Students · March 27, 2026
Regents Hold Resident Tuition Flat for 2026–27; Total Cost for an On-Campus Student Rises 1.4 Percent
Wesconsin resident tuition stays at $9,140, while segregated fees, housing and meal plans go up a combined $288.
The University of Wesconsin System Board of Regents voted on Thursday to hold resident undergraduate tuition at UW–Porter Falls at $9,140 for 2026–27, the second year in a row without an increase. Non-resident tuition goes up 3 percent. Segregated fees, housing and meal plans, which are set on campus and approved alongside tuition, will rise modestly.
| Annual rate | 2025–26 | 2026–27 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition, Wesconsin resident | $9,140 | $9,140 | — |
| Tuition, non-resident | $17,360 | $17,880 | +$520 |
| Midwest Student Exchange rate | $13,710 | $13,710 | — |
| Segregated fees | $1,382 | $1,420 | +$38 |
| Housing, double room | $5,720 | $5,860 | +$140 |
| Meal plan, standard | $4,130 | $4,240 | +$110 |
| Total, resident on campus (with books est.) | $21,192 | $21,480 | +$288 |
Where the $38 fee increase goes was decided by the student-majority segregated fee committee in December:
- $17 for extended Forge Recreation Center hours, adding 5 a.m. weekday openings and later weekend closings.
- $12 to continue the Porter Loop’s evening Depot Line past its pilot semester, if spring ridership holds.
- $9 for one additional counselor in student health and counseling, to bring down wait times in the fall rush.
Housing and dining increases follow utility and food costs, which rose about 3.5 percent this year, and fund the second year of a bathroom renovation cycle in the older residence halls.
“Flat tuition is the headline, but families pay the whole bill, not just the tuition line. A 1.4 percent increase on the whole bill is below inflation, and we wanted to show every line so nobody gets surprised in August.”
— Neil Torkelson, Bursar
Financial Aid Director Mervin Aaby noted that the average net price for resident students receiving aid, $11,340, is not expected to change much, since grant aid is also rising. Students who expect a change in their family’s finances should talk to the financial aid office before May 1.
The full 2026–27 rate tables, including program fees, are on the tuition and costs and cost of attendance pages. What tuition and fees pay for is explained in tuition and what it includes, and how the regents set rates is covered on the Board of Regents and UW System. For grants and loans, start at financial aid.
Contact: Office of University Communications, news@uwporterfalls.edu
Fictional information
UW–Porter Falls is a work of parody. These rates, the regents’ vote, the fee breakdown and the staff quoted are invented, so do not budget from this page.