This policy describes the tuition structures applicable to students enrolled in for-credit courses.

Tuition assessment for all students enrolled in for-credit courses is based on the governance-approved academic and tuition structures of the university. The tuition structure, and tuition rate where applicable, for academic programs (plans and subplans) are maintained in Lumen Programs. Tuition structures reflect the type of tuition charged based on factors (e.g., program, program level, residency, credit load, etc.) approved by the UW System Board of Regents or designated authority.

Standard Undergraduate and Special

This common tuition structure applies to most undergraduate and special student programs. Separate rates are assessed for Wisconsin residents, Minnesota reciprocity students, non-residents, and international students. Tuition is charged on a per-credit basis with a plateau between 12 and 18 credits.

Program-specific differential tuitions are assessed for the College of Engineering, the School of Business and the School of Nursing traditional BSN program (plan code NUR 712) which offer academic programs with high operating costs.

Tuition rates are set annually based on a proposal from the chancellor to UW System Administration and the board of regents.

Standard Graduate

This common tuition structure applies to graduate programs such as PhD and research master’s programs. Separate rates are assessed for Wisconsin residents, Minnesota reciprocity students, and non-resident students. Tuition is charged on a per-credit basis with a plateau at 8+ credits.

Tuition rates are set annually based on a proposal from the chancellor to UW System Administration and the board of regents. The state legislature also offers perspectives on tuition rates.

Under certain circumstances master's-level programs or capstone certificate programs may meet the standards for either Market-Based (Service-Based) Tuition or Online/Distance (Service-Based)Tuition as described below.

Profession Specific

Applies to certain professional programs. Separate rates under this tuition structure include Medicine, Law, Pharmacy, Health Professions, Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Doctor of Nursing Practice, Nursing (Accelerated), Nursing (Collaborative), and School of Business full-time master’s programs. This tuition structure may include separate rates for Wisconsin resident, Minnesota reciprocity and non-resident students in some programs. While tuition is most often charged on a per-credit basis, a credit plateau exists in some programs.

Tuition is approved on a biannual basis by the board of regents, traditionally in December of even years.

Market-Based (Service-Based Pricing)

Per UW System Administrative Policy 805, Tuition and Fee Policies for Credit Instruction and UW System Administrative Policy 130, Programming for the Non-Traditional Market in the UW System, UW-Madison has the authority to set per-credit tuition, as approved by the UW System president, for programs designed to enhance the professional skills, be responsive to local and national labor markets, or are delivered in non-traditional formats that include accelerated, hybrid face-to-face/online formats, or part-time, weekend or evening formats. For eligible programs, the market-based tuition structure may allow for more competitive market pricing relative to peer and competitor programs and support enrollment growth.

Tuition revenue supports the costs of instruction for these programs. Segregated fees are charged to students; the credit plateau and residency status are not applicable in this tuition structure. Available tiers for this tuition structure are set by the Service-Based Pricing Program Committee.

Online/Distance (Service-Based Pricing)

Per UW System Administrative Policy 805, Tuition and Fee Policies for Credit Instruction and UW System Administrative Policy 130, Programming for the Non-Traditional Market in the UW System, UW-Madison has the authority to set per-credit tuition for online/distance programs if the programs are substantially supported by tuition revenue. These programs must meet the standard for online/distance-delivery (greater than 50% online) to assess online/distance program tuition.

No segregated fees are charged to students; the credit plateau and residency status are not applicable in this tuition structure. Available tiers for this tuition structure are set by the Service-Based Pricing Program Committee.

Standard Guest Resident and Non-Resident

Guest auditors are non-degree seeking students who enroll in all courses for audit. Per Regent Policy Document 4-10, Class Audit Policy, fees for guest auditors are assessed based on residency and are at lower rates than standard special student tuition.

Standard Guest Auditor Senior Special Status

Per Regent Policy Document 4-10, Class Audit Policy, Wisconsin residents 60 years of age or older are eligible to audit a course if space is available in the course and the instructor approves. The normal per credit academic fees are waived as of the first day of class.

Nondegree Cohort

Applies to non-degree programs (career code USPC) with identified student cohorts. Programs with this tuition structure charge students either a rate equivalent to standard undergraduate and special tuition for Wisconsin residents or a rate equivalent to standard undergraduate and special tuition for international students. The credit plateau associated with standard undergraduate and special student tuition applies.

