Students may have to hand over an extra $500 over two years to pay for their tuition if Gov. Jim Doyle's budget gets passed as it is written.
When he unveiled his budget last Tuesday, Doyle said although tuition will increase by 4 percent, money for financial aid would triple.
""Every student on financial aid will see an increase in their scholarship that will match the tuition increase, dollar for dollar,"" Doyle said.
Depending on the rate of faculty raises, Doyle said the tuition increase would remain consistent with inflation.
Despite the tuition hike, Doyle said UW-Madison will remain the second most affordable Big Ten School.
Under this budget, in-state tuition will be $3,000 less than the University of Minnesota, $3,400 less than the University of Michigan, $3,600 less than Illinois and $6,000 less than Penn State.
""We're always at the top in football and basketball, but when it comes to tuition, we will be the second lowest of any Big Ten school,"" Doyle said.
Doyle's budget has sparked debate at the Capitol, and Republicans have said there is simply not enough money to fund his initiatives and that taxes will be raised too much for families.
""Jim Doyle's shopping cart is packed full of promises, but the problem is his state credit card is maxed,"" said state Rep. Scott Suder, R- Abbottsford, in a statement.
According to Suder, Doyle's budget raises taxes over $1 billion.
