Gov. Walker’s 2015 Budget Scheme Already Resulting in Tuition Hikes, Could Limit Wisconsin Students Access to University of Wisconsin School of Their Choice

MADISON, Wis. — The University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents Finance Committee today approved large tuition increases for out-of-state students attending UW schools and for students seeking advanced degrees. The need for the hikes has been attributed to the budget policies of Gov. Scott Walker and the Republican controlled legislature.

Higher education policy experts and student loan debt reform advocates have raised concerns about how these policies could prevent Wisconsin students from being able to attend the UW school of their choice and add to the now $1.3 trillion student loan debt crisis.

The following are the statements of One Wisconsin Now Executive Director Scot Ross:

“The fallout from Gov. Walker’s disastrous higher education budget scheme continues to get worse.

“The actions of the Board of Regents Finance Committee today put Wisconsin students in danger of being shut out of the UW school of their choice as system schools look to fill available slots with out-of-state students paying premium tuition rates.

“Wisconsin students seeking to continue their studies and get advanced degrees will also get stuck with a higher tuition bill.

“Meanwhile, state financial aid programs were so short of funding that over 40,000 eligible students got no help go without a penny more. And Gov. Walker continues to refuse to give any support to common sense proposals that would allow student loan borrowers to refinance, just like you can with a mortgage.

“It’s outrageous that Wisconsin students and their families should have to pay for Gov. Walker’s fiscal mismanagement and contempt for higher education.”