Procedures for Service-Based Pricing Programs

Tuition Rates, Bursar's Office

Tuition Rates, Madison Budget Office (details and historical information)

UW-Madison Academic Programs with Service-Based Pricing

Visual Overview of UW-Madison’s Academic Structure

Regent Policy Document 4-10, Class Audit Policy

Regent Policy Document 32-1, Tuition Policy

UW System Administrative Policy 130, Programming for the Non-Traditional Market in the UW System

UW System Administrative Policy 130, Appendix B: Service Based Pricing Guidelines and Procedures

UW System Administrative Policy 805, Tuition and Fee Policies for Credit Instruction

Academic fees and tuition rates are determined in accordance with State of Wisconsin statutes, the UW System Board of Regents, and factors specific to courses, programs and students enrolled at the University of Wisconsin-Madison as explained in this policy.

Academic student fees and tuition for credit instruction are set by the UW System Board of Regents. The authority to approve special service-based pricing from some programs is delegated by the board of regents to the UW System president. UW System institutions are authorized to establish pricing for distance education and certain other programs on a cost-recovery basis as described below. Separate per-credit fee levels are established by student level and resident status and, in some cases, by program.

All students enrolled in course(s) at UW System institutions are required to pay tuition unless exempt through fee remission or the Senior Guest Audit program. Tuition is to be assessed at the regent-approved rates in all cases, except where the board of regents has delegated tuition setting authority to the UW System president or to the chancellors of the UW System campuses.

Exceptions to any of the stated provisions due to extraordinary circumstances can be made only by the chancellor or the chancellor’s designee(s). Any delegation of authority and justification for exceptions must be in writing and must be maintained in the designees’ offices. Blanket exceptions are not authorized.

Fee Assessment

Audit

In accordance with Regent Policy Document 4-10, Class Audit Policy the academic fee for individuals who enroll in only noncredit, audit-type attendance of credit classes is as follows:

• Wisconsin Residents under aged 60: 30% of the normal per credit academic fee
• Wisconsin Residents aged 60 or older (as of first day of classes): Normal per credit academic fee waived
• Minnesota Reciprocity: - 30% of the normal per credit Minnesota Reciprocity fee
• Nonresidents: 50% of the normal per credit academic fee

Audit fees are not to be charged to any disabled Wisconsin resident who is receiving disability insurance benefits under either the federal Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program or the federal Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) program. However, all auditors, including disabled Wisconsin residents and those aged 60 or older, are to be assessed any special cost-based course fees that are separately itemized (i.e., not included in academic student fees) and charged to other course participants.

Reduced rates for auditing a class do not apply to degree-seeking students. Students pursuing a degree are assessed the usual and customary rate of tuition for audited classes which are included, along with degree credits, in the credit plateau for tuition. When the combination of degree and audit credits exceeds the full-time tuition credit plateau, additional fees are to be assessed.

Correctional Institutions

• Individuals incarcerated in correctional institutions of, or in, the State of Wisconsin or those on parole or probation who are enrolled in credit courses are to be assessed resident tuition, the appropriate segregated fee for services available, and a special course fee to recover additional costs of instruction.
• Individuals incarcerated in federal correctional institutions or parolees are to be assessed all applicable tuition and segregated fees. Nonresident tuition remissions may be granted where financial need is demonstrated.

Credit Plateau for Tuition (Fall and Spring Semesters)

Students enrolled during a fall or spring semester in programs that use the following tuition assessment structure are assessed tuition on a per credit basis except when their enrollment falls within the following credit range.

Credit Plateau for Tuition (Summer Term)

Note: The credit plateau for summer term may have both upper and lower limits.

Differential Tuition

The university may assess a tuition differential for high-cost and/or high-demand programs when base tuition and state general purpose revenue are believed to be insufficient to maintain a program's quality and access. The board of regents must approve any differential tuition rates. Differential tuitions that have been approved by the board of regents are incorporated in the regent-approved tuition schedule that is adopted with each annual budget.

Program-specific differential tuitions are usually charged for programs that have high operating costs such as health sciences and engineering. A differential tuition may be set at a dollar amount or as a percentage of base tuition. Additional revenues generated by differential tuition are retained by the campus or program where they are generated.

Development of program differential proposals, or modifications to existing program differentials, must be approved by the provost.

