Tuition in 2000 for a freshman at UW-Madison was $1885. In 2008 it is $3,785, rising 5-6 percent more next year. It seems, as with most things these days, that the cost of education is increasing at a rate faster than the average family and student can keep pace with. Add up all the academic year living costs and the result looks something like this: $7,570 (tuition), $4,050 (rent & utilities), $600 (books), $2,700 (groceries) and $1,500 (SHIP insurance) equals around $16,500. Assuming you qualify for the Stafford Loan program, you are eligible to receive up to $12,500 per year. You are still out $4,000, not to mention any money needed for extraneous spending, like travel, weekends out, a special date, etc.
Office of Strategic Communication