Wis. Pays $12.9M To Minn. For Tuition Deal

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- The state of Wisconsin owed the state of Minnesota and its colleges and universities nearly $13 million under the states' tuition reciprocity deal for the 2009 school year.

That's the highest since at least 1975. In contrast, for the first time in 10 years, Minnesota's general fund didn't owe anything to Wisconsin's.

The figures are from a new report from the Minnesota Office of Higher Education.

The 43-year-old reciprocity program allows Wisconsin and Minnesota college-bound students to pay in-state tuition even if they attend public universities in the other state.

Because Minnesota colleges tend to be more expensive, the state of Wisconsin makes up the difference for students who decide to go to Minnesota.

Just over 14,000 Minnesotans attended Wisconsin colleges in 2009 while about 10,300 Wisconsin residents went west.

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