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MADISON, Wis. – A simmering feud is emerging in Wisconsin’s higher-education “family.” Settling it in a way that helps all types of students, from those seeking job-related certificates to those pursuing four-year or graduate degrees, is a job that will fall to the next governor and Legislature.

The older sibling (founded 1848) in this fight is the Universities of Wisconsin, with about 164,000 students spread across 13 four-year campuses and a dozen satellites. The younger sibling (1911) is the Wisconsin Technical College System, with roughly 293,000 students pursuing two-year associate degrees, technical diplomas or certificates through 16 districts with 52 campuses.

The two systems have distinct missions and have long competed for different kinds of students, from graduate-level researchers in the case of the UW to people who are already working and feel the need for customized instruction at the tech colleges.

The core of this feud is state government financing for both, with a recent study by the Center for Research on the Wisconsin Economy – part of the UW-Madison’s Department of Economics – rekindling debate over which sibling “mom” loves most.

Both institutions just submitted two-year spending requests to the state Department of Administration, so the debate should continue in this fall’s election campaigns. It will become part of the 2027-29 budget debate after the new governor and members of the state Assembly and Senate are sworn into office in January.

The fight was renewed on Aug. 20, when CROWE researchers issued a report concluding that state and local governments provided $14,099 per full-time-equivalent student to the tech college system compared to $6,974 to Universities of Wisconsin students. Based on 2025 data analyzed by CROWE, WTCS ranked seventh in the nation in public support and the UW system was 43rd. Local property tax bills reflect support for tech colleges, but it’s offset dollar-for-dollar by reductions in state aid.

“Future budgets should rebalance toward the four-year sector rather than presume that a larger total higher-education budget is required,” a report summary said. 

In essence, CROWE called for state budget cuts for the tech colleges and diverting that money to the UW system.

That prompted a sharp response from tech college leadership, who noted only 20% of its students are “full time” in the sense of pursuing two-year associate degrees. The rest are part-time and enrolled in programs that provide hands-on training for people who quickly join the workforce or are already employed. The real public spending average for its students, tech college leaders said, is about $3,000.

“Wisconsin’s technical colleges deliver results for students, employers and taxpayers every day,” said Layla Merrifield, the system president. “Every firefighter in the state is certified at a technical college. Every dental hygienist, every law enforcement officer and every respiratory therapist is educated at a technical college. All are currently in short supply across Wisconsin…”

An earlier WTCS news release noted the four-year UW system received a $250 million increase in the last state budget, compared to $2.7 million in general aid for the tech colleges. It added some fighting words: “This year alone, taxpayers will support UW-Madison athletes with $15 million – five times as much – in name, image and likeness (NIL) payments.”

Take that, Badger sports teams.

Dan Klecker, a member of the statewide tech college board with deep experience in automotive tech, agriculture and youth apprenticeships, said it shouldn’t come down to an argument over which “sibling” deserves special treatment. The state economy needs a mix of talents, Klecker noted, but state officials should know that some critical tech college programs are at risk if budget pressure isn’t eased.

“Both systems need money to do what they do best,” he said.

Wisconsin’s projected budget surplus has grown to nearly $3 billion following stronger-than-expected tax collections for the 2025–26 fiscal year. Some lawmakers and candidates want to return it all to taxpayers; others would prefer a mix with more support for programs such as education.

It’s a debate that cannot be avoided during this election cycle. Family feuds don’t often end well.

Still is past president of the Wisconsin Technology Council. He is an adviser to Competitive Wisconsin Inc., a non-profit public policy group.