UW System President Jay Rothman announces Wisconsin Tuition Promise with UW-Milwaukee, UW-Parkside and UW-Whitewater

MILWAUKEE _  University of Wisconsin System President Jay Rothman today announced the creation of the Wisconsin Tuition Promise, a new initiative starting in fall 2023 to ensure underserved Wisconsin students can attend any UW System university without paying tuition or fees.

The goal of the program is to increase the number of state residents who graduate with a bachelor’s degree – especially first-generation students and those from low-to-moderate income families throughout Wisconsin – thereby improving individual lives and communities and helping meet the state’s workforce needs.

“The benefits of a college education are unassailable,” Rothman said. “A college degree needs to be within reach for every Wisconsin citizen as a path to a better life, and the Wisconsin Tuition Promise will provide these opportunities. It is also how we can close the skills gap that now limits Wisconsin’s potential to thrive in a global economy.”

Rothman said an estimated 8,000 students will be supported through the program once it is fully implemented over four years. Eligible students will be awarded an average of $4,500 over four years. The UW System intends to fund the first year of the program in academic year 2023-24 at $13.8 million and seek state investment for subsequent years.

“The Wisconsin Tuition Promise comes at a pivotal time for our students and families who are faced with increasingly challenging economic circumstances. At UW-Milwaukee, we have the highest numbers of Pell Grant recipients, military and veteran students, and students with unmet financial needs,” said UW-Milwaukee Chancellor Mark Mone. “Our promise will enable access to the quality of life that so many in our population deserve.”

“We’re excited to be able to offer this opportunity to students in our region that aligns with our mission to provide equitable access to a college education,” said UW-Parkside Chancellor Debbie Ford. “The Wisconsin Tuition Promise will help remove a financial barrier that has kept many students, particularly historically underrepresented and underserved students, from attending UW-Parkside. UW-Parkside students display drive and determination when given the opportunity. There are thousands of ‘if not for Parkside’ success stories. For those stories to take shape, however, students need affordable access to the benefits of education.”

“At UW-Whitewater, the Wisconsin Tuition Promise builds upon our legacy as a university where students from all backgrounds can access a high-quality education at an affordable price,” said interim UW-Whitewater Chancellor John Chenoweth. “By guaranteeing that tuition and fees are covered for even more students, this program is a game changer. At the Whitewater and Rock County campuses, we are passionate about student success. From achievements in the classroom to the playing field, and through coveted internships and research opportunities, Warhawks are thriving — and the Wisconsin Tuition Promise will mean more students can experience a UW-Whitewater education.”

Modeled on Bucky’s Tuition Promise at UW-Madison, the Wisconsin Tuition Promise would provide up to four years of tuition and fee funding for students coming from families earning less than $62,000 annually and enrolling at any of the other 12 public universities within the UW System. The program would be structured to provide “last dollar” financial support after federal and state grant aid is accounted for; as a result, Tuition Promise awards will vary.

Eligible students will be Wisconsin residents, first-time enrollees or transfers, and attending full-time. They will need to make sufficient academic progress each year and attest that they were employed at some point during the previous year.

Rothman said the affordability review he sought shows a UW System education is the most affordable in the Midwest and is very affordable nationally compared to peers. However, fewer low-to-moderate-income and first-generation students are attending UW System universities, suggesting that despite a tuition freeze in place since 2013, a state college education is increasingly out of reach for some, he said.

“Education unlocks success in Wisconsin,” Rothman said. “By ensuring that every Wisconsin student is given the full opportunity to get a higher education, we will improve those lives directly while building the economic engine and community prosperity that benefit all Wisconsinites.”

Students will be automatically considered for the Wisconsin Tuition Promise when they apply for federal financial aid. A full publicity campaign led by the universities will begin later this fall. Current information can be found at: wisconsin.edu/tuition-promise/.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:

UW-Milwaukee: Genaro Armas, media-services-team@uwm.edu, 414-229-7490
UW-Parkside: Derek Fye, fye@uwp.edu, 262-595-2306
UW-Whitewater: Ann Stadler, stadlera@uww.edu, 262-472-1960

About UWM

Recognized as one of the nation’s 131 top research universities, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee provides a world-class education to 26,000 students from 91 countries on a budget of $689 million. Its 15 schools and colleges include Wisconsin’s only schools of architecture, freshwater sciences and public health, and it is a leading educator of nurses and teachers. UW-Milwaukee partners with leading companies to conduct joint research, offer student internships and serve as an economic engine for southeastern Wisconsin. The Princeton Review named UW-Milwaukee a 2020 “Best Midwestern” university based on overall academic excellence and student review.

About UW-Parkside

The University of Wisconsin-Parkside is committed to high-quality educational programs, creative and scholarly activities, and services responsive to its diverse student population, and its local, national, and global communities. We are a dynamic learning community grounded in academic excellence and focused on student success, diversity, inclusion, and community engagement. The campus serves as a premier comprehensive public institution and a destination of choice, serving as a focal point of local, regional, and global progress.

About UW-Whitewater

Founded in 1868, the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater is preeminent academic institution driven by the pursuit of knowledge, powered by a spirit of innovation, and focused on transforming lives. The Warhawk family — led by caring faculty and staff — is devoted to student success within a broad range of academic programs at both our main Whitewater campus and Rock County branch campus. UW-Whitewater has a special mission to serve students with disabilities and, as such, embraces the principles of universal design and is one of the most accessible campuses in the state. We are a university with an entrepreneurial spirit  and championship culture. We value collaboration, diversity and opportunity, integrity, learning and academic excellence, service and social responsibility, and shared governance.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.