Senate approves bill limiting hidden UW course fees

MADISON, Wis. — Legislation by Senator Rob Hutton (R-Brookfield) to limit add-on fees for online-only courses at Universities of Wisconsin campuses — Senate Bill 532 — was approved by the Senate on Tuesday.

SB 532 would prohibit UW campuses from charging an additional fee for classes offered exclusively online unless the fee reflects genuine additional costs as a result of the course being offered remotely or is also charged for an equivalent in-person course.

Ten of the thirteen four-year campuses in the UW System assess some form of “distance learning” fee, according to the nonpartisan Legislative Reference Bureau. These fees at six of the campuses total $150 for a three-credit course. In some cases, the online course is not even offered in-person, forcing a student to pay the extra fee if they want to graduate.

“SB 532 eliminates unwarranted hidden fees that needlessly add to the cost of college coursework, classes that are often required to graduate and start a career. This bill is about transparency, affordability and fairness, but it’s also about embracing change,” Hutton said.

“This bill adds transparency to the cost of a college degree and embraces an educational tool, remote learning, that will only continue to grow as traditional enrollment declines, the economy evolves and student needs change along with it,” Hutton said.

News reporting earlier this year highlighted how “distance learning” surcharges add up for students. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel documented students being charged special fees for online courses even when no face-to-face option was offered. Their report noted that fees for online courses cost students a total of $16 million in 2024. FOX 11 Green Bay also reported students launching a petition to eliminate the UW-Green Bay online surcharge after paying as much as $300 in added fees.

“Technology should make a higher education more accessible and less costly, not the other way around. This bill helps UW campuses step into the future as more students seek greater flexibility and affordability,” Hutton said.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.