The 13-credit policy was implemented to help more students stay on track for graduation within four or five years. Wisconsin students, however, are not affected by this policy. These students not only typically pay less for tuition, but also don’t have to go through the hassle of applying to be exempt from the 13-credit policy.

Under the 13-credit policy, students who are residents of Minnesota and have specific life circumstances that will not allow them to take full class loads of 13 credits or more can be exempt from paying the flat tuition rate for full-time students of $3,570 per semester. All other students, regardless of whether they are taking 10 credits or 18 credits, are expected to pay the flat rate. Circumstances that are accepted as means for exemption include responsibilities of child care, a disability or working a full-time job to pay for tuition.

Wisconsin residents, on the other hand, are allowed to pay for the amount of credits they choose to take. Credits up to 12 are each $250. If a Wisconsin student chooses to take anywhere between 13 and 18 credits, they are charged a term plateau rate of $3,000. This means they have to pay for 12 credits even if they are taking 18. If a Wisconsin resident decides to take more than 18 credits, they are charged $250 for each additional credit. Wisconsin residents don’t have to hassle with having to apply for 13-credit policy exemption, because they automatically get to pay per credit up to 12, and then are getting cheaper tuition than residents of Minnesota at a flat rate of $3,000.

Besides the hassle of having to apply for exemption from the policy, Minnesota resident students are being charged more for tuition than students from Wisconsin. If the University cares so much about graduation rates that it would put this 13-credit policy on its own state’s residents, it should at least make all students have to deal with it.