Published: 11:54 AM, 12/11/2009

Last updated: 4:21 PM, 12/11/2009

The cost for higher education is getting higher.

Appalachian State University is pushing for the maximum tuition-and-fee increase after the board of trustees voted Thursday to approve a 6.5 percent tuition increase for the 2010-2011 academic year.

The trustees' proposal will be sent to the University of North Carolina Board of Governors. If approved, undergraduate tuition would increase $152, from $2,341 a year to $2,493 for the year. The trustees also want to increase fees by $350 per year.

The trustees conducted the vote by conference call after the Business Affairs Committee asked for a delay to gather more information. At the regular Dec. 4 trustees' meeting, the committee had considered a 4.2 percent tuition increase.

Mike Steinback, chairman of the board's business affairs committee. cited the current economic climate and uncertain state funding levels for universities as reasons for the increase.

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