The cost of obtaining a top-notch education continues to rise, and many students are concerned about financing their education. The School of Journalism and Mass Communication offers a variety of financial support options for its students. For the undergraduate major, university-level financial aid is available; however, the school also offers a number of generous need- and merit-based scholarships.
Scholarships
Thanks to the generosity of our alumni, the School of Journalism and Mass Communication has one of the most generous scholarship programs on campus. In 2023, SJMC awarded all 104 applicants with scholarships ranging from $500 to $16,000.
All current undergraduate students in the SJMC are eligible to apply, including seniors planning to graduate in the upcoming spring or summer terms. Students complete one application and the scholarship committee then matches them with the best scholarship. Scholarships are awarded based on financial need, academics, area of study and involvement.
Applicants must write brief statements about their career goals, professional experience and campus/community involvement. A PDF version of your current resume is required.
Applications for the annual scholarship competition are open November 1. Deadline to apply is December 23. Recipients are announced no later than early April.
Need help?
For technical assistance with the WiSH scholarship application online hub, contact scholarships@finaid.wisc.edu . Someone from the financial aid office will return your inquiry promptly, to guide you through any questions you may have about the online application.
For all other questions, contact info@journalism.wisc.edu , and someone from the SJMC scholarship committee will get back to you ASAP.
For answers to other questions, see our FAQs below.
SJMC Undergraduate Scholarship Program FAQ
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When is the 2023-2024 undergraduate scholarship application available?
The 2023-2024 SJMC Scholarship Program application will be open from Wednesday, November 1 at 12:01 a.m. through Saturday, December 23 at 11:59 p.m.
Who is eligible to apply?
All undergraduate School of Journalism and Mass Communication (SJMC) majors are eligible to apply. Even seniors graduating in May or August 2024 are eligible! Unfortunately, seniors graduating in December of 2023 are not eligible.
Is it really worth my time to apply?
SJMC has one of the most generous department-level scholarship programs on campus, thanks to our generous alumni. Last year, all of the 104 students that applied received between $500 and $16,000 in scholarships. It is worth it to apply!
How do I apply?
To apply, login to the Wisconsin Scholarship Hub (WiSH) with your NetID. Applicants will be asked to fill out UW-Madison’s general application.
After the general application is complete, the “School of Journalism and Mass Communication Application” will appear under ‘My Applications’. Click on the application title to begin the process. SJMC students simply fill out one online application through the UW-Madison WiSH hub.
Since just one scholarship application is required, how are scholarship awards determined then?
Different scholarships have different parameters or requirements. The SJMC scholarship committee works diligently to match the best student with the best scholarship. Awards are granted based on financial need, academic merit, experience, and/or involvement.
What materials are needed to complete the application?
Students will need a PDF copy of their current resume. In addition, students need to submit three (3) different brief statements on their career goals, work experience, and involvement (e.g. volunteer work, student organization participation, etc.)
When will I find out whether or not I received a scholarship award?
Students will be notified of their scholarship status by April 2024.
Do I need to do anything else after applying?
A few of our scholarships require that the awarded student write a ‘thank you’ letter if the corresponding scholarship has a living donor. Students receiving an award with this requirement will be informed of this when they accept their award.
Scholarship recipients are asked to submit a photograph and brief statement about how their scholarship helped them and to fill out a release granting SJMC permission to use these materials to promote our scholarship program to future applicants. Participation in this promotion program is completely voluntary.
What if I have additional questions or need assistance with the online application?
For technical assistance with the WiSH scholarship application online hub, contact scholarships@finaid.wisc.edu. Someone from the financial aid office will return your inquiry promptly, to guide you through any questions you may have about the online application.
For all other questions, contact info@journalism.wisc.edu, and someone from the SJMC scholarship committee will get back to you ASAP.
James L. Baughman Senior Achievement Awards
To be considered for a Senior Achievement Award, you must be graduating in the upcoming spring or summer term, and you must complete our scholarship application. Note: the same application is used for both scholarships and Senior Achievement Awards.
Additionally, Senior Achievement Award winners will be invited to the annual Alumni Awards Banquet held each spring.
Applications for the annual Senior Achievement Awards are available on Nov. 1, and recipients are announced no later than early April.
James L. Baughman Senior Achievement Awards FAQ
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What are the James L. Baughman Achievement Awards?
SJMC recognizes distinguished seniors through the James L. Baughman Senior Achievement Award program. Up to five graduating undergraduate senior students each May are recognized for their achievements by our department.
What are the award criteria?
The scholarship committee reviews all applications and selects recipients based on their efforts and contributions, along with their total GPA. The committee recommends the final candidates to the faculty, who ultimately vote to approve the recipients.
Who was James L. Baughman?
Professor James L. Baughman was a long-time faculty member of SJMC. He tirelessly devoted much of his career to serving undergraduates. Our senior achievement awards were named after him to honor his service to our students.
Who is eligible to receive a Senior Achievement Award?
Only seniors graduating in May of each year are eligible. To be considered, seniors must fill out the undergraduate scholarship application as noted earlier. Unfortunately, December or August graduates are not eligible for a Senior Achievement award.
I want to be considered for a Senior Achievement Award, but I don’t want to apply for a ‘scholarship.’ Why do I have to fill out the scholarship application?
To be considered for a senior achievement award, seniors must fill out the SJMC undergraduate scholarship application. Said another way, seniors who don’t fill out the scholarship form by the December 23rd deadline will not be considered for a senior achievement award.
The information needed for the scholarship and senior achievement awards is the exact same. So rather than fill out two different applications, this online process saves time. Plus, it is always possible that these same graduating seniors may receive a scholarship along the way!
What are the key dates for the Senior Achievement Awards?
The dates are the same as for the SJMC scholarship program. Applications for Senior Achievement open on November 1 and close on December 23, 2023. Students will be notified in the Spring. Recipients will be recognized at our Alumni Awards Banquet in April 2024.