Harrisburg – The Board of Governors of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) today approved a $1.5 billion budget, which includes a $250 tuition increase and dedicated funding for environmental/science initiatives and greater opportunities for students to study abroad and engage in research.

The 2010-11 budget also calls for expanding educational opportunities in high need and currently underserved regions of Pennsylvania, as well as enhanced student services in areas including registration and financial aid.

“In challenging fiscal times, we will do our best to provide vital educational opportunities and services that will both help to ensure our students’ success and serve the needs of the Commonwealth,” said PASSHE Chancellor Dr. John C. Cavanaugh.

The new annual tuition rate for full-time, resident undergraduate students beginning this fall will be $5,804 – the lowest rate among all four-year colleges and universities in Pennsylvania.

“We are committed to offering high quality, affordable education to our students,” said Board of Governors Chairman Kenneth M. Jarin. “Our universities have worked extremely hard to control their costs while enhancing the learning opportunities for our students, making certain PASSHE will continue to be the best educational value in the Commonwealth.”

PASSHE will receive approximately $503.4 million in state and federal funds to support the current-year operating budget. Included in that total is nearly $38.2 million in federal stimulus funding, which is expected to end after this year. The Board considered that likelihood in setting this year’s tuition rate.

The Board approved a range of tuition rates as part of its action, including new rates for resident graduate students and all nonresident students. The resident graduate tuition rate in 2010-11 will be $6,966, an increase of $300. Nonresident graduate tuition will increase by $480, to $11,146. Nonresident undergraduate student tuition will range from $8,706 to $14,510, depending on a variety of factors, including the university and program in which a student enrolls. All of the increases average 4.5 percent.

The tuition technology fee will increase by $26 to $232 for the full academic year for full-time resident students and by $40 to $350 for full-time nonresidents. All funds raised by the technology tuition fee are used to directly benefit student learning. Universities have used the funds to install new computer labs and to design multi-media classrooms, among other projects.

The total cost of attendance for a resident student who resides on campus during the 2010-11 academic year, including tuition, required fees, room and board, will average about $15,000. The average cost of attending a PASSHE university last year was $564 below the national average and nearly $2,500 below the average in the Middle States region, which comprises Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C.

The Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education is the largest provider of higher education in the Commonwealth, with nearly 117,000 students. The 14 PASSHE universities offer degree and certificate programs in more than 120 areas of study. Approximately 454,000 PASSHE alumni live and work in Pennsylvania.

The state-owned universities are Bloomsburg, California, Cheyney, Clarion, East Stroudsburg, Edinboro, Indiana, Kutztown, Lock Haven, Mansfield, Millersville, Shippensburg, Slippery Rock and West Chester Universities of Pennsylvania. PASSHE also operates branch campuses in Clearfield, Freeport, Oil City and Punxsutawney and several regional centers, including the Dixon University Center in Harrisburg.