Tuition at Utah's universities and colleges will go up an average of 6.6 percent next year — 4 percent less than last year's hikes, thanks to the Legislature's above-average investment in higher education.

All nine state schools will see a 4 percent increase to cover compensation packages, and all but one school will also tack on a school-specific increase to cover programs and expansion.

"We hope that people will say the price of higher education is not going up like we thought, so maybe it's a little more affordable," Utah Commissioner of Higher Education Rich Kendell said after the Board of Regents approved the tuition rates Friday. "We're trying to wave people in the door and say, 'You can afford this."'

Dixie State College is imposing the largest increase on its students at about 9 percent, with both school-specific and systemwide increases. The College of Eastern Utah came in with the lowest increase, with no school increase on top of the systemwide 4 percent.

"CEU feels that their institution is very price-sensitive. They just feel like we've had a great year, so let's not make it more expensive for students," Kendell said.

Last year, Utah schools saw an average 10.6 percent tuition increase after a year when higher education leaders warned state legislators that underfunding education programs would put a larger tuition burden on students.

This year, however, Kendell said legislative funding exceeded expectations, particularly with a commitment to cap the portion of tuition dollars funding faculty compensation. Students will now be asked only to shoulder 25 percent of those salary packages and the state will pick up the rest of the bill.

That student-funded portion had shifted to about 35 percent over the years, with students at some schools such as Utah Valley State College picking up 50 percent of the compensation tab.

Without the new formula, Kendell said, tuition increases would have been higher across the board.

Kendell said he doesn't think this year's lower tuition increases are a one-time deal. State leaders have gotten the message, he said, that investing in higher education is good for the economy as well as for students.

"It's a compelling message, and more and more people are saying, 'I get it,"' he said.

The Board of Regents also approved fee increases at six schools Friday but held off on approval for fee increases at Weber State University, Dixie State College and Utah Valley State College because they exceeded a suggested maximum of 4 percent.

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