Regents set to increase out-of-state tuition, OK pay raises

(AP) — University of Wisconsin System officials are poised to raise out-of-state and graduate tuition rates again to help offset Gov. Scott Walker's resident undergraduate tuition freeze and give their employees raises for the next two years.

The school also wants to raise tuition for a master's degree in global real estate by $11,116, to $43,280 by 2018-19.

UW-Madison said it needs more money to help expand science, engineering and math programs, boost financial aid and install new technology.

In their memo, the system officials said their schools aren't worried about dissuading prospective nonresident students from applying because their rates are still competitive with peer institutions.

Money for the pay increases, meanwhile, would come from the state's compensation reserve, a pot of money the Legislature sets aside at the beginning of every two-year budget to cover unforeseen pay increases and increases in benefit costs.

UW-Madison's faculty salaries, for example, were 18 percent lower than peer faculty elsewhere after adjustments for geographic costs of living in fiscal year 2014-15, the memo said.