The Craig H.S. Criterion asked all seniors where they are going for college. I was happy to see a large number staying in Janesville to attend U-Rock and Blackhawk. I see this as a step towards fiscal responsibility and common sense. Way to go grads.
I have no problem with vets getting a free education. It has helped the poor and minorities get ahead in this country for generations and is available to everyone.

My understanding is that this article is only talking about the increase in tuition and does not address the increases that will follow with room and board. The cost of tuition plus room and board should be looked at when discussing cost increases. At some UW sites, the cost of room and board exceeds the cost of tuition, making a college degree very expensive. I am not opposed to the professors salaries as long as they are the ones teaching the classes and not the TAs.

kinsohn: feed your straw man to a horse, if you would, please. Nobody else in this thread has used the word "reasonable" to describe the increase except you. Perhaps you will actually engage someone on the arguments they make, next time.

sorry for the typo it should say *country* silly me for not re reading my post

I have no problem with Vets getting free schooling. My brother is a Vet and took a few classes already, and I'm sure my other brother who has just joined the Air Force not to long ago will use it too! And I give thanks to any one who did their part in keeping our contry safe. Seeing how they increase tuition though will they increase student aid? not everyones parents pay for their education.

Oh yeah, the faculty at UW-Rock is top notch. You haven't taken an economics class untill you have taken it with Doc Jones.

As far as veterans getting free tuition goes, as a veteran, 6 years active 5 years reserve, I can say that I didn't ask for it, but I'm glad it was offered. Is it fair? Depends on your point of view I guess. My point of view is as follows. I lived out of state, and out of country for 6 years. That whole time I paid taxes to this fine state and never used the services my taxes provided. My peers were done with school and building careers for themselves by the time I got out and went to college. This was a choice I made. To serve my country. If the state found it just to reward me for my sacrifices, kudos to the state. The fact that people will sit here whine about the unfairness to those who aren't veterans is laughable. There are tons of government handout programs that get abused every day in this state by thousands, if not tens of thousands of people whose only requirement they have to meet is breathing. Lay off the vets, we actually gave something of ourselves for you.

greengina8, I completely agree with you, U-Rock is an awesome school.

Regarding the tuition increase, I don't think any of us should be that surprised when reflecting on the budget negotiation (or lack there of) last year. I, personally, have no problem paying higher tuition so that veterans can attend for free.

While tuition has skyrocketed, I urge the bloggers to keep in mind that Wisconsin's Universities are top notch, and we still maintain the lowest tuition in the Big Ten.

For those of you from Whitewater area--hmmm, Seabee, I hope you start paying attention to your local legislators and their plans for the UW system. Stephen Nass is poisoning Wisconsin's education system.

kinsohn, it's convenient for you to label the entire Board of Regents liberal. Their job is to do what is in the best interest of the UW-system, not to push a political agenda.

cabby05-I also struggle to pay tuition. I am pissed! I rely on grants, scholarships, and research to fund my education. Loans are dissappearing and my income is not increasing. I am fortunate to be part of a well funded research program that most others don't have access to. I, too, am tired of my tuition being increased to fund programs in which the departments I'm in are not involved.

rockstars- I went to a 2-year before transfering to UWW. The cost is lower, yes, and the education is top-notch. UW Rock County is an excellent (and highly overlooked) place to start college.

Let me get this straight... veterans go to school for free and other students get to pay for it. How is this fair? I am not saying veterans shouldn't be able to go to school for free, but I am saying that it is not fair for other students to absorb the costs. The funds need to come from somewhere else.

You really have to look hard at the whole situation. Madison, Milwaukee, Stout, and Platteville are all schools that are in high regard. Believe it or not, employers look at where you graduate from and, all things the same, will more than likely choose someone from UW Madison instead of UW River Falls. They know that some of the state schools are much more difficult to get into and graduate from. And really, how do you get there? You charge more for tuition and try to pay your instructors more to get higher class instructors. I really think there is so much that goes into it, even beyond that. And I don't think Madison will EVER be a ghost town.

5.5% increases are reasonable? Isn't it funny how when liberals (e.g the Board of Regents) increase the cost of education it's 'reasonable' but when conservatives do it it's 'hurting our children?' What a joke.

Madison is still a school in high regard and high demand, so I don't think this modest increase is much to be concerned about.
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Heck, it's still cheaper than what I was paying 20 years ago at a private liberal arts college in the Midwest.

Ghost town huh? Do you have any idea how much tuition is in other states' school systems? Even with the increase, the UW system will be on the low end for Wisconsin residents and the education quality they recieve will be on the high end of state school systems.

Keep raising the tuition UW.
5-6% yearly tuition increases are unsustainable.
Once the economy tanks some more and the student loan lenders cut out the loans, UW Madison will be a ghost town.
It's only a matter of time.

Sorry, I wasn't trying to be rude Rockstar, but I choose not to type everything out correctly. I'm an excellent student and get very good grades so who are you to judge me.

haha jokes on you rockstar because I just graduated from a two year college and I could care less how my grammer skills are on here I was just saying that it doesn't seem right that they get a break still.and to become a teacher you are required to go to a 4 year college so it is kind of hard to stay away from going to one.. and no im not going to be an english teacher :D I'm an art student!

There are a number of non-traditional students at the 4 year colleges also. Here is a thought - stop paying your football and basketball coaches million dollar salaries and instead of "giving" athletes a full four year scholarship, require them to pay a percentage back to the school if they do not graduate or transfer to another college.

Oh, and my apologies. "Educations" should say "education" in my post. Got a little click happy there...

Cabby, if you don't like it maybe you should go to a 2 year school to start. It appears that you need the extra educations offered at UWW since you apparently haven't learned how to capitalize, punctuate or use possessive pronouns.

how is it fair that two year colleges get a break on there tuition... I go to whitewater and I stuggle to pay tuition fees and being an art student I have to pay for art supplies.