Providing testimony for the Innovation Grant Program at the Capitol on March 4 were, from left to right, Edgewood University President Andrew P. Manion, Carroll University President Cindy Gnadinger, WAICU President and CEO Eric W. Fulcomer, Concordia University Wisconsin President Erik P. Ankerberg, and Milwaukee School of Engineering President Eric Baumgartner.

Wisconsin’s private, nonprofit colleges drive a $5.4 billion economy in our state.

To build on this strong economic, workforce, and community-building return, Wisconsin legislators have introduced two key pieces of legislation. Wisconsin private college presidents and financial aid officers testified in support of these bills on March 4, 2026, at the Capitol.

These two pieces of legislation, focusing on campus innovation and student aid legislation, would strengthen our state’s private, nonprofit higher education economic engine.

The first bill is an Innovation Grant Program, that would be administered by the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC).

This program would provide one-time, competitive grants to private, nonprofit colleges for developing new academic programs aligned with workforce shortages, creating community and industry partnerships, and supporting infrastructure projects that benefit both campuses and the broader public.

Providing testimony for this legislation were Carroll University President Cindy Gnadinger, Concordia University Wisconsin President Erik P. Ankerberg, Edgewood University President Andrew P. Manion, Milwaukee School of Engineering President Eric Baumgartner, and WAICU President and CEO Eric W. Fulcomer.

Presidents provided examples of how innovative grant funds could further support the development of academic programs that drive innovation and economic growth in Wisconsin. Presidents also told legislators that these funds would accelerate the development of new or expanded high-demand workforce programs, highlighting healthcare examples.

The second bill proposes to create an Undergraduate Assistance Grant Program for students attending Wisconsin’s private, nonprofit colleges and universities. This mirrors an existing state program already available to Universities of Wisconsin students who fall into the same income range.

Many student aid programs are designed to support the lowest-income students. While essential, this structure often leaves low‑middle‑income students, those above Pell Grant eligibility but below $60,000 in household income, without the financial support they need to access and complete a college degree.

Private, nonprofit institutions provide substantial institutional aid. However, low‑middle income students often fall into a funding gap, earning too much for Pell but too little to absorb remaining tuition and living costs. A supplemental undergraduate assistance grant would expand access, encourage timely degree completion, strengthen workforce readiness, and support economic mobility.

Providing testimony for this legislation were Carroll University Vice President for Enrollment Dawn Scott, Concordia University Wisconsin Interim Vice President for Admissions and Financial Aid Kevin Sheridan, Milwaukee School of Engineering Director of Financial Aid Alyssa Tessmer, and WAICU Executive Vice President for External Relations Rebecca Larson.

Financial aid professionals told the committee that many students who fall into the low-to-middle income range are from working families, often first-generation, who face significant financial pressure. They stressed that a small, yet predicable grant award would significantly improve retention and completion rates.

Together, these two legislative proposals will support the work of private, nonprofit institutions to strengthen Wisconsin’s talent pipeline, expand opportunity, and ensure the state remains competitive for years to come.

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