WisconsinWisconsin colleges would report costs and graduate outcomes to students
The failed bill would have colleges report program costs and graduate outcomes, then share comparisons and job information with high school students.
What it does
Colleges would report costs, student debt, graduation rates, financial aid, popular degree programs, and graduates’ salaries to the state each year.
The state would share college comparisons and information about 50 in-demand jobs with high school students through their school boards.
Argument forStudents could compare college costs, debt, graduation rates, and job outcomes while planning for college and careers.
Argument againstCollecting salary and employment details could take college staff time and ask graduates to share personal information through surveys.
More detail
Covered colleges would collect and report information about their undergraduate degree programs to the Higher Educational Aids Board. This covers undergraduate degree programs at public universities and their branch campuses, technical colleges and their campuses, and private colleges. Colleges would use federal reporting methods when possible and reasonable methods, such as alumni surveys, for information not covered by those methods. If information about salaries at the listed periods is unavailable, colleges would report the periods for which they have information. Reports would begin by July 1, 2027, and recur each July 1. Starting no later than July 1, 2032, every fifth year’s report would also include five-year salary information and, to the extent possible, employment and salary information by major.
The Higher Educational Aids Board would prepare job information and send a college comparison document to the Department of Public Instruction; school boards would share it with high school students. The document would compare college information and list Wisconsin’s 50 most in-demand jobs, with each job’s average starting salary and required education level. The board would prepare the job list with the Department of Workforce Development. School boards would provide the document as part of required academic and career planning services. Beginning in the 2027–28 school year, school boards would provide the document each year to students in grades 10, 11, and 12.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- May 13Failed to pass notwithstanding the objections of the Governor pursuant to Joint Rule 82Latest
- May 12Placed on calendar 5-12-2026 pursuant to Joint Rule 82 (2)(a)
- 2025
- Dec 5Report vetoed by the Governor Tony Evers on 12-5-2025Major
- Dec 4Presented to the Governor on 12-4-2025To Governor
- Nov 19Report correctly enrolled on 11-19-2025Minor
- Nov 19Received from Senate concurred inMinor
- Nov 18Ordered immediately messaged
- Nov 18Read a third time and concurred inPassed Senate
- Nov 18Rules suspended to give bill its third reading
- Nov 18Ordered to a third readingMinor
- Nov 18Read a second timeMinor
- Nov 14Placed on calendar 11-18-2025 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)
- Oct 24Available for scheduling
- Vote recorded Report concurrence recommended by Committee on Universities and Technical Colleges, Ayes 3, Noes 2. Result: pass.Upper
- Oct 24Report concurrence recommended by Committee on Universities and Technical Colleges, Ayes 3, Noes 2Minor
- Oct 24Executive action taken
- Oct 15Public hearing held
- May 13Fiscal estimate receivedMinor
- Apr 24Read first time and referred to committee on Universities and Technical CollegesMinor
- Apr 23Fiscal estimate receivedMinor
- Apr 23Received from AssemblyMinor
- Apr 22Ordered immediately messaged
- Vote recorded PASSAGE. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 22Read a third time and passed, Ayes 56, Noes 39, Paired 2Passed Assembly
- Apr 22Rules suspended
- Apr 22Ordered to a third readingMinor
- Apr 22Assembly Amendment 1 adoptedMajor
- Apr 22Read a second timeMinor
- Apr 22Representative O'Connor added as a coauthor
- Apr 17Placed on calendar 4-22-2025 by Committee on Rules
- Vote recorded Report passage as amended recommended by Committee on Education, Ayes 10, Noes 3. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded Report Assembly Amendment 1 adoption recommended by Committee on Education, Ayes 10, Noes 3. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 17Referred to committee on RulesMinor
- Apr 17Report passage as amended recommended by Committee on Education, Ayes 10, Noes 3Minor
- Apr 17Report Assembly Amendment 1 adoption recommended by Committee on Education, Ayes 10, Noes 3Minor
- Apr 17Executive action taken
- Apr 16Fiscal estimate receivedMinor
- Apr 15Fiscal estimate receivedMinor
- Apr 14Fiscal estimate receivedMinor
- Apr 10Public hearing held
- Apr 9Assembly Amendment 1 offered by Representative MelotikMinor
- Apr 8Read first time and referred to Committee on EducationMinor
- Apr 8Introduced by Representatives Melotik, Maxey, Behnke, Dittrich, Green, Gundrum, Knodl, Kreibich, Murphy, Sheehan and Wichgers; cosponsored by Senator FeyenIntroduced
EducationEconomy & Jobs