Relating to: permissible financial aid reductions in higher education. (FE)

AB 486 limits how Wisconsin public colleges and technical schools can reduce their own gift aid (like institutional scholarships) when students receive small private scholarships ($5,000 or less from Wisconsin-based groups). Schools must first attempt to adjust loans or work-study before cutting gift aid, and must inform students they can request a cost-of-attendance reassessment. This applies to all public universities and technical colleges in Wisconsin, ensuring students aren’t automatically penalized for external scholarships while preventing aid from exceeding financial need.