay’s automatic merit is aimed at out-of-state students. The Phoenix Scholar Award is a tuition discount based on GPA or test scores, applied at admission with no separate application. Gold drops non-resident tuition to the Wisconsin rate. Wisconsin residents are not eligible for Phoenix; their guaranteed option is the $1,000 Dual Enrollment Scholarship, if they took UW-Green Bay classes in high school.
Find your student's tier
Enter the numbers you have. We'll highlight the automatic award your student would actually get and tuck the rest out of the way. Leave it blank to browse everything.
Residency
Based on published cutoffs for entering freshmen. Always verify with the college before finalizing plans.
One award, not a pile. Colleges apply your student's single best automatic award. Automatic scholarships almost never stack with each other, though some stack with housing, departmental, or outside money. The stacking notes on each card tell you which.
Automatic
Phoenix Scholar Award: Gold Level
📅 Deadline: Awarded at admission (no separate application)
✓ Renews
$8,588/yr
✔ Stackable
⚠  Out-of-state and international students only
🏫 3.5+ GPA✎ ~26 ACT✎ ~1230 SATMeet any ONE of: cumulative GPA 3.51-4.0, ACT 26-36, or SAT 1230-1600. Must be a new first-year or transfer student, a non-resident or international student (Midwest Student Exchange students included), enrolled in in-person classes, seeking a first bachelor's degree, with no more than 150 attempted credits. Transfers qualify with 15+ transferable credits and a 3.51+ GPA.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Phoenix is a tuition discount, not a scholarship, so UW-Green Bay Foundation scholarships, the Dual Enrollment Scholarship, the Ihrke STEM award and federal aid can all sit on top of it, within cost-of-attendance limits. A student gets one Phoenix level (the highest they qualify for), never Gold plus Green.
💡
Strategic Detail
Gold is a 100% remission of the non-resident portion of tuition, which means a qualifying out-of-state student pays the Wisconsin resident rate. Against full 2026-2027 non-resident tuition and fees ($17,721) that is about $8,588 a year; for students already on the Midwest Tuition Rate the dollar savings are smaller because their starting price is lower. Only in-person credits count: online courses are already billed at the resident rate, so a schedule of 6 in-person and 6 online credits gets half the award. The award is split evenly between fall and spring, lasts until the bachelor's degree is finished or 150 attempted credits, and requires staying enrolled every fall and spring and remaining a non-resident for tuition purposes. Student-athletes need Athletic Department approval to accept it.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Out-of-state and international first-year students with a 3.51+ GPA, or a 26+ ACT, or a 1230+ SAT. Only one of the three is needed, so a strong GPA alone gets there even if the student never tests.
Automatic
Phoenix Scholar Award: Green Level
📅 Deadline: Awarded at admission (no separate application)
✓ Renews
$6,441/yr
✔ Stackable
⚠  Out-of-state and international students only
🏫 3.3+ GPA✎ ~23 ACT✎ ~1130 SATMeet any ONE of: cumulative GPA 3.25-3.5, ACT 23-25, or SAT 1130-1220. Must be a new first-year or transfer student, a non-resident or international student (Midwest Student Exchange students included), enrolled in in-person classes, seeking a first bachelor's degree, with no more than 150 attempted credits. Transfers qualify with 15+ transferable credits and a 3.0-3.5 GPA.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Phoenix is a tuition discount, not a scholarship, so UW-Green Bay Foundation scholarships, the Dual Enrollment Scholarship, the Ihrke STEM award and federal aid can all sit on top of it, within cost-of-attendance limits. Students receive one Phoenix level only.
💡
Strategic Detail
Green is a 75% remission of the non-resident portion of tuition. Against full 2026-2027 non-resident tuition and fees ($17,721 vs. $9,133 resident) that is about $6,441 a year. Students on the Midwest Tuition Rate should use UW-Green Bay's state-by-state estimator on the Phoenix page to see their exact figure. Same rules as Gold: in-person credits only (online credits reduce the award proportionally), split evenly between fall and spring, continuous fall and spring enrollment required, lasts until degree completion or 150 attempted credits, and the student must remain a non-resident for tuition purposes.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Out-of-state and international first-year students with a 3.25-3.5 GPA, or a 23-25 ACT, or a 1130-1220 SAT. Students just under the GPA line can still land here with a test score, which is the main reason to send scores to a test-optional school.
App Required
UW–Green Bay Dual Enrollment Scholarship
📅 Deadline: February 15
Non-Renewable
$1,000
✔ Stackable
⚠  UW-Green Bay dual enrollment students, Classes of 2026 and 2027
Classes of 2026 and 2027 only. Must have successfully completed at least one UW-Green Bay dual enrollment course (at the high school, online, on a UW-Green Bay campus, or through Rising Phoenix) and enroll as a degree-seeking student.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Stacks with the Phoenix Scholar Award and with the Midwest Tuition Rate or Minnesota Reciprocity, since those are tuition rates rather than scholarships. Inside the scholarship portal it works as a guaranteed floor: UW-Green Bay calls it a minimum award, so a student who wins larger Foundation scholarships through the same application may see the $1,000 counted within that total rather than added on top.
📄
How to Apply
Apply for admission as a degree-seeking student. After admission, log in to the UW-Green Bay scholarship portal and complete the General Application to receive the guaranteed $1,000 minimum.
Selection criteria: Guaranteed minimum award for eligible dual-enrolled students who complete the scholarship application; not a competitive selection.
💡
Strategic Detail
Announced in March 2026, this is a guaranteed $1,000 minimum for students who earned UW-Green Bay credit in high school and then enroll at UW-Green Bay as degree-seeking students. It covers the Classes of 2026 and 2027; UW-Green Bay has not said whether it continues for later classes. The catch: it is not automatic on the bill. The student has to complete the scholarship portal General Application after admission to receive it.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Any Class of 2026 or 2027 student who completed a UW-Green Bay dual enrollment course and enrolls as a degree-seeking student. It is a guarantee, not a competition, as long as the General Application gets filed.
Data last verified Oct 19, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.

