ST. PAUL (AP) - The trustees of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system have approved a budget that raises tuition, cuts programs and eliminates positions.

The budget approved Wednesday would raise tuition an average of nearly 4 percent on students in the system's 25 state colleges.

Students at the system's seven universities will see their tuition go up an average of nearly 5 percent more than this year.

Overall, the system will operate with about $76 million less than it had in the current fiscal year, primarily because of anticipated cuts in state aid.

As a result, the 32 presidents of the colleges and universities are balancing their budgets by closing programs, increasing class sizes, limiting course offerings and delaying equipment purchases.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

 

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