Pioneer Pledge extended to neighboring states, promises to cover tuition and fees for eligible students

Written by Alison Parkins on |
UW-Platteville campus

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville recently extended its Pioneer Pledge program to students in Iowa, Illinois and Minnesota, guaranteeing that the cost of undergraduate, on-campus tuition and fees will be covered for any Pell-eligible, new freshmen attending the Platteville campus. Extending this program to the neighboring states is the university’s latest in a number of recent commitments to ensure an affordable education. In August, UW-Platteville announced that it waived the enrollment deposit fee, which followed last year’s waiving of the electronic application fees.

"We pride ourselves on being an affordable, accessible institution that offers students a high-quality education,” said UW-Platteville Chancellor Dennis J. Shields. “More than 40% of our students are the first in their families to attend college. It is a part of our mission to work towards removing the barriers that have historically prevented equal access to higher education for all."

To be eligible for the Pioneer Pledge program, students must be admitted as a new freshman to UW-Platteville by May 1, submit the FAFSA and qualify as Pell eligible, and enroll as a full-time student taking classes at the Platteville campus for the fall semester. Federal Pell Grants are typically awarded to students who display exceptional financial need.

Minnesota residents must first complete the Minnesota Reciprocity form to be eligible for the Pioneer Pledge. 

Located in Southwest Wisconsin, UW-Platteville is just over 20 miles from the borders of Iowa and Illinois and less than 100 miles from the border of Minnesota. Founded in 1866, UW-Platteville enrolls more than 6,500 students and is consistently named a best value college by Payscale and ranked first in annual return on investment in Wisconsin. UW-Platteville is a leader in science, technology, agriculture and engineering fields, with unique initiatives in microsystems and nanotechnology, forensic investigation and renewable energy. UW-Platteville also offers a Tuition Advantage Program for residents of Iowa and Illinois, making UW-Platteville tuition comparable to, or lower than, the resident cost of attendance at a public university in those states.

For more information on the Pioneer Pledge, visit www.uwplatt.edu/pioneer-pledge