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Reciprocity -- Wisconsin tuition for all!
by Laura Walbrink
In 1973, legislators from Minnesota and Wisconsin signed a reciprocity agreement allowing students from Minnesota to attend any of Wisconsin's state universities at Minnesota tuition rates, and vice versa. Because tuition was roughly equal in both states, the deal worked well for years.
Today, however, not everyone is as pleased with reciprocity. Over the last couple decades, tuition skyrocketed in Minnesota as state funding declined. Wisconsin tuition is now approximately 20 percent lower than Minnesota's.
Thousands of students from both states use the reciprocity program-10,179 Minnesota residents and 8,184 Wisconsin residents, according to the Minnesota Daily. In theory, then, every Minnesota resident brings a tuition windfall into Wisconsin, and every Wisconsin resident costs Minnesota. So how does Minnesota (partially) subsidize the Wisconsinites? By charging Minnesota students a surcharge amounting to one percent of their tuition.
What's wrong with this picture? I confess, I'm from Wisconsin, and this small tax still seems unjust. A question, posed by a 1994 Daily editorial, looms: "Why do Wisconsin residents attend their major state university for so much less than Minnesota residents can attend theirs, when both have equally fine reputations?" The answer: Minnesota lawmakers don't fund state universities as well as
Wisconsin legislators do, and students pay the difference. Yet, the Minnesota Legislature seems strangely willing to help the 'U' with the costs of the reciprocity agreement-it gives the University $1.3 million for that purpose.
The reciprocity issue has resurfaced several times, and here's one sensible solution I've heard: Charge participants from both states Minnesota tuition. Minnesota wouldn't lose money on the deal, and Wisconsin would still get the extra tuition. The only losers would be Wisconsin students, but even they are winners, right? After all, Minnesota tuition still beats out-of-state tuition.
But, really, why should any students lose? An even better idea: Charge participants from both states Wisconsin tuition. Minnesota would continue to lose money on the deal, and Wisconsin would lose the bonus but break even. As for the students, Minnesota residents could get a 20 percent discount on tuition, and Wisconsin residents would continue paying the low state rate.
Now, that's what I call competition. Lawmakers and University administrators, this would be your chance to justify those heart-stopping tuition hikes. I want to see you convince the wave of students driving east on I-94 that they should stay in Minnesota. If Wisconsin can keep its tuition low, so can you-so do it. No more whining.
Minnesota students, don't be fooled. We Wisconsin residents aren't your enemies; we're your friends. It is unfair that you're helping to pay our way at the high-priced University of Minnesota. In fact, it's unfortunate that the University of Minnesota is high-priced. Students, unite. Low tuition for all!