Note: Phoenix dollar amounts above are measured against the full 2026-2027 non-resident rate. Students from Midwest Tuition Rate states start from a lower price, so their dollar savings are smaller, but Gold still lands them at the Wisconsin resident rate. Students receive one Phoenix level, the highest they qualify for.

Automatic Merit FAQs (UW-Green Bay)

Do Wisconsin residents get automatic merit at UW-Green Bay?
No. The Phoenix Scholar Award is only for non-residents. Wisconsin students should file the FAFSA and complete the scholarship portal General Application by February 15, which is where their scholarship money comes from.

How does my student apply for the Phoenix Scholar Award?
They don’t. It is applied automatically when an out-of-state or international student is admitted, at the highest level they qualify for.

What does it take to qualify?
Meet just one of these. Gold: a 3.51+ GPA, a 26+ ACT or a 1230+ SAT. Green: a 3.25-3.5 GPA, a 23-25 ACT or a 1130-1220 SAT. A strong GPA alone is enough, and a good test score can rescue a GPA that falls short.

Is Gold really the same as in-state tuition?
Yes. Gold removes 100% of the non-resident portion of tuition, so the student pays the Wisconsin resident rate. Green removes 75% of it. UW-Green Bay is careful to say Phoenix is a tuition discount, not a scholarship or financial aid, which is good news because scholarships can still be added on top.

Does Phoenix renew? Is there a GPA requirement to keep it?
UW-Green Bay does not list a renewal GPA. The award lasts until the bachelor’s degree is done or the student has attempted 150 credits, as long as they stay enrolled every fall and spring and remain a non-resident for tuition purposes. Skip a semester and it is discontinued.

What happens if my student takes online classes?
Phoenix only applies to in-person courses, because online courses are already billed at the resident rate. A schedule of 6 in-person and 6 online credits gets 50% of the award.

Who gets the $1,000 Dual Enrollment Scholarship?
Students in the Classes of 2026 and 2027 who completed a UW-Green Bay dual enrollment course (at their high school, online, on campus, or through Rising Phoenix) and enroll as degree-seeking students. It is guaranteed, but only after the student completes the scholarship portal General Application. It is a one-time minimum, not a yearly award.

Can student-athletes get Phoenix?
Yes, but accepting it is subject to Athletic Department approval because of NCAA rules on scholarship equivalencies.

