(The Center Square) – The price tag for the University of Wisconsin is set to go up next year.
UWE President Jay Rothman on Thursday said regents will vote next week on a plan to raise tuition for Wisconsin students by 3.75%.
“To maintain the excellent education our universities provide, I will be asking regents to approve a tuition increase similar to recent levels of inflation,” Rothman said.
The proposed tuition increase means in-state students in Wisconsin will pay $11,604 at UW-Madison, $10,398 at UW-Milwaukee and between $8,200 and $9,800 for the state’s other, smaller campuses.
The proposed tuition increase also comes after a 5% tuition increase at the beginning of the current school year.
“Our universities provide an education that opens doors and helps our students discover their potential. Our students are being educated to fill jobs that do not yet exist, which is critical in a world that is changing drastically due to technological advancements,” Rothman added.
The tuition increase will only cover the cost of tuition and fees, the UW says students need to add thousands more to cover the cost of room and board, books, food and other living expenses.
Seven UW campuses are also looking to add extra fees to cover specific university programs like academic advising, financial aid and faculty hiring in high-demand programs.
Rothman told reporters in Madison he believes the tuition hike will not price students out of the UW.
“The economics around the return on investment in higher education are unassailable,” Rothman said. “You will do better, substantially better, with that four-year degree and beyond. I appreciate there are concerns around cost but when you compare us to other universities, we are still a terrific value.”
The tuition hike also comes as the UW is looking to close campuses to trim its costs.
Rothman has already announced that UW-Milwaukee’s branch campuses will no longer offer in-person classes. The UW campus in Richland Center has already closed, and some four-year UW campuses are moving ahead with layoffs or furloughs.
UW regents have a meeting scheduled for April 4 when they expect to approve the new tuition increase.
