Universities of Wisconsin Announce 2-Year Tuition Freeze

Universities of Wisconsin leaders on Monday announced the system will freeze tuition for two years, starting in fall 2027, provided the state “invests $190 million to support the cost of the freeze and other operating needs that preserve educational quality,” according to a news release.

For two years after that, the system will commit to keeping tuition raises at or below the rate of inflation, the release states. 

“This proposal means four years of predictable tuition with costs that remain well below inflation,” Kyle Weatherly, president of the Board of Regents of the Universities of Wisconsin System, said in the release. “It represents an important commitment to Wisconsin families and helps ensure the Universities of Wisconsin remain the Midwest leader in tuition affordability.”

The system comprises 13 public universities, including the University of Wisconsin, Madison, the state’s public flagship. For fall 2026, in-state tuition at UW Madison is listed at just over $10,700, up 2 percent over the previous academic year, and out-of-state tuition is listed at $44,232, up 4 percent from the year prior. Fees increased by 2.4 percent year over year, to about $1,700.