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FACT BRIEF

Has the University of Wisconsin System proposed a tuition increase of 5%?

By Erin Gretzinger
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YES

On March 2, 2023 University of Wisconsin System President Jay Rothman announced plans to raise tuition by 5% for the next academic year. 

The proposed increase must be approved by the UW Board of Regents. It would be Wisconsin's first tuition increase in a decade since it was frozen at the beginning of the 2013-14 school year under then-Gov. Scott Walker. 

In 2021, Republicans who run the Legislature lifted the freeze and gave tuition-setting control back to the board, which has declined to increase tuition the past two years. Rothman said a 5% increase would amount to an estimated $38 million annually. UW-Madison has the highest annual tuition at $9,273.36, not counting student fees, housing or meals. 

Shortly before Rothman's announcement, Republican lawmakers proposed capping tuition increases at the previous year's rate of inflation. Gov. Tony Evers' 2023-25 budget does not specifically factor in a tuition freeze as he did in two prior budget proposals. 

This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
Sources
The Cap Times UW System president to propose 5% tuition increase
AP News Republican lawmakers propose limiting UW tuition increases
UW Help UW System Tuition Chart
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Wisconsin Watch
Wisconsin Watch, the news arm of the nonpartisan, nonprofit Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism, increases the quality and quantity of investigative reporting in Wisconsin, while training current and future investigative journalists. Its work fosters an informed citizenry and strengthens democracy.
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Fact briefs are short, credibly sourced summaries that offer “yes/no” answers in response to claims found online. They rely on publicly available, often primary source data and documents. Fact briefs are created by contributors to Gigafact —a nonprofit project looking to expand participation in fact-checking and protect the democratic process. See all fact briefs here.