Applying to most state public universities will now be free.
The University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents approved eliminating application fees to 10 of the 13 UW campuses. UW-Eau Claire, UW-La Crosse and UW-Madison will continue to charge $25, $25 and $70, respectively.
A policy passed during the pandemic already waived the fee for three applications but charged $25 for each subsequent application. The new policy eliminates the fees altogether for the 10 universities, no matter how many applications a student submits.
UW-La Crosse, UW-Eau Claire and UW-Madison can waive the fee for applicants facing financial hardship.
Driving the policy change are two big changes coming to the UW admissions process.
The first is a new direct admissions program , in which universities will admit qualifying students without requiring them to complete an application or pay a fee. Universities this summer will begin notifying students expected to enroll in college in fall 2025.
About 350 high schools in Wisconsin are participating , so charging students outside of the program to apply would create an inequity, said Julie Amon, associate vice president for enrollment and student success.