UW-Milwaukee Will Forgive $5.1M In Student Debt

MILWAUKEE, WI — The University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee announced Friday a debt relief program that will use $5.1 million in federal funds to forgive student loan debt for more than 2,000 students.

The school will automatically forgive outstanding balances students sustained during the 2020-'21 school year, the university said. The program applies to undergraduate and graduate students enrolled at all three campuses, and they won't have to fill out any paperwork to receive the aid.

Students who owe an average of $2,700 for tuition, housing or any unpaid university bill are eligible. They won't have to be enrolled either: About 100 students who have graduated will have their debt forgiven, the university said.

The university received money from the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund, part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, to pay for the debt relief program.

The university still has $25 million in emergency grants during the 2021-'22 school year. Students need to apply by Sept. 13 to receive them.

The emergency grants and the debt relief program are separate, but some students qualify for both forms of aid, the university said.

“We know the COVID-19 pandemic has been challenging for our students and their families,” UWM Chancellor Mark Mone said. “Many lost jobs and incurred additional expenses for child care and health care. We established new scholarships, emergency grants and low-cost computer purchase programs to help, but we know for some, the need was greater. By forgiving their debt from the past year, we hope to give them a fresh start.”

About 24,700 students were enrolled at UWM during the 2020-'21 school year, the university said.