Through an agreement between the states, Minnesota residents can benefit from reduced tution costs with Wisconsin public colleges.

Minnesota residents can apply for reciprocity online (external web site) at and should do so as soon as you have applied for graduate school.

Your reciprocity benefits will be automatically renewed each year if you continue to attend UW-River Falls and can claim Minnesota residency. If you have not taken any classes in the past year, you will need to reapply.

Several types of financial aid (loans, grants, scholarships and work study) may be available to help you pay for your education.

A list scholarships for which you may be eligible are provided on the Office of Financial Aid web site. Because UWRF is a member of the Twin Cities Adult Education Alliance (TCAEA), adult students are eligible to apply for the TCAEA Scholarship. More information is available on the TCAEA web site.

To determine your eligibility for various grants and loans, you will need to complete the Free Application For Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) available each year after January 1, This form is available online or by requesting it from the Office of Financial Aid.

Work-study positions may be available for graduate students who take four or more credits per term. For more information, contact the Office of Financial Aid at (715) 425-3141 or by email. Academic departments may also provide graduate assistantship positions and should be contacted directly for information.

Advanced Opportunity Program (AOP) Fellowship 

Who: Minority graduate students or non-minority disadvantaged graduate students  

Eligibility: Based on African American, Hispanic, American Indian, Alaskan Native, Southeast Asian ethnicity; or being an economically disadvantaged non-minority graduate student. 

Must be admitted into a degree-seeking graduate program and must be enrolled in at least 2 credits per semester.  The application period for 2011-12 has ended. The application for 2012-13 will be available in Spring 2012. 

Award: Maximum award for 2011-12 year is $4621. 

American Indian Grants (Federal / State / Tribal) 

State:  Wisconsin Indian Student Assistance  Tribal 

Grants:  File application with tribe.

There are several graduate assistantships available for the academic year (September through May). Recipients of graduate assistantships must be currently enrolled in a graduate course or admitted to a graduate program and enrolled in a course (graduate or undergraduate). Recipients of a full assistantship are paid a monthly stipend and are expected to work 15-16 hours per week.  

Students seeking graduate assistantships need to complete an application and submit it to the department of their program. Upon recommendations from the departments to whom graduate assistantship positions have been awarded, the Director of Graduate Studies will notify students of assistantship awards.

Please contact the Graduate Studies Office for more information.