Advanced Opportunity Program (AOP)

Provided by the State of Wisconsin, the Advanced Opportunity Program (AOP) is intended to provide financial support to disadvantaged graduate students allowing them to focus attention on their graduate studies and complete their degree in a timely fashion.

Students must be officially admitted to a graduate program at UW-RF, enroll in at least three credits per semester, meet Satisfactory Academic Progress, and complete the 2026-2027 Free Application for Federal Student AID (FAFSA, https://fafsa.gov).
Both Wisconsin residents and non-residents are eligible for this program.

For the purposes of the AOP Grant, “disadvantaged student” means a graduate student that meets any of the following criteria:

  1. You are from a family that demonstrates financial need through one or more of the following: student or immediate family participation in programs including Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF/cash assistance), Federal Housing Assistance, Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), or Medicaid
  2. You are a first-generation college student (i.e. parent(s)/guardian(s) did not receive a baccalaureate degree).
  3. You have experienced educational, economic, and/or societal disadvantages or adversity that have impacted their educational opportunities. These may include, but are not limited to, growing up in a rural or urban community; having experienced the foster care system; having an incarcerated parent; or having responsibilities for providing financial support or primary care for other household or family members.

Award
Varies
Scopes
Graduate Scholarships
Deadline
06/30/2027
Supplemental Questions
  1. I have completed and submitted the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the 2026-2027 Academic Year.
  2. Will your employer provide you with tuition reimbursement? If yes, what percent will they pay?
  3. Please describe your career goals and how the AOP grant will help you achieve these goals.
  4. Please answer the following questions.
    • Did either of your parent(s) attend college? If "yes", did they graduate with a degree from a four-year college or university?
    • Have you experienced educational, economic, and/or societal disadvantages or adversity that have impacted your educational opportunities? If “yes”, please identify the specific program(s).
    • Have you or members of your immediate family received any type of public assistance, such as food stamps, subsidized public housing, free school lunches, or similar public assistance programs? If “yes”, please identify the specific program(s) or form(s) of assistance.