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Oregon Board Hikes Tuition For College Students

Oregon college students can expect to pay more for their education next fall. The state Board of Higher Education on Friday approved a series of tuition increases at Oregon's eight public university campuses.

The increases vary from school to school but for in-state undergraduates, the tuition hike averages out to between 5 percent and 6 percent.

Universities say the increases are necessary to keep up with rising costs.

But students told the board the price hikes would put a college degree out of reach for more people.

Lamar Wise, who is heading into his senior year at the University of Oregon, says there have been times during his college career that he's barely been able to scrape by.

"I've seen my bank account at $5 or right below $5," Wise says. "It's because I'm buying books; it's because I'm trying to pay for school."

Members of the higher ed board said it didn't make them happy to vote for higher tuition, but they felt they had to.

Students in Washington state are also facing steep increases in the cost of attending public universities next fall.

On the Web:

Oregon tuition information: http://www.ous.edu/factreport/tuition

Washington tuition information: http://www.wsac.wa.gov/PayingForCollege/TuitionCosts

Idaho tuition information: http://www.boardofed.idaho.gov/public