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Snow Scholars – Snow Removal By College Students in Madison, Wisconsin
821 East Washington Avenue, Madison, WI, 53703 Photos
Services Offered
Highlights from the Business
About Snow Scholars – Snow Removal By College Students
We’re Snow Scholars, a student-run snow removal crew based at 821 E Washington Ave Floor 2 in Madison, WI 53703-4647. College students from nearby campuses handle hand-shoveled clearing of driveways, sidewalks, and walkways for homes within a 5-mile radius of UW-Madison. We operate from early morning to evening, seven days a week when snow hits.
Top Highlights From Customer Reviews
Snow Scholars provides snow removal services, often performed by students. Customers appreciate the support for the student community and reasonable pricing. Many report positive experiences with attentive service, professional delivery, and quality work. Some note quick and efficient snow removal.
Top Reviews
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Ryan Alfuth
1 month agoGood: Relatively responsive to calls and emails. They work well enough with you to sort things out when there's issues, questions, concerns, etc. (assuming you can actually speak to someone on the phone vs. via email/voicemail). The actual service execution is good when they make it out (clearing the snow well, putting down sand to reduce ice build up/slipperiness). Bad: UNRELIABLE. Had multiple instances where someone didn't come out to clear off the snow (not even late: AT ALL). Happened twice where I couldn't get back into my garage without doing some clearing myself after trips. Would not recommend (or at least, would suggest watching closely for this and canceling if you run into the same issues) for this reason. -
Joel Yechivi
2 months agoSnow Scholars were on time and did a truly great job cleaning my driveway, they were actually really affordable and quick to remove all the snow I had accumulated. Big thanks for the crew you guys are the best! -
Samantha Feldstein
3 months agoWe had been using Snow Scholars for three winters now and the service and responses we have received have gone from good to absolutely terrible. Our first winter went well with only the few expected hiccups and delays that come with working with students. It's only gotten worse since then. Last winter they rarely came reliably and we needed to reach out multiple times to just get them to show up. We were never told when there would be delays in services and were constantly reaching out to ask if the shoveling had been done while we were away. The quality of work also went down significantly including one time were only a single shovel width was cleared on the sidewalk on either side of our corner house leaving the sidewalks impassable. The majority of times they did come to shovel it was such poor quality that we had to go out and shovel ourselves. We live in an area with city ordinances requiring sidewalk snow clearing and their work was regularly below those standards. This winter things have gone from bad to awful. We have been promised shovelers were coming only for them to never show up repeatedly. When confronted about this Snow Scholars has never been apologetic or offered any refunds. I am convinced the only reason we weren't charged for the days people didn't come is because we specifically told them not to. From what I have seen they don't pay students fairly or honestly and don't provide transportation or shovels/equipment so its not just the customers that are getting scammed. I don't know how they managed to screw up a good thing but I would highly caution against relying on reviews from even one year ago as things have gotten far far worse since then. -
Lauren Bishop
3 months agoI've used Snow Scholars for two years and signed up again this winter. They were fantastic the first year. The second year there were six instances where they did not show up or snow removal was delayed for at least 12 hours, and I was charged for everything. Last year, I was assured that they were experiencing growth issues and that this year would be different. This year so far they did not shovel my driveway for the first two snowfalls. When I emailed them to ask why no one had shoveled they replied "We have submitted a request for a dispatch to your address. At this time, we cannot guarantee when or if this will be completed, but we wanted to keep you informed that the request has been made." Snow Scholars is not dependable and charges customers for work not performed. 10/10 do not recommend. Editing this review to reply to the comment from Snow Scholars staff. On 12/2 no one showed up to shovel. I spoke with Roman, one of the current managers on the phone on 12/2. He told me that he would personally ensure that my driveway was shoveled for the rest of the year. Then on 12/7 literally no one showed up at my house to shovel. Snow Scholars is a company that doesn't show up AT ALL, not a company that is slow to remove snow. This year (the 2025-2026 winter) I am 0 for 3 in Snow Scholars showing up at all to shovel. Editing to add that it is now January 21st. Snow Scholars has failed to show up to shovel without prompting at any point this season, and with prompting they've only come once. I have canceled service because they literally never showed up to perform it. -
Renee Repenn
3 months agoI thought this was a great idea to help students. But it seemed I was almost begging for someone to come and do the shoveling. I would always get excuses as to why it was taking so long. The city of Madison has an ordinance saying walks needed to be cleared within 24 hrs from when the snow stopped and that wasn't happening.i don't feel that if I hire someone to do shoveling that I should have call and see if someone is coming and for that reason I'm out!!!
Neighborhoods
- Monona
- Fitchburg
- Middleton
- Maple Bluff
- Shorewood Hills
- Verona
- McFarland
- Waunakee
- DeForest
- Oregon
- Windsor
- Sun Prairie
Extra Info
Features
- Affordable snow removal
- Quick snow removal
- Local Madison service
- College student team
- Driveway snow removal
Accepted Payment Methods
- credit card
- debit card
- cash
- bank transfer
FAQ
How does Snow Scholars - Snow Removal By College Students determine pricing for snow removal?
We offer a pay-per-snowfall model where you pay the same price regardless of snow height from 1 to 6 inches, with no minimum or monthly payments required for whole season service. Vacation plans involve a flat fee paid upfront for unlimited hand-shoveling during selected dates. Add-ons like priority service for $19.99 to $29.99 per storm or snowbank removal for $39.99 provide options to customize costs based on your needs.
Are you licensed and insured for snow removal services?
Snow Scholars - Snow Removal By College Students uses trained college students who handle the shoveling with plastic-edge shovels and snowblowers to avoid property damage from plows. Our approach ensures safe clearing of driveways, sidewalks, walkways, stairs, patios, decks, and ramps as shown in before-and-after photos we take for each job. This method protects surfaces better than DIY efforts that risk back strain or incomplete removal leading to ice buildup.
What specific areas does Snow Scholars - Snow Removal By College Students clear during snow removal?
We clear driveways, sidewalks, walkways, stairs, patios, decks, ramps, and other pedestrian areas requested for residential properties. Our service focuses on hand-shoveled removal within a 5-mile radius of UW-Madison, as evidenced by photos of partially and fully cleared residential driveways and pathways. Homeowners can specify areas when signing up to ensure complete coverage.
What is your typical timeline and arrival window for snow removal?
Snow Scholars - Snow Removal By College Students automatically dispatches crews within a 12-hour window after snowfall ends, extending to 24 hours on heavy snow days due to hand-shoveling demands and student class schedules. We operate from 5 AM to 8 PM on snow days, seven days a week, tracking accumulation to time service efficiently. Priority placement for an extra fee positions you first on a student's route for faster response.
How do you handle snow cleanup and debris after removal with Snow Scholars - Snow Removal By College Students?
We pile snow in designated areas away from walkways and driveways, removing snowbanks at no extra charge if pushed by city plows before our arrival or for $39.99 afterward. Debris like ice is managed through optional de-icing where you provide materials in an accessible bucket for our $10 application fee. Properties are left clear and safe, with no responsibility for reaccumulation from weather or third-party plows.
Why is your snow removal method safer and better than doing it myself?
Our trained college students use hand shovels and snowblowers designed to prevent driveway scraping or surface damage common with heavier equipment. This professional technique reduces injury risks like strains from heavy lifting that homeowners face during DIY shoveling. We complete thorough jobs within set windows, ensuring safer paths than uneven self-clearing that can lead to slips on hidden ice.
