Higher Education

We must hate our children

It’s no wonder that people who’ve paid off their student loan debt are 36 percent more likely to own homes than those who haven’t, according to new research by the One Wisconsin Now Institute and Progress Now. [Salon]

Weighing the impact of higher student loan rates

One Wisconsin Now Executive Director Scot Ross says the increase will have a dramatic effect on current students, by making it harder for many of them to afford college. [Wisconsin Public Radio]

The Cost of Student Loan Debt, Part II

One Wisconsin Now sat down with individuals affected by student loan debt. Their personal stories are a reminder about how this trillion dollar debt crisis has a major impact on the whole nation.

The Cost of Student Loan Debt, Part I

One Wisconsin Now sat down with folks from Wisconsin and progressive leaders to discuss their personal experiences with the student loan debt crisis.

Student Loan Interest Rates Set to Double Unless Congress Acts

“Student loan debt is well over $1.2 trillion. Student loan debt passes every other consumer debt in the United States with the exception of mortgage debt. And student loan debt increased for people during the great recession,” Ross says. [Milwaukee Public Radio]

Two Trillion Dollars Here We Come

It looks like Congressional inaction means that vice will squeeze even harder on the next year's students and their families.

Student Debt Repayment Causes Concern Among Many Borrowers

On average, student loan borrowers take about two decades to repay their debt. Graduates of community colleges take almost as long as their counterparts from four-year schools to repay, according to a separate survey from the One Wisconsin Institute released last week. [Huffington Post]

Walker’s Choice: Millionaires or the Middle Class

As Gov. Scott Walker ponders his vetoes to the 2013 state budget, a $30 million tax break with no income limits, worth up to $10,000, for parents already sending their children to private schools should be on the list.

#WalkerAt20: Walker’s Education Agenda a Formula for Failure

MADISON, Wis. — In his twenty years in office, Scott Walker has amassed a truly astounding record of failure. To commemorate the looming anniversary of his first election to office, One Wisconsin Now is highlighting a different and depressing failure of Gov. Walker every day, for twenty days. Under Gov. Walker no area has more […]

Student Loan Interest Rate Hike Looms

One Wisconsin Institute today joined U.S. Representative Gwen Moore, students and higher education advocates at an event exposing the disastrous consequences of allowing federal student loan interest rates to double on July 1.

Our view: Keep student loan rates affordable

It is not just students who are affected. Professionals who go through technical, four-year, or even graduate school have student loan debt. So do single moms. [La Crosse Tribune]

GOP throws UW students another $3

Scot Ross, executive director of One Wisconsin Now, calls the tuition freeze a “great idea” but says Republicans have only expressed outrage over high tuition as an excuse to cut the UW’s budget. [Capital Times]

Congrats Class of 2013, It’s Kind of a Mess Out There

It’s graduation time. While that’s supposed to be a joyous time for grads and their families the plain truth is that college grads are coming into a world of uncertainty: debt, lack of jobs, the prospect of no social security. Scot Ross joins the Melissa Harris-Perry panel. [MSNBC]

Conservative law firm sues MATC over labor contract

“Taxpayers can personally thank Gov. Walker’s campaign co-chair for this lawsuit, that if successful, will cost them $150 million,” said Scot Ross, One Wisconsin Now’s executive director, referring to the cost savings MATC said it achieved through bargaining with the union. [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]

High costs of student debt

“The average debt per student in Wisconsin is nearly $25,000,” said Ross. That’s the 15th highest rate in the nation, and 67 percent of graduating students in the state will have some form of debt. [Wisconsin Radio Network]

Prelude to a Raid?

Right-wing finger-pointing over reports of University of Wisconsin System surpluses is distracting from the real crisis, the trillion dollar plus student loan debt crisis.

Student Loan Debt Sucker Punch

My name is Scot Ross and I'm a student loan debtor. I know the regret of economic opportunity lost to a loan payment. [The Progressive]

Adelaide Davis: A Call to Action in Defense of Education

In 2011, the student debt hit $1 trillion with $3,000 of new student debt accrued every second, according to Businessweek Magazine. Simultaneously, the cost of education has exploded, promising student loan debt will only continue to rise in the future. In his State of the Union address, President Obama promised to make university education more […] [Capital Times]

A Call to Action in Defense of Education

Democrats, Republicans and independents certainly have different views on many of the challenges facing our state and nation. There is one thing we all can agree on, however - we love the University.