Sources:
https://www.uwgb.edu/apply/cost/phoenix-scholar-award/
https://news.uwgb.edu/phlash/releases/03/25/new-1000-scholarship-for-uw-green-bay-dual-enrolled-high-school-students-announced/
https://www.uwgb.edu/scholarships/apply/

🏆 Flagship Scholarships (Competitive Scholarships)

UW-Green Bay does not run a big named full-tuition competition with finalist weekends and interviews. Its competitive money runs through one General Application in the scholarship portal, which puts every admitted student in front of more than $1 million a year in UW-Green Bay Foundation scholarships. There is no minimum GPA to apply. The standout award for incoming students is the Dr. Charles Ihrke Scholarship: $5,000 a year for up to four years for STEM majors with financial need.

✅ Can You Stack Scholarships at UW-Green Bay?

Aid Type Stacks? Parent Translation
Phoenix Scholar / Midwest Rate / MN Reciprocity Yes, it’s the base These lower the price itself. Scholarships come off of that lower price.
Foundation scholarships (General Application) Yes One application can turn into several smaller awards. Total aid cannot go over the cost of attendance.
Ihrke STEM Scholarship Yes Combines with Phoenix and need-based aid. Selection starts with need, so file the FAFSA.
Dual Enrollment $1,000 It’s a floor Guaranteed minimum. If your student wins bigger portal awards, the $1,000 may be counted inside that total.
Return to Wisconsin rate Ask UW-Green Bay doesn’t say whether it combines with Phoenix or the Midwest rate. Ask the Registrar which rate applies.
Federal and state grants Usually Meant to fill the gap after discounts and scholarships. FAFSA school code: 003899.

If your student is chasing a full ride through an essay-and-interview competition, UW-Green Bay is not that school. Its strength is a low starting price, an automatic discount for out-of-state students, and a single application that quietly matches students to dozens of smaller awards.

App Required
Dr. Charles Ihrke Scholarship Fund (STEM)
📅 Deadline: February 15
✓ Renews (3.3 GPA, 4 yrs)
$5,000/yr
✔ Stackable
🏫 3.3+ GPAIncoming full-time undergraduate, U.S. citizen or national, minimum 3.3 high school GPA, majoring in a STEM field such as human biology, biology, chemistry, environmental science, geoscience, water science, computer science, engineering, engineering technology, or mathematics and statistics. Preference goes to the greatest financial need as determined by the Office of Financial Aid.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Combines with the Phoenix Scholar Award (a tuition discount) and with federal and state need-based aid, within cost-of-attendance limits. Because selection starts with financial need, filing the FAFSA is effectively required to be considered.
📄
How to Apply
Apply to UW-Green Bay in an eligible STEM major and file the FAFSA (school code 003899). After admission, complete the scholarship portal General Application, including any STEM-specific questions it prompts. Submit everything by February 15 for maximum consideration.
Selection criteria: Need-first competitive selection: Financial Aid determines greatest-need students among eligible STEM applicants; awards then go to top academic merit performers within that need-qualified pool. Minimum 3.3 high school GPA required for initial award; 3.3 cumulative UW–Green Bay GPA required for renewal.
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
Funded by a $1 million gift from alumnus Dr. Paul J. Schilling '82 in honor of Professor Emeritus Dr. Charles "Chuck" Ihrke, a founding Human Biology faculty member. The award is $5,000 a year, renewable for up to four years with a 3.3 cumulative UW-Green Bay GPA. First awards went to students enrolling in Fall 2026.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Incoming STEM majors with real financial need and solid grades. UW-Green Bay screens for need first through Financial Aid, then ranks the qualifying students by academic merit.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
UW-Green Bay Foundation Scholarships (General Application)
📅 Deadline: February 15  ·  📢 Results: Scholarship offers go out via campus email beginning in March; UW–Green Bay does not send regret emails, and additional offers are made on a rolling basis as more funding becomes available through the summer.
Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
These scholarships apply on top of the Phoenix Scholar Award, Midwest Tuition Rate or Minnesota Reciprocity, since those are tuition rates rather than scholarships. Total aid from all sources cannot exceed the cost of attendance, so a very large package can be trimmed.
📄
How to Apply
After admission, log in to the scholarship portal (uwgb.academicworks.com) with UW-Green Bay credentials and complete the General Application. Submit by February 15 for maximum consideration; the portal stays open until June 30. Check back for follow-up prompts. If awarded, accept in the portal by July 1 and register for fall classes (or reserve a GB Orientation date for first-year students) by July 1.
Selection criteria: Holistic review based on donor-defined criteria, which may include academic merit, financial need, major, leadership, service, and background.
✎ Essays💌 Letters of Rec
💡
Strategic Detail
One General Application puts the student in front of the whole UW-Green Bay Foundation pool, more than $1 million in need- and merit-based scholarships each year, including the UW-Green Bay Scholarship Fund. There is no minimum GPA to apply, and the portal does the matching: students who fit a specific award get prompted inside the portal for extra questions, essays or references. Award amounts vary by fund and by year. Students reapply every year.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Admitted and continuing degree-seeking students who file by February 15, answer the follow-up prompts in the portal, and match donor criteria such as major, hometown, financial need, leadership or service. Most winners are simply the students who finished the application early and completely.
Data last verified Oct 19, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.

