"They're going to keep increasing tuition, and we have to pay whatever they say because we have to go to school," said the U. political science senior, who wonders whether fiscal irresponsibility on someone's part means fewer students will be able to afford school.

The U. says it will use the extra tuition money to fund its engineering program, hire additional staff members and strengthen initiatives such as its study abroad program.

And despite the higher rate, tuition and fees will rise less than they have in nearly a decade.

Next year's statewide average tuition increase of 6.6 percent is significantly smaller than the current year's, which averaged 10.6 percent.

The Board of Regents on Friday approved a 4 percent base, or tier one, tuition increase to pay for the salaries of Utah's faculty and staff, and individual schools added tier-two increases to pay for specific programs.

The College of Eastern Utah will see the smallest tuition increase of $35 per 15-credit, in-state semester, while the University of Utah will see the largest additional increase, at $149.50 per semester.

Dixie State College will have the highest percentage increase of 9 percent, but some students feel it is justified.

"It's a good thing," said Brittany Robinson, a sophomore studying dental hygiene and a member of Dixie's student government. "We can pay teachers more and get more bachelor's degrees, which we need so students will stay here longer and not just leave after two years. Even with the increase, we're still less expensive than most other colleges."

Smaller increases at most schools are due to the Legislature appropriating an additional $103 million to higher education, the largest-ever increase, bringing the total budget to $820 million.

"This tuition increase at the second-tier level is the lowest in seven or eight years, and that's a response to the tremendous infusion of money from the Legislature," said Higher Education Commissioner Richard Kendell.

Student fees across the state also increased by a base of 4 percent.

CEU and Snow College will have no fee increases.

However, three schools asked for larger increases: Dixie State College, Utah Valley State College and Weber State University. Dixie proposed a $50 per-semester increase to pay for women's athletics and a student-initiated outdoor recreation center.

However, Kendell said he was not prepared to approve that increase, especially because of the recreation center proposal.

"At the University of Utah, even though it was student-initiated, there was still a lot of push back on their proposal for a student recreation center," he said.

He also wonders why the increases are so high considering the large amount of money allotted by the Legislature.

He will speak with the presidents from the three schools and review the reason for the increases.

Those three schools' increases will not be up for approval until March 23 by the Regents' Executive Committee.

---

* SHEENA McFARLAND can be contacted at smcfarland@sltrib.com or 801-257-8619.