Frequently Asked Questions

What is $100 a class?

A statewide campaign initiated by UWM students in order to bring more funding to the UW System and specifically lower tuition to $100 a class. This campaign is not centered on one specific strategy but invites everyone to take action in any way they would like to lower tuition. The main focus is to bring the financial burden of higher education students to the forefront in the Wisconsin State Legislature and Budget.

"$100 a Class" is not necessarily as much as a goal as it is a tactic. We believe that we should ask for what we’d really want and work for any small goal before that. There are many positive things that can come out of this campaign, like getting the State Legislature to focus more on its priorities of higher education, bring in active students to work for a student agenda, and begin getting an appropriate amount of funding to the UW System.

Why $100 a class?

In the last 20 years, tuition has quadrupled. If this continues at the current rate, by 2029, UWM tuition will be $30,000 a year and UW 2-year colleges' tuition will be roughly $17,000 a year. With tuition currently approaching $4,000 a semester, students graduate with up to $30,000 in debt. This clearly contradicts UW System's claim of affordability. In the past, groups have fought for a tuition freeze and found little success. The point of this is to ask for what we really want (substantially lower tuition) and get something that is closer to a more desirable goal.

Is the funding to the University of Wisconsin System really becoming a serious issue?

Yes! Now more than ever students are having a hard time paying their tuition, leading many to drop out because they have been priced out of higher education. Most students leave with a greater debt than they can afford in a difficult job market. Tuition in the UW System has quadrupled in less than 20 years. At this rate, tuition at 4 year UW Universities will be near $30,000 a year and 2 year colleges will be approaching $17,000 a year.

Where would the money come from?

If higher education funding is made into a bigger issue for the State government, a large increase in funding from the state is very much possible. President Obama has also recently dedicated billions of dollars to go to education, giving Wisconsin the opportunity to gain more federal funding. And, in his State of the State Address, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger announced an initiative to decrease funding from the growing prisons in California and increase funding to the grossly under-funded Universities. Similar actions can be taken in the State of Wisconsin. As a publicly funded University System, it is crucial that we are funded at a more appropriate rate from the State. In short, the money comes from where it should come from: the State and Federal Governments.

But work needs to be done by students, UW System, and Wisconsin State Government to determine how that is done. Wisconsin has a history of funding education through means of lotteries and other creative revenue-building routes.

Wouldn't this give less money to Professors, Academia, and the functioning of the Universities themselves?

Quite the opposite is true. More funding to the Universities overall, would give more money to each institution to function. This would not only make it easier to stay in a UW University, but it would also make the overall education better.

Wouldn't this increase taxes?

It's possible, but no household would be affected drastically. If we get every cent we are asking for, taxes would increase only .03%. On the other hand, this would save the 175,000+ Wisconsin students tens of thousands of dollars each. Also, like Governor Schwarzenegger plans to do in California, funding for public higher education could come from other entities within the State budget, not necessarily an increase in revenue. The way it is right now, many Wisconsin citizens are paying the taxes to fund the UW System but cannot afford to go to the Universities that they are paying for. Increasing funding to the Universities and decreasing the amount of tuition students have to pay would directly benefit all the citizens of Wisconsin by allowing them greater access to higher education.

Would too many students be enrolled in school than the UW System can handle?

The UW System President, Kevin Reilly, has made goals in his Growth Agenda to not only increase enrollment and "grow" the UW Universities, but also to make college degrees affordable in the UW System. An increase in enrollment is exactly what the UW System wants and expects. It has been a goal of the UW System to allow all Wisconsin citizens access to a Wisconsin University since its founding.

Can this become a reality without my participation?

No. The main downfall of student-led tuition initiatives has consistently been either the lack of students involved or student involvement after the tuition increases have been decided. For the State to act on our behalf, the Governor and Legislature need a serious push from the students who are affected by their actions. This means you.

What can I do?

If you are affected by high tuition, then join this statewide campaign! Students are open to do anything they'd like to benefit the cause of lowering tuition. For ideas and more information visit the Get Involved page.

Have a different question?

Email Jay Burseth at jburseth@uwm.edu