❓ Competitive Scholarship FAQs

Is there one scholarship application or many?
One. The General Application in the UW-Green Bay scholarship portal covers the Foundation scholarships. If your student fits a specific award, the portal will prompt them for extra questions, essays or references, so it pays to log back in after submitting.

When is the deadline?
Submit by February 15 for maximum consideration. The portal opens in October and stays open until June 30, but selection begins right after February 15.

Who is the Ihrke STEM Scholarship for?
Incoming full-time students majoring in a STEM field such as human biology, biology, chemistry, environmental science, water science, computer science, engineering or math. They need a 3.3+ high school GPA, U.S. citizenship or nationality, and financial need. Financial Aid screens for need first, then awards go by academic merit. It pays $5,000 a year and renews for up to four years with a 3.3 UW-Green Bay GPA.

Do we need to file the FAFSA?
Yes. UW-Green Bay encourages every eligible student to file, many Foundation scholarships are need-based, and the Ihrke award is decided on need first. The school code is 003899.

Can my student use AI to write scholarship essays?
Be careful. UW-Green Bay’s scholarship integrity policy bans plagiarism and improper use of generative AI, and violations can be referred to the Dean of Students. UW-Green Bay points students to its Generative AI policy for what is and isn’t allowed, so read it before your student starts writing.

We haven’t heard anything. Did we lose?
Not necessarily. Offers go out by campus email starting in March, and UW-Green Bay does not send rejection emails because it keeps making offers as funding becomes available.

Sources:
https://www.uwgb.edu/scholarships/apply/
https://uwgb.academicworks.com/
https://news.uwgb.edu/phlash/news/11/14/1-million-gift-opens-doors-for-stem-students-at-uw-green-bay/

🧠 Parent Strategy: Make the Portal Work for You

UW-Green Bay’s portal matches students to donor scholarships based on what they put in their profile. A thin profile gets matched to fewer awards. Before your student hits submit:

  1. Declare an intended major, even if it might change. Department awards are matched by major.
  2. Fill in every activity, job, leadership role and service hour. Donors write criteria around exactly these things.
  3. Log back in a week later and look for new prompts. Extra questions mean they matched to something.
  4. If you have a UW-Green Bay graduate in the family and live out of state, ask the Registrar about Return to Wisconsin before the first bill.

Parent translation: the General Application is short. The extra ten minutes on the profile is where the hidden money lives.

💎 Hidden Gem Scholarships

These are the awards most families never hear about: a tuition rate for out-of-state alumni families, and the donor and department funds that the portal matches by major. They don’t get headlines, but they can stack on top of Phoenix and add up over four years.

