WAICU continues to advocate during the state budget process, asking the Wisconsin Legislature to double our Wisconsin Grants appropriation from the current $57 million to $114 million over the 2025-2027 biennium for students attending private, nonprofit institutions.

We are having positive conversations and identifying champions through these conversations. While Wisconsin has a projected state budget surplus, it will be less than initially estimated due to anticipated overruns in the Medicaid budget and uncertainty surrounding program cuts at the federal level.

In his biennial budget proposal Governor Tony Evers proposed a 20 percent increase for Wisconsin Grants for each sector of higher education. Wisconsin, however, is already significantly behind in appropriations spending as compared to other states, and 20 percent will not be enough to ensure we can remain competitive with other Midwestern states.

Additionally, the Wisconsin Grants appropriation for students attending private, nonprofit institutions experienced a $5 million shortfall in the 2024-2025 academic year, largely due to the new federal Student Aid Index calculation. Fortunately, WAICU was able to secure a $5 million philanthropic gift to cover the shortfall for the spring semester.

However, the Higher Educational Aids Board (HEAB) has already placed a waitlist on awards for the 2025-2026 academic year. If the legislature chooses not to increase our appropriation, we will need to decrease the maximum Wisconsin Grant award amount of $4,850 per student already approved by HEAB for the 2025-2026 academic year.

In April, the Joint Committee on Finance, the state’s budget committee, is holding public hearings around the state. We encourage anyone willing to speak in support of an increase in Wisconsin Grants to testify before the Committee to share how important these funds are for student opportunity. The public hearing information is listed below.

 Joint Finance Public Hearings Schedule

The Joint Finance Committee announced four public hearings on the state budget:

• Wednesday, April 2, 2025, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
  Kaukauna High School, Auxiliary Gymnasium, Door AA4
  1701 County Road CE, Kaukauna, WI 54130
• Friday, April 4, 2025, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
  Wisconsin State Fair Park, Exposition Center
  640 South 84th Street, West Allis, WI  53214
  Parking at Gate 4
• Monday, April 28, 2025, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
  Hayward High School Auditorium
  10320 Greenwood Lane, Hayward, WI  54843
• Tuesday, April 29, 2025, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
  Northcentral Technical College, Center for Health Sciences
  1000 West Campus Drive, Wausau, WI  54401

Be sure to sign up for our Advocacy Network to receive Action Alerts at key times during the legislative process to encourage support from your elected officials for Wisconsin’s private colleges and universities and their students.

For more information email WAICU Executive Vice President for External Affairs Rebecca Larson.