Test you badger budget smarts--Quiz

Test you badger budget smarts

With the changing of cost of living, college students' affordability is flucatuating as well. Through several quick questions, test your sense of students affordability around Madison.

Start

1/10

Question

Photo by Jake Piper

2/10

Explanation:

According to cost-of-living and CPI data, Madison’s living costs have risen roughly 2–3% annually, affecting housing, groceries, and dining most noticeably.

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2/10

Question

Photo from Brandon Miller

2/10

Explanation:

Between 2020 and 2025, the Midwest’s Consumer Price Index rose from roughly 240 to 296, a 23% increase. For UW–Madison students, that translates into higher costs for meals, rent, and daily essentials — one of the main pressures shaping student affordability after COVID-19.

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3/10

Question

Photo from University Housing

4/10

Question

Photo from Sophie Wooldridge

2/10

Explanation:

The average rent in Madison is about $1,464 per month, according to recent local housing data. For many UW–Madison students, rent is the largest single expense, raising cost of renting leading students have narrower choices and sacrificing more preferences. The trend of housing rent is still increasing.

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5/10

Question

Photo from University of Wisconsin Madison

2/10

Explanation:

According to Bursar's Office in UW-Madison, the University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents today approved a 5% tuition increase to undergraduate students at most Universities of Wisconsin schools, including UW–Madison, for the 2025-26 academic year. Tuition for non-resident UW–Madison undergraduates will increase by $2,025 to $42,531.

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6/10

Question

Photo from University Housing in UW-Madison

2/10

Explanation:

According to the National Center of Educational Statistics, roughly half of full-time undergraduate students nationwide take part-time job both on-campus and off-campus.

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7/10

Question

Photo from Destination Madison

2/10

Explanation:

According to the information from system of University of Wisconsin, the average student loan debt at graduation in UW-Madison is $24,481, compared with the last 4 years, it appears a decreasing trend.

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8/10

Question

Graphic by Zoe Kukla

2/10

Explanation:

According to the Wiscard Office in University of Wisconsin Madison, students who use Wiscard deposit to pay for bill on-campus can enjoy 5% discount on almost every thing.

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9/10

Question

Photo from Four Lakes

2/10

Explanation:

All three support affordability — libraries offer free books and game discs; 333 East Campus Mall provides the free pantry for each week and some free clinic services for all students; Both Union South and Memorial Union offer students with the free activity spaces and some entertainment events every week.

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10/10

Question

Photo from Wisconsin Union

2/10

Explanation:

With the UW ID, you can enjoy lots of study tools and source searching for free as our school had already unlocked all these materials for students with school email. Signing up with your own email and than buy the plans for these tool is not cost-effective.

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Quiz completed!

Thanks for joining the quiz! We hope you learned something new about the cost of student life — and discovered a few ways to make campus living a little more affordable.