Dissertators

Ph.D. candidates who have completed the requirements of Dissertator Status must maintain continuous academic year enrollment by paying a three-credit dissertator fee each fall, spring, and summer term. If a doctoral candidate does not maintain continuous enrollment (three graduate credits per term), the candidate is assessed a completion fee equal to twelve times the current per-credit dissertator rate. This fee is assessed at the time of dissertation submission. The completion fee is based on the resident and nonresident status that the candidate had at the last term of enrollment. If the candidate breaks enrollment and then reenters, enrolling for less than four continuous terms (12 credits) before completion, the candidate must pay the fee minus all continuous credits paid since the time of reentry. If enrollment is broken, but the candidate reenters and enrolls for at least four continuous semesters (three graduate credits per fall or spring semester), a completion fee is not assessed.

Minnesota Reciprocity

The Board of Regents negotiates the Minnesota-University of Wisconsin System student reciprocity agreement with the state of Minnesota. Minnesota students attending a UW System institution are charged the higher of the UW institution resident tuition rate or the University of Minnesota equivalent institution resident tuition rate. 

Minnesota reciprocity students shall pay the Minnesota Reciprocity fee when the Minnesota Reciprocity fee exceeds the resident rate including the special fee. If the resident tuition including the special fee exceeds the Minnesota Reciprocity fee, then the per-credit instructional fees shall be assessed to Minnesota Residents in a manner that results in the Minnesota student paying the same total fee as Wisconsin Residents.

Multiple Campus Enrollments

Students may enroll at more than one UW System institution or campus during the same session. The student’s degree-granting institution is considered the first institution while other UW System institutions are considered the second institution(s).

Undergraduate Students

Undergraduate students, including Minnesota reciprocity students, who enroll for more than 18 credits in fall or spring semester or more than 9 credits in summer term are to be assessed the per-credit fee for all credits beyond the maximum excluding any differential rates the institution may have. Credits taken by students enrolled at more than one UW System institution are to be combined to determine their tuition assessment. It is the student’s responsibility to present evidence of certification of enrollment, including fees assessed and credits taken.

If the undergraduate tuition credit plateau is achieved at the first institution, no additional tuition will be assessed by the second institution unless the total credits exceed the maximum. When the credit plateau is not achieved at the first institution, the second will charge the per-credit rate until the tuition credit plateau is reached. At no time will the credit plateau assessment be less than the lowest nor more than the highest credit plateau rate of the institutions involved.

An appropriate segregated fee is to be assessed by each institution. Refunds are to be calculated in consultation with each institution. Refunds may not exceed amounts paid.

Graduate Students

Credits taken by graduate students enrolled at more than one UW System institution may be combined to determine their full-time status, tuition, and segregated fee assessment. It is the student’s responsibility to present evidence of certification of enrollment, including fees assessed and credits taken. If full-time status is achieved at the first institution, no additional fees are to be assessed by the second institution. When full-time status is not achieved at the first institution, the second will charge the per-credit rate until the full-time tuition plateau is reached. At no time will the full-time rate be less than the lowest nor more than the highest full-time rate of the institutions involved.

An appropriate segregated fee is to be assessed by each campus. Refunds are to be calculated in consultation with each institution. Refunds may not exceed amounts paid.

Post-Secondary Enrollment Options

In accordance with Wis. Stat. §118.55, high school students enrolled in an Early College Credit Program (ECCP) course at UW System institutions for high school credit, college credit, or both shall have their costs shared among the UW System institution, the school district or private school, and the state. In the event the student is solely taking courses for college credit, the student’s family may also be charged.

A UW System institution may charge a third of the per credit amount of resident undergraduate tuition and UW branch institutions may charge half the per credit amount of resident undergraduate tuition to students of ECCP.

Service-Based Pricing

The board of regents has delegated authority to the president of the UW System to approve service-based pricing for graduate or non-traditional programs that are designed primarily for adults, provided specified criteria are met. See UW System 130 Appendix B: Service-Based Pricing Guidelines and Procedures and UW-1033 Tuition/Service-Based Pricing Programs.

UW Extended Campus Programs

Credit for courses taken through any campus and sponsored by UW Extended Campus, which have been approved as part of the student’s degree program, are to be combined with the credits at the student’s degree-granting institution when determining tuition and segregated fee assessments. The tuition and fee schedule to be used when assessing UW Extended Campus fees for degree credit instruction is to be the same as those applicable to the student’s degree-granting campus. UW Extended Campus fees are to be prorated based upon the number of credits taken.

