Study Reveals Bucky’s Tuition Promise Enhances Student Retention

A recent study has demonstrated that the University of Wisconsin–Madison’s flagship financial aid initiative, known as Bucky’s Tuition Promise, significantly enhances the retention rates of lower-income students. The research, published in the Peabody Journal of Education on September 15, 2025, is the first of its kind to evaluate the long-term impact of this program, which was established in 2018.

According to the findings, students from low- to moderate-income households who qualify for Bucky’s Tuition Promise exhibit a retention rate of 96.6% into their second year of studies. This figure contrasts starkly with a retention rate of 93.4% among a control group of students who narrowly missed the income threshold for eligibility. The income cap for eligibility currently stands at $65,000, a slight increase from the original threshold of $56,000 when the program first launched.

Scott Owczarek, interim vice provost for enrollment management at UW–Madison, emphasized the significance of these results. “Bucky’s Tuition Promise was designed to make an education at the state’s flagship public university more affordable and accessible for Wisconsin students,” he stated. “It is doing that while also helping to ensure that our state’s top students stay in Wisconsin and contribute their talents and skills to our campus and communities.”

Impact of Bucky’s Tuition Promise

The study was led by Amberly Dziesinski, a research analyst at UW–Madison’s Student Success Through Applied Research (SSTAR) Lab, which played a critical role in developing the program. Dziesinski aimed to assess not just the enrollment surge attributed to the initiative, but the subsequent success of those students throughout their college careers.

To ascertain the effects of Bucky’s Tuition Promise on retention, Dziesinski conducted a comparative analysis of students who qualified for the program against those who just missed the income eligibility cutoff. The results indicate that the program has a tangible impact on student success, with a statistically significant difference in retention rates.

The research also delved deeper into the performance of Bucky’s Tuition Promise recipients compared to a broader group of students. In a sample of over 3,200 students, recipients had a second-year retention rate of 95.8%, compared to 94.9% for non-recipients with family incomes below $120,000. Dziesinski remarked, “Overall, it’s really promising to see that new populations of students who were brought to campus through Bucky’s Tuition Promise are succeeding at such high rates.”

Broader Financial Aid Initiatives

While the study primarily focused on retention, Dziesinski expressed interest in further exploring graduation rates and student debt levels among Bucky’s Tuition Promise recipients. Although preliminary results are encouraging, she noted that more in-depth research is needed in these areas.

Funding for Bucky’s Tuition Promise comes entirely from donations and university resources, ensuring that no state taxpayer money is utilized. The program operates as a last-dollar initiative, where other scholarships and grants are applied first before the university covers the remaining tuition balance.

In addition to Bucky’s Tuition Promise, UW–Madison has introduced other significant financial aid programs. The Bucky’s Pell Pathway, initiated in 2023, aims to assist low-income students who qualify for Federal Pell Grants by meeting their full financial need without loans for four consecutive years. Another program, the Wisconsin Tribal Educational Promise Program, launched in 2023, offers comprehensive financial support for residents enrolled in federally recognized Wisconsin Indian tribes.

These initiatives reflect UW–Madison’s ongoing commitment to making higher education accessible and affordable for all Wisconsin residents, reaffirming the university’s role as a leader in supporting student success.