MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions (DFI), in partnership with Edvest 529, Wisconsin’s direct-sold 529 college savings plan, and the Wisconsin Coalition on Student Debt (DebtSmarts), today announced the 2026 Money Smart Wisconsin Scholarship Contest is now accepting essay submissions from graduating Wisconsin high school seniors until March 6, 2026.
“We are excited to invite Wisconsin high school seniors to take part in the Money Smart Wisconsin Scholarship Contest and share their goals for college and career training,” said DFI Secretary-designee Wendy K. Baumann. “This opportunity empowers students to think intentionally about their futures, explore how they will pay for education after high school, and build confidence in managing their finances as they take their next steps toward success.”
All Wisconsin high school seniors, who are graduating from high school this spring and planning to attend a Wisconsin college or university this fall, are encouraged to participate in the scholarship contest. Students must complete an application and write an essay answering this year’s money smart questions for a chance to receive a scholarship, in the form of a $1,000 contribution to a new or existing Edvest 529 account.
“We are excited to read how students are planning for the next chapter of their lives,” said DebtSmarts Executive Director Carole Trone. “Their essays are an opportunity to showcase creativity, critical thinking, and careful planning, skills that will help them confidently pursue their college and career goals.”
Members of DebtSmarts will review and score the students’ essay submissions based on how well the students have estimated their higher education costs, identified funding sources for paying for those costs, including explaining how the financial aid process works, and formulated plans for managing their finances, schoolwork, and any job responsibilities while staying focused on their academic and career goals.
Scholarship recipients will be notified during Money Smart Wisconsin Week, a financial literacy awareness and education campaign, taking place April 6-12, 2026.
Sponsors of the scholarship contest include: Ascendium Education Group, DebtSmarts, the DFI, Educators Credit Union, Edvest 529, SecureFutures, Summit Credit Union, and UW Credit Union.
For more information, review the 2026 Money Smart Wisconsin Scholarship Contest webpage or send an email to MoneySmart@debtsmarts.org.
