MADISON, Wis.—The Universities of Wisconsin Board of Regents will consider a proposal this week to increase resident undergraduate tuition by 2 percent for the 2026–27 academic year.
If approved, the increase would remain below the current inflation rate and would help universities address rising operating costs while continuing to maintain affordability for Wisconsin students and families.
The proposal comes after several years of significant financial restructuring across UW universities, including reductions in structural deficits, operational changes, and campus-level cost containment efforts designed to strengthen long-term financial stability.
“We recognize Wisconsin families are managing rising costs in every part of their lives, and that reality informed this proposal,” said Universities of Wisconsin Interim President Renée Wachter. “This is a measured increase that helps our universities continue providing strong student support and high-quality academic experiences while keeping a UW education among the most affordable in the Midwest.”
Over the past decade, resident undergraduate tuition at Wisconsin comprehensive universities has increased at a substantially lower rate than public universities in neighboring Midwestern states.
Even with the proposed increase, the Universities of Wisconsin would continue to rank among the most affordable public university systems in the region.
The proposal would also include an average 3.5 percent increase in segregated fees, or approximately $56 annually. When tuition, segregated fees, and room-and-board costs are combined, the total estimated cost of attendance for resident undergraduates would increase by an average of 2.5 percent.
Revenue generated through the proposal would support essential university operations, including utilities, facility maintenance, employee salaries and benefits, and student services.
The Board of Regents is expected to vote on the proposal at its meeting in Milwaukee later this week.
Proposed 2026–27 Resident Undergraduate Tuition and Segregated Fees
The proposed resident undergraduate tuition and segregated fees for each university in 2026-27 is proposed as follows:
UW-Eau Claire: $10,268
UW-Green Bay: $9,133
UW-La Crosse: $10,563
UW-Madison: $12,416
UW-Milwaukee: $11,153
UW-Oshkosh: $9,180
UW-Parkside: $8,851
UW-Platteville: $9,007
UW-River Falls: $9,448
UW-Stevens Point: $9,692
UW-Stout: $10,289
UW-Superior: $9,477
UW-Whitewater: $8,984
In addition, selected programs would undergo program-specific tuition adjustments.
About the Universities of Wisconsin
The Universities of Wisconsin serve more than 164,600 students. Awarding more than 37,000 degrees annually, these 13 public universities are Wisconsin’s talent pipeline, putting graduates in position to increase their earning power, contribute to their communities, and make Wisconsin a better place to live. Nearly 90 percent of in-state Universities of Wisconsin graduates stay in the state five years after earning a degree. The universities provide a 23:1 return on state investment. The Universities of Wisconsin also contribute to the richness of Wisconsin’s culture and economy with groundbreaking research, new companies and patents, and boundless creative intellectual energy. Learn more at wisconsin.edu.