Regents hike tuition for the sixth consecutive year.
University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents approves a 5.5 percent tuition increase in the 2012-13 academic year. System spokesman David Giroux says that goes for all 26 campuses — 13 four-year colleges and 13 two-year schools. “The actual tuition increase for our campuses will range from $247 at each of the two-year campuses, on up to $328 at several of the four-year campuses, and the highest dollar amount is actually a $681 increase for the year at UW-Madison.”
Giroux says that’s about a $400 annual increase for the average Wisconsin undergraduate student at the four-year campuses. He says the increase in tuition would help compensate for $310 million of cuts in state aid; it’s a balance between affordability and quality.
An amendment to lower that increase to just 4 percent failed 15-to-3. When combined with fees, the hike will bring tuition at the state’s flagship campus above the $10,000 mark, not including room and board.
The Regents approved the hike Thursday at the UW-Milwaukee campus by a vote of 17-1. Regent John Drew wouldn’t support the tuition increase at a time when family incomes were not increasing.
AUDIO: Jackie Johnson report 1:25