The University of Wisconsin System is seeking approval to raise undergraduate tuition by 4% for the 2025-26 academic year, with an optional 1% increase for individual campuses.
The proposal, introduced Tuesday by UW System President Jay Rothman, would mark the third consecutive tuition increase since the state lifted a decade-long freeze in 2021. Last year, the Board of Regents approved a 5% increase for the 2024–25 academic year.
Rothman said the additional revenue is needed to address years of stagnant tuition and declining state support. Over the past decade, in-state tuition has increased by just 7.7%, compared to more significant hikes in neighboring Midwestern states. The total cost of attendance — including housing, fees and supplies — is projected to rise 3.8% on average across UW campuses next year.
The University of Wisconsin-Madison will increase in-state tuition and fees by $562 to $12,166 next year if the regents approve. The total annual cost of attendance, including room, board and supplies, for an in-state student will exceed $30,000 at Madison. Out-of-state undergraduates at Madison would see a $1,396 increase, raising tuition and fees to $41,870 for the 2025–26 academic year.
In recent months, Rothman and university leaders have urged the state Legislature and Gov. Tony Evers to increase biennial funding — seeking up to $855 million in state support — as a long‑term strategy to mitigate tuition dependency and stabilize budgets.
Evers and Republican lawmakers reached a bipartisan agreement on July to increase UW System funding by $256 million over the next two years — the largest state investment in the system in nearly two decades.
The Board of Regents is scheduled to review the proposal on Thursday. The increase is designed to protect the system’s “affordability advantage” while maintaining the quality of education across its 13 campuses, Rothman said in the statement.
The combination of frozen tuition rates and reduced state funding has strained finances and prompted the Board of Regents to consider reallocating resources. The proposed tuition adjustment would help preserve student services and academic programs.
“If state support remains flat, tuition increases become necessary to meet rising costs,” Rothman said in the statement. While some campuses can opt into a 1% add-on to bolster local initiatives, all would adopt the 4% base increase.
The new state budget includes more than $100 million to stabilize campuses affected by enrollment declines and budget cuts, $94 million in staff wage increases, $54 million to support faculty in high-demand fields, and $7 million to expand 24/7 virtual mental health services for students.
The budget also dedicates nearly $840 million for capital projects across UW campuses, including renovations at UW–La Crosse, UW–Milwaukee, UW–Oshkosh and Science Hall at UW–Madison.
However, the new state aid comes with conditions. The UW System must implement minimum faculty teaching loads and undergo annual audits by the nonpartisan Legislative Audit Bureau to ensure compliance.
The Board of Regents’ decision on July 10 will determine whether the tuition increase moves forward and shape how the system balances tuition revenue with new state support.
Alaina Walsh is the associate news editor for The Daily Cardinal. She has covered breaking news on city crimes and a variety of state and campus stories, including the 2024 presidential election and the UW-Madison budget.
