Each fall, about 58,000 students, or 1 in 4 Wisconsin college-bound undergrads, choose to attend a private college or university in the state.

Their reasons vary: Some want a religious-affiliated school or academic majors that may not be offered elsewhere. Many are attracted by the smaller class sizes typically found in private colleges and universities, which can provide more opportunities for personal interaction and individual growth than in large public institutions. The average class size in Wisconsin’s private colleges is 17 students, and the student-faculty ratio is 13:1.
These reasons may explain why more than 50 percent of students graduating from private colleges do so in four years, according to the Wisconsin Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, a consortium of 20 private colleges and universities. In the University of Wisconsin System, the four-year graduation rate in 2003 was 27.3 percent. In general, students attending state colleges take five or six years (or more) to complete their degrees.

Each WAICU private college and university is a nonprofit, fully accredited, degree-granting institution. Each is unique, with its own mission and culture. Many Wisconsin residents have a favorable impression of private colleges and universities, but they also have some misconceptions:

Costs — All Wisconsin private colleges and universities are concerned about access and affordability. The average price for tuition and fees at a Wisconsin private college or university during the 2006-07 academic year was $20,925, and the average freshman financial aid package was $14,372, leaving average net tuition costs of $6,553. Grants comprised 76 percent of the average private aid package.

At Mount Mary College, for instance, for the 2007-08 academic year, undergraduate tuition was $18,995 for full-time students and $510 per credit for part-time students. Statewide, 95 percent of full-time, first-year private college students receive financial aid, most of which is provided by the institutions themselves.

Impact on Taxpayers — According to WAICU, “private higher education is a bargain for state taxpayers.” The association points out that our private institutions produce more than 12,000 graduates, most of whom remain in Wisconsin.

Diversity — Surpris-ingly, perhaps, a higher percentage of Wisconsin private college students — 12.49 percent in fall 2007 — were members of minority groups than were enrolled in the University of Wisconsin System, which had a 9.75 percent minority enrollment.

Older Students — Private colleges and universities in Wisconsin also attract a higher percentage of nontraditional (age 25 or older) students than our state’s public institutions.

To help students discover the rich educational opportunities available at private institutions, WAICU is sponsoring Wisconsin Private College Week from July 14 through 19. Each WAICU member will open its doors to prospective students and their families. Viterbo University is participating in Private College Week.

I encourage you to visit Wisconsin’s private colleges and universities and explore what they have to offer.

Linda Timm is president of Mount Mary College in Milwaukee.

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