In November, The Promethean reported that universities under the UW-System (now Wisconsin Universities) would see an increase in tuition for the first time in ten years. Each university saw an increase for 2023-24, with the average being 4.9%. WUWM 89.7 reported that the University of Wisconsin Superior’s tuition increase was among the lowest, at 3.9%.
The Board of Regents of the Wisconsin Universities voted on April 4 to increase tuition again for the 2024-25 school year. UWS students were emailed on April 8 detailing more specific tuition rates for the upcoming fall and spring semesters. In a press release, the Board of Regents estimates that rates will escalate by approximately 3.8% per university after room and board are taken into consideration.
Jeffrey Kahler, vice chancellor for administration and finance at UWS, sent an email stating that tuition and fees for both Wisc. Resident and nonresident full-time undergraduate students living on campus will increase by approximately $326 annually. Room and meal plans will increase by $243, and online undergraduate credit fees will increase by $11 per credit.
Eligibility for the Nonresident Tuition Waiver (NTW) will not be affected, and the NTW will be increased to offset the costs of the new tuition rates. Minn. reciprocity rates are estimates, as the Wisconsin Higher Education Board will determine the reciprocity this summer. The current estimate is $325 per year for tuition and fees for full-time Minn. undergraduate students, with Room and Meal plans also set at $243.
Most of the Wisconsin Universities plan to increase tuition rates in specific programs. For example, UWS is raising fees and tuition for its School of Business and Economics by $15 per credit.
Despite two years of tuition hikes, UWS remains the most affordable university in the Midwest compared to similar four-year higher learning institutions, according to an affordability report ordered by Wisconsin Universities Jay Rothman in 2022.
“Our universities are facing challenging economic realities, and students and parents should know that we plan to be good financial stewards,” Rothman said in the Wisconsin Universities press release. “Maintaining our affordability advantage, especially compared to our peers, is a priority because we want more students to get access to the unlimited opportunities our universities provide.”
