UC regents considering fee increase, decision by January

BERKELEY, Calif. (KGO) -- It is possible that UC students may see a tuition hike next year, the first in six years. On Wednesday, the regents met to begin discussing their budget, for a decision that will be made in January.[br /][br /]The reality is that state support has declined in recent years. In 2000, the state funded 72 percent of the cost of educating a UC in-state student. Last year it was 41 percent.[br /][Ads /][br /]Following the recession, Governor Jerry Brown and UC President Janet Napolitano agreed there would be no tuition hikes. In the meantime, Brown asked that UC reduce spending, accept more out-of-state students, consider implementing more online courses and look into three-year degrees - all with the intention of cutting down on costs.[br /][br /][b]RELATED: [url HREF="http://abc7news.com/news/consumer-reports-explores-options-for-paying-for-college/1310320/" TARGET="" REL=""]7 On Your Side: Consumer Reports explores options for paying for college[/url][/b][br /][br /]After years of telling the UCs to "live within your means," Governor Brown is not saying it's "reasonable" to ask for a tuition hike next year.[br /][br /]"If needed there, could be a very minimal tuition increase that would be roughly pegged to the rate of inflation. So, in the case of UC, that would be about $300 dollars," explained Dianne Klein, a UC spokesperson.[br /][twitter ID="[br /]799000027389509635" /][br /][br /]Some have argued that for the UC to maintain the same level of service, they kind of need to increase the tuition. But others say any hike hurts them, saying it is expensive for off-campus housing, for example.[br /][Ads /][br /]UC says for most students, financial aid will absorb that increase.[br /][br /][b]READ MORE: [url HREF="http://abc7news.com/education/new-ca-state-budget-may-force-uc-system-to-raise-tuition/469496/" TARGET="" REL=""]New CA state budget may force UC system to raise tuition[/url][/b][br /][br /]"Even if there would be a fee increase, 65 percent of our students would be covered," said Ricardo Vazquez, also a UC spokesperson.[br /][br /]Today, the basic tuition and fees is a little more than $12,000 a year.[br /][br /]For more stories related to education, [url HREF="http://abc7news.com/topic/education/" TARGET="" REL=""]click here[/url].