MADISON, Wis. -- The cost of an engineering degree at the University of Wisconsin-Madison could go up in the near future, and some students seem to be accepting the idea.

Every year, students gather and try to launch their careers at the UW Engineering Expo at Engineering Hall. Their concepts show the genius that will qualify them for high-paying careers after graduation, WISC-TV reported.

Paul Peercy, the dean of the engineering school, said that the price of that education is expected to increase.

"We've long recognized that it costs more to educate students in the professional areas than perhaps in general education," Peercy said.

Officials said that because of the costs inherent in educating the engineers of tomorrow, the school began the process of asking students for $700 extra per semester.

Craig Mackenzie, a junior and student tuition committee member, said that the cost of getting a degree at UW is still a good deal.

"Right now, we pay the least in the Big Ten," he said. "So when you compare to our direct competitors, it definitely seems reasonable."

Officials said that increasing costs is designed to allow students the chance to earn their degrees faster.

"We have bottlenecks now where we're not having enough classes," Peercy said. "Some of our students have to stay an extra semester or two to get all the courses they need to get their degrees."

Since higher tuition could be a crushing blow for needier students, the school is prepared to provide more need-based aid, WISC-TV reported.

"So that differential tuition in the College of Engineering will not prevent any student who wants to get a degree in engineering from Wisconsin-Madison from being able to afford to get that degree," Peercy said.

The proposed engineering tuition differential goes to the Board of Regents for approval later this spring. The regents recently gave the thumbs up to a $500 tuition differential per semester for business school students.