Student Segregated Fees

Segregated fees are waived for students enrolled exclusively in off campus programs. See UW System Administrative Policy 820, Segregated University Fees, for other policy provisions related to segregated university fees.

Zero Credit Courses

Non-remedial courses offered for zero credits are to be assessed for fee purposes as if they carry one credit. Exceptions to this provision may be made by the chancellor. This excludes noncredit workshops and seminars.

Fee Waivers and Remissions

All students attending University of Wisconsin System institutions are required to pay tuition unless exempt through a fee remission program. This policy places no restrictions on fee waivers granted where the tuition payment is made by a third party rather than by the student directly.

Graduate Assistants

Per Wis. Stat. §36.27(3)(g), both resident and nonresident tuition remissions are to be granted, in whole or part, to graduate students who are fellows or who are employed within the UW System as faculty, instructional academic staff, or assistants with an appointment equal to at least 33% of a full-time equivalent position. Per Regent Policy Document 32-1, Tuition Policy, the board of regents delegates authority to the chancellor to remit nonresident tuition and fees, in whole or in part, to resident and nonresident graduate students who are fellows or who are employed as faculty, instructional academic staff, or assistants with an appointment equal to at least 33% of a full-time equivalent position.

Graduate students enrolled in a service-based pricing program are not eligible for tuition remission.

Music Clinic

Under a program initially established by the board of regents in June 1973, resident tuition may be waived for up to ten new music students each year at UW-Madison.

Nonresident Veterans and Family Members

In alignment with the federal Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 (Pub. L. No. 113-146).27(3r), nonresident U.S. veterans and other eligible nonresident benefit recipients are charged the same tuition as Wisconsin residents pursuing the same course or program. The Act covers veterans and active-duty service members using VA education benefits and living in the state who enroll within three years of discharge from a period of active-duty service of 90 days or more. The Act also covers spouses and children living in the state who are using VA benefits transferred from a veteran or active-duty service members and who enroll within three years of the veteran’s discharge from a period of active duty of 90 days or more.

Special Course Fees

The board of regents is empowered to establish special course fees under the provisions of Wis. Stat. §36.27(1).

Institutions may assess special course fees to pay for certain instructional costs that are not covered by the institution’s regular instructional budget. Special course fees may be used for a variety of purposes, as deemed necessary by the institution, for the delivery of a credit course. Some examples of purposes for which institutions may charge special course fees include the cost of transportation and admission on field trips; materials for projects that result in tangible products retained by students; and private lessons provided to non-music majors.

Special course fees shall be used solely for approved purposes and in support of the courses for which the fees were assessed. Institutions must strive to provide all students in a course who are charged a special course fee with a reasonable opportunity to benefit equally from the fee.

Institutions may not use special course fees as a substitute for obtaining adequate regular budget support for a course. Institutions are prohibited from charging special course fees for costs that should reasonably be covered by the institution’s regular instructional budget.

University students sometimes incur personal expenses by directly purchasing required, recommended, and optional instructional materials in support of their educational experience. These personal or incidental expenses do not typically require approval as a special course fee unless the institution collects fees from students to facilitate payment for goods and services needed for a course. Some examples of personal expenses include textbooks and course supplies purchased from the university bookstore; food, lodging, and incidentals on field trips; and transportation to sites for student teaching and clinical assignments.

Tuition Assessment

Tuition assessment for all students enrolled in for-credit courses is based on elements of the governance approved academic structure. The tuition structure, and tuition rate where applicable, for academic programs (plans and subplans) are maintained in Lumen Programs.

Within a tuition structure, there may be different charges based on residency, visa status, or dissertator status. This is described in the tuition schedule. The Madison Budget Office maintains the university tuition schedule.

Tuition Rates, Bursar's Office

Tuition Rates, Madison Budget Office (more detail and historical information)

UW-Madison Senior Guest Auditor Program

Regent Policy Document 4-10, Class Audit Policy

Regent Policy Document 32-1, Tuition Policy

UW System Administrative Policy 130, Programming for the Non-Traditional Market in the UW-System

UW System Administrative Policy 130, Appendix B: Service-Based Pricing Guidelines and Procedures

UW System Administrative Policy 185, College Credit in High School

UW System Administrative Policy 805, Tuition and Fee Policies for Credit Instruction

UW System Administrative Policy 820, Segregated University Fees

UW System Administrative Policy 825, Special Course Fees

Wis. Stat. §36.27

Wis. Stat. §39.47

Wis. Stat. §118.55

Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014