The Board of Governors said that while they dislike raising tuition and fees because they know paying for college is a burden for many working and low-income students, the 6 percent increase was the best they could do, given the costs of running the institutions and declining support by the state.

Three versions of the higher education budget -- the one approved last night, one that reflects a 15 percent cut to the current budget and one that reflects a 3 percent increase -- will now be sent to Governor Carcieri, who will release his version of the state budget in January.

However, tuition and fees at the state colleges could in fact be far higher than 6 percent, if state support shrinks, as it has in recent years. Last year, for example, the state took back $3.4 million in the middle of the academic year to cover a budget gap. For the current academic year, tuition and fees at URI and CCRI rose by 6 percent and at RIC by 8.7 percent.

A 6-percent increase in tuition and fees assumes that the higher education budget will grow by 9.8 percent, or $44.6 million. The Office of Higher Education estimates that about half would come from the state and about half would come from students.

The operational budget proposed for the three public colleges and the Office of Higher Education is about $500 million, including $212 in state money and $285 million in tuition and fees. Another $300 million in capital projects, grant money and financial aid brings the total higher education budget to $800 million for next year.