Reporting by WILL's Sean Powers was used in this story.
The trustees of the University of Illinois system have approved a 4.8 percent tuition hike for incoming freshmen at the system's three campuses.
The vote today means incoming freshmen will pay $532 more a year at the main campus in Champaign-Urbana, $468 more in Chicago, and $420 more in Springfield.
University of Illinois system schools are required to keep the tuition of incoming freshmen state residents the same for four years, and the board last year approved a policy that caps tuition increases at the rate on inflation. Two years ago, trustees approved a 9.5 percent increase.
"We'd like to continue our current policy, which addresses the important issue of accessibility," said University of Illinois president Michael Hogan. "But much depends on the future of state, funding, which continues to look problematic."
The state still owes the University of Illinois more than $242 million in unpaid bills, that's about $200 million less than a year ago.
Trustees also voted today to increase housing costs at all three campuses. Student trustee Kenneth Thomas voted against the tuition increases.
