Eric W. Fulcomer, PhD, WAICU President

As we enter a new year and a new state budget cycle, we want to consider the future of Wisconsin’s workforce and economy. One pressing issue for our future is ensuring that higher education remains accessible and affordable for all students, particularly those from low-income backgrounds. This is why the Wisconsin Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (WAICU) is urging state legislators to double the Wisconsin Grant in the 2025–2027 biennial budget—increasing funding from $57 million to $114 million. The Wisconsin Grant Program provides grant assistance to undergraduate Wisconsin residents enrolled at least half-time in degree or certificate programs at institutions of higher education in the state.

Why is this investment so critical? Doubling the Wisconsin Grant would:

• Retain talent in our state and grow the local workforce. Ensuring that Wisconsin students can afford college means more graduates will stay in Wisconsin to build their careers and contribute to our communities.
• Keep Wisconsin competitive in the Midwest and beyond. Other Midwestern states are making significant investments in need-based financial aid, and Wisconsin must keep pace to attract and retain our students.
• Strengthen our public-private partnerships. Independent colleges and universities play a vital role in educating Wisconsin’s future workforce. Supporting students at these institutions benefits the entire state.

Currently, Wisconsin’s state funding for need-based aid lags other states. In fact, we have the smallest grant program in the Midwest. For the 2024–2025 school year, the highest “per student” need-based state grant award in Midwestern states is $12,400 in Indiana, with other states offering awards ranging from $5,000 to $8,500. In contrast, Wisconsin’s maximum need-based state grant is currently $4,400. Strikingly, the state’s appropriation for the Wisconsin Grant to students at private colleges and universities accounts for just 1.47 percent of the total state investment in higher education.

The need for action is clear. Only 33.5 percent of low-income Wisconsin high school graduates enroll in college the fall after they graduate, compared to 61 percent of their higher-income peers. This disparity not only limits opportunities for these students, but also jeopardizes the state’s ability to meet future workforce demands. By 2031, 72 percent of all jobs will require at least some postsecondary education, including high-demand fields such as nursing, engineering, artificial intelligence, dentistry, and medicine.

Let’s work together to ensure every Wisconsin high school graduate—especially those from low-income families—has the opportunity to choose the best higher education path to support their dreams and our state’s future. Doubling the Wisconsin Grant is an investment in our students, our workforce, and Wisconsin’s prosperity.