# Closures of the University of Wisconsin branch campuses

* Former campus
* Online campus
Following the closure of the University of Wisconsin–Platteville Richland on July 1, 2023, multiple University of Wisconsin branch campuses have since closed or announced closures. Before these recent closures, the only UW college campus to close was UW–Medford in 1980. As of March 2025, five campuses have closed or announced closure, one campus remains open without in-person classes, and seven campuses remain open across the state.
The UW System, in an internal briefing on September 19, 2023, recommended that its universities "reduce the physical footprints of the remaining eight campuses and negotiate contractual exits where appropriate." This briefing also recommends to move the branch campuses away from awarding associate degrees and that the Wisconsin Technical College System (WTCS) can award such degrees instead.
As of 2023, the Universities of Wisconsin are one of the lowest funded public university systems, ranked 43rd nationally.

## Background

The University of Wisconsin Centers were established following the end of World War II. 14 freshman-sophomore campuses were opened across the state, mainly in rural areas far from a larger University of Wisconsin school. They were intended to further fulfill the Wisconsin Idea and to bring higher education to more areas of the state.

### 1980s and UW–Medford

In 1980, a special task force was established to review the programs of several UW centers. It considered closing six centers–Baraboo, Barron, Manitowoc, Marinette, Medford, Richland–and assigning the rest to nearby UW campuses as branch campuses. Ultimately, the task force recommended closing just UW Medford and using its saved dollars to support the rest of the smaller UW centers.
As a result, UW–Medford was closed citing enrollment declines. It had a final enrollment of 90 students.

### Tuition freeze and funding cuts

In 2013, Governor Scott Walker enacted a tuition freeze on the UW system. Alongside a tuition freeze, his administration enacted a state funding cut to the university system. While originally only meant for two years, the freeze lasted until 2021. In 2023, the UW system increased tuition by 5%.
The reduced state and tuition funded has led to budget deficits at many UW campuses. Universities of Wisconsin President Jay Rothman has asked for $855 million in the 2025-26 state budget. He states that if the UWs get the money asked for, there will be no tuition increases for the next two years and no further branch campuses would be closed.

### 2018 restructuring

The UW Board of Regents voted on November 9, 2017, to proceed with a proposal that merged the physical University of Wisconsin Colleges campuses with seven of the four-year campuses of the University of Wisconsin System. This was intended to prevent the closure of local campuses.
At times it has been suggested by UW System leaders to merge the 2-year UW campuses with the Wisconsin Technical College System (WTCS), most recently in 2021. None of these have gone through, with WTCS opposing and pointing out that the missions of the two systems are different. In 2022, the Board of Regents approved the WTCS to award liberal arts degrees.
Enrollments at branch campuses have been declining as a whole since the restructuring. In fall 2018, total enrollments at branch campuses were 9,741. In fall 2023 they were 4,803.

## Closures
### UW–Platteville Richland campus

It was announced on November 22, 2022, that the University of Wisconsin–Platteville Richland branch campus would be closed on July 1, 2023, due to its declining enrollment, which was 64 in its final year. Initially the plan was to transition the Richland campus to be fully online, but this idea was later scrapped and the campus was fully closed. In 2023, the UWs stated "that no viable options existed,” for the UWs to maintain a presence on the Richland campus.
Many point to the decision to remove Richland's recruiter, the move of international students to UW–Platteville, and the numerous budget cuts as the reasons for its closure. Additionally, UW–Platteville charged both Richland and its Baraboo campus a fee for administrative services, a model not used by most other UW campuses. Many have reported little recruitment for the branch campuses in the community, including UW Platteville refusing money from a private foundation to pay for a dedicated Richland recruiter.

### UW–Oshkosh branch campuses

On October 17, 2023, Universities of Wisconsin President Jay Rothman announced that the University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh, Fond du Lac Campus would be closed at the end of June 2024. Its enrollment was 243 in its final year. The campus officially ceased instruction on May 17, 2024, with all faculty transferring to the main Oshkosh campus and students given the option to transfer to the main campus or Fox Cities campus.
The Fond du Lac campus is being reused for a variety of county-uses, including law enforcement training and hosting its human services department. Additionally, it has preserved its theatre, gymnasium, and classrooms and offers them available to rent for the community.
On June 13, 2024, it was announced that the University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh, Fox Cities Campus would close at the end of the spring 2025 semester. UW Oshkosh's chancellor Andrew Leavitt announced this decision, citing lowering student participation rates and the changing state of higher education as the reasons for its closure, calling it a "a difficult but responsible decision." In a projection made by UW Oshkosh, they projected enrollment would be less than 100 students by 2032. Its enrollment in 2024 was 473.

### UW–Milwaukee branch campuses

Also on October 17, 2023, it was announced that University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee at Washington County would be closed at the end of June 2024. The UWM Washington County campus was called "not sustainable" by its chancellor Mark Mone in the announcement of the campus closure. Its final enrollment was 285 students.
The University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee at Waukesha branch campus announced on March 11, 2024, that it would close at the end of the spring 2025 semester. The campus had an enrollment of 672 at the time of the announcement. Following its closure, UW Milwaukee closed its College of General Studies, a college that supported the academic departments of its branch campuses. Its chancellor called the branch campus program "no longer cost effective." Specifically, chancellor Mone pointed to duplication of programs with Waukesha County Technical College. It would lay off its 32 tenured faculty, made possible by a Scott Walker policy in 2016 that removed guarantees to tenured faculty.
The Waukesha campus is scheduled for demolition and will become a housing development after it closes in June 2025.

## Changes to existing campuses
### UW–Green Bay, Marinette campus

The University of Wisconsin–Green Bay, Marinette Campus announced on January 19, 2024, that it was ending in-person classes at the end of June 2024. Its final in-person enrollment was 213 students. UW–Green Bay chancellor Michael Alexander explained that the campus would be kept open, but with classes streamed in from other UW–Green Bay campuses. He also explained that some classes may continue to be taught in Marinette, but they would also be streamed to other campuses.
Its theatre will still be maintained and UW–Green Bay will expand on its programming that it offers. UW–Green Bay explains they will still keep an educational presence on the campus, including both credit and non-credit offerings. Chancellor Alexander has stated that Marinette "will not close". There has been some effort to hand over some unused buildings to the city for its services, but no decision has been made.

### UW–Platteville Baraboo Sauk County campus

The University of Wisconsin–Platteville Baraboo Sauk County campus will downsize its operations to a single building by fall 2025, giving the other buildings back to the county for other uses, it announced on August 15, 2024. In early 2024, the county has agreed to cover all maintenance costs going forward, including approving $390,000 for 2025 and 2026 in additional funding.

## Reactions and aftermath

"Closure", a 2024 documentary by Wisconsin filmmaker Ken Brosky, examines the closing of the former UW colleges.
In a bill passed in 2024, local communities are eligible to receive $2 million for redevelopment of a closed UW campus. This program is managed by the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, and per the law Richland is entitled to receive money first before other grants can be awarded.
Critics argue that the closures reduce educational opportunities for rural students while taking away economic activity from rural areas. Others have expressed concerns about the future of the Wisconsin Idea following the closures of these campuses.
In 2024, University of Wisconsin–Whitewater chancellor Corey King announced the school's commitment to keeping its Rock County branch campus open despite nearby campus closures.