University of Wisconsin–Madison
A wide shot of the Isthmus with the capitol building at the center. You can see the lakes on the bottom left and top right corners with a slight hint of morning daylight.

2027–2029 UW–Madison State Budget Priorities

A red construction crane towers above the partially built Chemistry building on campus.

Modernize university infrastructure and processes

UW–Madison needs modern tools and greater flexibility to operate efficiently, responsibly manage state resources and maintain a world-class campus. Greater flexibility would help reduce unnecessary costs and delays while allowing the university to better plan for its long-term infrastructure needs.

Professor Brandon Bloch teaches History 120: Europe and the Modern World 1815 to the Present in Irving & Dorothy Levy Hall during the first day of the fall semester at the University of Wisconsin–Madison on Sept. 2, 2026. History 120 covers the political, economic, social, and cultural history of modern Western civilization. (Photo by Taylor Wolfram / UW–Madison)

Recruit and retain excellent faculty and staff

UW–Madison’s excellence depends on the faculty and staff who educate students, conduct groundbreaking research and serve communities across Wisconsin. Competitive compensation is critical to attracting and retaining the talent the university needs to deliver for the state and its people.

A whiteboard is covered with handwritten notes for a process to train computer coding in the TRAIL Lab (The Responsible AI for Learning Lab) in Educational Sciences at the University of Wisconsin–Madison on April 30, 2026. This photo was created for university marketing use to illustrate artificial intelligence, entrepreneurship and technology. (Photo by Jeff Miller / UW–Madison)

Build Wisconsin’s workforce and promote innovation

UW–Madison can help Wisconsin meet today’s workforce needs while positioning the state to lead in the industries of tomorrow. Strategic investments can accelerate innovation and economic development and help address critical workforce shortages in communities across Wisconsin.

Find out more about UW–Madison’s 2027-29 budget priorities

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Learn about the return on investment Wisconsin taxpayers receive from our investment in the state’s flagship university in our Budget in Brief.