App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Return to Wisconsin Tuition Rate (UWGB Alumni Families)
📅 Deadline: Submit certification through the Registrar (no published deadline; file before the first bill)
✓ Renews
$4,036/yr
✔ Stackable
⚠  Out-of-state children and grandchildren of UW-Green Bay graduates
🎓 All UndergradMust be a non-Wisconsin resident whose parent, grandparent or legal guardian is a UW-Green Bay graduate. Requires a notarized certification of the relationship.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Foundation scholarships from the General Application apply on top of this rate. UW-Green Bay does not publish whether it combines with the Phoenix Scholar Award or the Midwest Tuition Rate, so families who qualify for more than one should ask the Registrar which rate applies.
📄
How to Apply
Submit a signed and notarized certification showing the relationship to the UW-Green Bay graduate. The form is on the Registrar's residency page (Return to Wisconsin). Questions go to the Registrar at registrar@uwgb.edu or (920) 465-2111.
💡
Strategic Detail
The 2026-2027 Return to Wisconsin rate on the Green Bay campus is $6,842 per semester for 12-18 credits, about $13,684 a year, compared with $17,721 for full non-resident tuition and fees. That is roughly $4,036 a year in savings. UW-Green Bay does not say on its pages whether this rate combines with the Phoenix Scholar Award or the Midwest Tuition Rate, so families who qualify for more than one should ask the Registrar which rate applies. Families almost never hear about this one because it is billed as a tuition rate, not listed as a scholarship.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Out-of-state students whose parent, grandparent or legal guardian graduated from UW-Green Bay. It matters most for students who miss the Phoenix Scholar cutoffs, because a Phoenix Gold student already pays the resident rate.
Automatic⚠ All Undergrad Only
UWGB Foundation Scholarships (Departmental & Donor)
📅 Deadline: February 15
Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Donor and departmental scholarships stack with the Phoenix Scholar Award and other institutional awards, within cost-of-attendance limits.
💡
Strategic Detail
Covers the broad set of departmental and donor-funded Foundation scholarships housed in the UW–Green Bay scholarship portal; individual funds have their own criteria and amounts.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students whose profiles and declared majors closely match donor-defined criteria, including major, class year, leadership, service, background, or financial need.
Automatic⚠ All Undergrad Only
Resch School of Engineering & CSET Scholarships
📅 Deadline: February 15
Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Foundation-funded departmental awards stack with the Phoenix Scholar Award and other institutional aid, within cost-of-attendance limits.
💡
Strategic Detail
The Resch School of Engineering lists about 30 named donor scholarships, many funded by Northeast Wisconsin employers, including the Kohler Company Engineering Scholarship, the Faith Technologies, Inc. Annual Scholarship for Engineering, the Georgia-Pacific Annual Scholarship in Engineering and the Foth Companies Endowed Scholarship for Engineering. UW-Green Bay says annual amounts and available funds vary year to year. Other College of Science, Engineering and Technology majors are matched to their own departmental funds through the same portal.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Continuing STEM students in majors such as engineering, natural sciences, and related fields who show solid academic performance and progress in their programs.
Automatic⚠ All Undergrad Only
Business, Education & Health Sciences Department Awards
📅 Deadline: February 15
Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Departmental awards stack with the Phoenix Scholar Award and other institutional aid, within cost-of-attendance limits.
💡
Strategic Detail
Aggregates multiple departmental scholarships in business, education, and health sciences that are administered through the central scholarship portal and tailored to specific majors or involvement.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students who have declared majors in business, education, or health-related programs and are active in their academic departments, including practicum, leadership, or service experiences.
Data last verified Oct 19, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.

❓ Hidden Gems FAQ

What is the Return to Wisconsin rate?
It’s a discounted tuition rate for out-of-state students whose parent, grandparent or legal guardian graduated from UW-Green Bay. For 2026-2027 it works out to about $13,684 a year versus $17,721 at the full non-resident rate. To get it, you submit a signed, notarized certification of the relationship through the Registrar.

Should we use Return to Wisconsin or Phoenix?
If your student qualifies for Phoenix Gold, they already pay the Wisconsin rate, so Return to Wisconsin adds nothing. It matters most for students below the Phoenix cutoffs. UW-Green Bay doesn’t say whether the two combine, so ask the Registrar.

Do we apply separately for department scholarships?
Mostly no. The General Application matches students to department and donor awards based on their profile and declared major. Some awards will prompt for more information inside the portal.

What kinds of engineering scholarships are there?
The Resch School of Engineering lists about 30 named funds, many from Northeast Wisconsin employers, including scholarships from Kohler Company, Faith Technologies, Georgia-Pacific and Foth Companies. Amounts vary year to year.

Can current students apply too?
Yes. Continuing students apply through the same General Application each year, with the same February 15 date for maximum consideration.

Do we have to report outside scholarships?
Yes. UW-Green Bay requires students to report outside scholarships and certain veteran benefits to the Financial Aid Office, and not reporting them can cost your student aid.

Sources:
https://www.uwgb.edu/student-billing/tuition-fees/msep/
https://www.uwgb.edu/student-billing/tuition-fees/
https://www.uwgb.edu/engineering/scholarships/
https://www.uwgb.edu/scholarships/

Honors at UW-Green Bay

We could not find an Honors College or an admission-based Honors Program at UW-Green Bay. When you see “honors” on UW-Green Bay’s pages, it usually means the semester academic honors lists, which recognize full-time students who earn a 3.5 GPA or higher in a term. That’s a nice line on a resume, but it is not a separate program with its own scholarships.

