Republican gubernatorial candidate Tom Tiffany pledged Tuesday to freeze tuition in the University of Wisconsin System if elected, directly opposing the system’s recent increases. His commitment revives the tuition freeze policy associated with former Gov. Scott Walker, who implemented multiple freezes to keep costs down for Wisconsin families.
The UW Board of Regents approved a 2% tuition increase for in-state undergraduates and a 2.8% rise in housing costs for the 2026-27 academic year. This marks the fourth consecutive year of tuition hikes following a decade-long freeze that ended under the Evers administration. Officials stated the increase, projected to generate about $21.9 million, will fund employee pay raises, inflation, and other operational needs.
Tiffany criticized the pattern of increases, noting the system received a $256 million boost in the most recent state budget yet still raised tuition by about 5% last year and is now seeking another 2% hike. In a statement posted on X, he said the system’s actions show a lack of fiscal discipline.
“As governor, I will implement a tuition freeze and restore accountability to our universities,”Tiffany stated on X. His pledge echoes Walker’s repeated efforts to freeze tuition across the UW system during his time in office, a policy presented as essential to keeping higher education affordable without shifting costs to students and taxpayers.
Walker achieved tuition freezes in several budget cycles. Supporters credited these actions with keeping in-state tuition stable, protecting family budgets, and encouraging greater efficiency within the system.
Critics of the rate hikes, including Tiffany, have pointed to staffing trends as evidence of misplaced priorities. Over the past decade, the UW system added 2,400 non-faculty positions while enrollment dropped by 16,000 students. Tiffany and other Republicans argue that administrative growth, rather than instructional needs, is driving repeated requests for more revenue from families.
Tiffany stated that reinstating Walker-style freezes would require the system to reduce waste instead of passing expenses to Wisconsin families. He described this commitment as part of a broader effort to refocus universities on their core educational mission while maintaining affordability for residents.
