UW-Madison’s major revenue sources include general purpose revenue, tuition revenue, federal grants, revenue from auxiliary enterprises, and private gifts and grants.

During the past decade, state funding (general purpose revenue) has declined as a percentage of the overall university budget, dropping 9.1 percent. When fixed costs, including mandatory wage adjustments and utility payments, are factored out, the amount of state funding available has declined by $33 million during the 10-year period. This means that the amount of state funding that goes to core missions, such as teaching and student services, has actually decreased in the past decade.

During the same period, the portion of the UW-Madison budget derived from private gifts, non-federal grants and segregated revenue has gradually increased from 15.2 percent to 19.3 percent. The past decade has seen student tuition and fees remain relatively constant at around 14 to 15 percent. The numbers indicate a continuing trend away from a traditional public university funding model: Thirty years ago, state revenue was the primary funding source for the campus, at 42.8 percent. Today, that percentage has been reduced to 21.0 percent.

— Darrell Bazzell, UW–Madison Vice Chancellor for Administration

2003-04 Revenue (by source)

2003-04 Budget Allocation (by program)

1994-2004 Revenue Sources (as a percentage of budget)

1994-2004 Revenue Sources ($ in millions)

UW–Madison Community

Average Time to Degree and Graduation Rates