Citing declining enrollment, UW-Platteville will shutter Baraboo Sauk County campus

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville will shutter its Baraboo Sauk County campus at the end of this school year, according to an announcement Friday.

In a statement, UW-Platteville Chancellor Tammy Evetovich said the decision follows declining enrollment and was “not made lightly.”

“We remain dedicated to supporting our students, faculty and staff through this transition,” she said. “Student success is at the heart of our mission, and we are providing additional support and resources to ensure students can transition smoothly to our main campus to complete their programs or find the path forward that best meets their needs.”  

Operations will cease on May 22, 2026, the statement says.

The announcement comes amid financial concerns for the campus, which offers primarily associate degrees, alongside one type of bachelor’s degree. Last year, the Sauk County Board of Supervisors voted to spend $390,000 on maintenance for the campus after the university projected that size of a budget deficit.

In her statement, Evetovich alluded to the local investment, saying that the school is “committed to being good partners with the city and county by ensuring the campus can be used in ways that best serve the region.”

The announcement comes almost exactly three years after UW-Platteville announced the end of in-person instruction at its Richland Center campus. That change took place in 2023, sparking concern that other two-year campuses across the state could see similar changes.

In recent years, UW-Milwaukee closed its Waukesha campus, and in-person classes have ended at its Washington County campus. UW-Green Bay has likewise ended in-person classes at its Marinette County campus, as has UW-Oshkosh at its Fond du Lac campus.