The Sconi

Scott Walker, former Governor of Wisconsin, emphasized the importance of controlling costs for college affordability and criticized the University of Wisconsin System's recent tuition hike following a state funding increase. Walker expressed his views on the social media platform X.

"The best way to make college affordable is to keep costs down in the first place," said Walker. "We froze tuition when I was Governor. The UW System just got a funding increase in the recent state budget and they are still raising tuition by 5%. Totally wrong."

Debate over the University of Wisconsin's tuition policy has intensified in 2025 as state lawmakers consider balancing affordability with funding needs. According to WTMJ News, a new $256 million state budget increase is at odds with proposals to legally limit tuition hikes, raising concerns among UW leaders about institutional autonomy and access.

According to UW–Madison News, the University of Wisconsin Board of Regents approved a 5% tuition increase for the 2025–26 academic year. This decision raises in-state tuition at UW–Madison by $500 to $10,506, while nonresident tuition increased by $2,025. These changes reflect growing cost pressures after years of a tuition freeze.

Fox6Now reports that from 2015 to 2025, Wisconsin resident undergraduate tuition grew by just 7.7%, significantly lower than the 21–29% increases seen in nearby states. Despite this, the UW System still faces closures and projected deficits, highlighting ongoing affordability concerns.

Walker served as Wisconsin’s governor from 2011 to 2019. During his tenure, he enacted an eight-year UW tuition freeze and implemented deep funding cuts while also altering tenure protections and campus oversight. According to his Wikipedia biography, these actions led to significant protests.