OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Tuition at Wisconsin’s state universities may increase for the second straight year.
“I’d be a little upset with myself for not graduating on time,” UW Oshkosh Senior Luke Stevens said. “I need to deal with it but it’s one of those things where once you’re already in school there’s not much you can do about it.”
The Board of Regents is set to vote Thursday on a rate UW President Jay Rothman says reflects the rate of inflation.
“I do take financial aid out so all that’s covered but it will, when I graduate that is still things I will have to pay back more,” UW Oshkosh Senior Chris Healy said.
Seven state schools are asking for tuition hikes greater than 3.75%. UW-Oshkosh is not one of them. According to an agenda document for the Board of Regents, the estimated base tuition at UWO would increase just $255. Still, students are feeling the effects.
“Especially coming from Fox Cities and how I was there because of the tuition and then it raised the tuition it just kind of feels like I’m now having to take the burden of the deficit,” UWO Junior Josh Arbolelda said.
Though admittedly, many see the reasons behind it.
“All they think about is we have to pay for money but doesn’t go into account that it helps pay staff, keep professors,” Healy said.
Even if they wish it could be different.
“Lot of good jobs around the area,” Arbolelda said. “I mean there’s pros and cons to everything but I think me personally I would have to work more hours and feel more pressure.”
While Oshkosh would rank as the second cheapest UW school under the proposed tuition hike, some students say if they weren’t so close to graduation, this could have played a role in which university they chose.
“COVID was a big impact because it gave me less of a chance to look into things so if that happened before COVID definitely it would have changed my views and stuff going into applying for college,” Stevens said.
UW Green Bay is one of the seven schools asking for additional increases. Those extra tuition dollars would be used for a career services model to support work-based learning, increased opportunities for high-impact experiences, as well as faculty and staff support.
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