This institution does not offer designated Honors College scholarships at this time.

Where High Achievers Find the Money Instead
  • Out-of-state with a 3.51+ GPA (or 26+ ACT / 1230+ SAT): Phoenix Scholar Gold, automatic, brings tuition to the Wisconsin rate.
  • STEM major with financial need and a 3.3+ GPA: the Ihrke STEM Scholarship, $5,000 a year for up to four years.
  • Everyone: the General Application, where strong grades and a complete profile improve the odds on merit-based Foundation awards.
  • Earned UW-Green Bay credit in high school (Classes of 2026 and 2027): the guaranteed $1,000 Dual Enrollment Scholarship.

Honors FAQs (UW-Green Bay)

Does UW-Green Bay have an Honors College?
Not that we could find. There is no separate honors application listed on its admissions or scholarship pages.

Is there extra scholarship money for top students?
For out-of-state students, yes: Phoenix Gold is the top automatic award. Wisconsin residents compete through the General Application, where merit counts but no award is guaranteed by GPA alone.

If honors isn’t a factor, what should a high-achieving student focus on?
Applying by February 15, filling out the portal profile completely, and filing the FAFSA. At UW-Green Bay, those three things decide more money than any honors designation would.

Sources:
https://www.uwgb.edu/CMSAssets/provost/AcademicHonors.asp
https://www.uwgb.edu/apply/cost/phoenix-scholar-award/

⭐ College Specialty

UW-Green Bay is a regional public university built around access: it has campuses in Green Bay, Manitowoc and Sheboygan, a theatre in Marinette, and a mission statement that boils down to teaching anyone who wants to learn. What families should know is that “access” here does not mean “generic.” The programs that stand out are the ones tied tightly to Northeast Wisconsin’s employers and to the water and land around Green Bay itself.

Signature Program:
Resch School of Engineering: UW-Green Bay offers mechanical and electrical engineering, engineering technology programs and software engineering, and the school’s scholarship list reads like a who’s who of regional industry, with named funds from Kohler, Georgia-Pacific, Faith Technologies and Foth. For a student who wants to engineer close to home, that local pipeline is the real draw.
  • Nursing & Health Studies: A big pathway for students who want a direct line into regional healthcare jobs. Nursing carries a small per-credit premium, so plan for it.
  • Austin E. Cofrin School of Business: Majors in accounting, finance, marketing, management and business analytics, plus a Small Business Development Center on campus.
  • Human Biology: A major that goes back to UW-Green Bay’s early years and a common pre-health route. The new Ihrke STEM Scholarship is named for a founding Human Biology professor.
  • Environmental Science and Water Science: A natural fit for a campus on the bay, backed by the Cofrin Center for Biodiversity and the Lower Fox River Watershed Monitoring Program.
  • Psychology: A popular major that pairs well with UW-Green Bay’s social work and health programs, including a sport, exercise and performance psychology option.

✅ Wrapping It Up

UW-Green Bay says it is the second least expensive university in the Universities of Wisconsin, and it is built for families who are doing this for the first time. For Wisconsin families, the formula is simple: file the FAFSA, finish the scholarship portal General Application by February 15, and accept whatever you win by July 1. For out-of-state families, it is one of the simplest out-of-state deals we’ve seen. A 3.51 GPA, with no essay and no application, turns an out-of-state price into an in-state one, and students from Minnesota, the Midwest Tuition Rate states and Upper Michigan start from a discounted price before Phoenix even kicks in.

The money here is less about one big award and more about stacking: a low base price, an automatic discount if you qualify, then Foundation scholarships matched by major on top. Keep your student’s classes in person, keep the portal profile complete, and keep checking campus email after March. That’s how UW-Green Bay gets affordable.

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Leo Dimilo

Written by Leo Dimilo

I started CollegeReadyParent while working through college costs for my own kid, and quickly figured out that the number a school advertises and the number a family actually pays are two very different things. Since then I’ve gone school by school pulling apart award letters, scholarship pages, and cost sheets to find what families are supposed to just know. This site is the version of that research I wish someone had handed me.

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