PRESQUE ISLE – College tuition is going up next year, an average of 10.1 percent at the seven campuses of the University of Maine System.

It will be the third consecutive year of hefty tuition hikes.

Last year tuition went up 10.5 percent, the year before that 8.9 percent, University of Maine System spokesman John Diamond said Monday.

The board of trustees approved a $520.7 million budget Monday. With rising fuel and health costs, it was balanced pretty equally through $15.7 million in cuts, and $20 million in tuition increases. But of the $20 million in tuition hikes, $5.4 million will go for additional student aid.

The higher costs will mean average tuition for a full-time undergraduate student from Maine will total $15,598 including room and board. The tuition increase represents $720 more next year. Room and board rates are also going up 6.6 percent.

The system treats raising tuition and fees “as the revenue source of last resort,” University Chancellor Richard Pattenaude said in a prepared statement. “We simply had to prioritize and make tough and painful decisions in order to maintain academic quality,” he said.

The cuts came from personnel and operating costs, including eliminating at least 139 positions, some that are vacant. There will be some layoffs, voluntary retirements and departures. Senior administrators at the seven universities and central office will not receive a raise next year, saving $300,000.

Board chairwoman Margaret Weston of Yarmouth cited five reasons that contributed to budget cuts and tuition hikes:

• “Enormous” increases in heating oil and other utilities.

• Higher health care costs.

• A turbulent global financial market, which meant UMS’ endowment funds and other investments took a hit.

• The implementation of new national accounting standards for post-retirement benefits, which is requiring the system to set aside more money for future retirements than in past years.

• Flat funding from state lawmakers.

Considering the $200 million deficit situation of the state budget, flat funding and no cut was a gift, Diamond said. “Chancellor Richard Pattenaude made a point he was grateful to legislators who helped protect the University of Maine System from an actual cut. That would have been even harder,” Diamond said.

But no extra money from the state, combined with higher operating costs, meant that cuts and tuition hikes were the only places to go. Student tuition and money from state taxpayers make up about 82 percent of the revenue, with 36 percent from the state, 46 percent from tuition.

Each campus president looked at how much could be trimmed without harming programs, Diamond said. The cuts that were approved Monday “are the best they can possibly do to cut costs and protect academic quality and affordability,” Diamond said.

Gov. John Baldacci said he appreciates Pattenaude’s efforts to reduce costs and find greater efficiencies. “With the economy hurting and with the cost of energy and health care rising rapidly, I understand the hard decisions.”

“Nonetheless, we must continue to seek ways to reduce costs,” Baldacci said. “Keeping college affordable is crucial if we want to empower the state’s students to be successful.”

While K-12 school districts are consolidating to save money, consolidating the seven university campuses isn’t doable unless the state law that mandates the seven campuses changes, Diamond said.

Enrollment at all campuses has been holding steady or increasing, with the exception of the University of Southern Maine. USM has been losing first- and second-year students to the Maine Community College System, which charges considerably less for tuition.

When asked if students and parents can expect tuition to take another hefty jump for a fourth consecutive year, Diamond said it’s hoped that can be avoided, the chancellor and trustees will be talking to the governor and legislative candidates in hopes of getting more money.

Investing in the university system would help Maine’s economy grow, Diamond said. If the percentage of Mainers with a four-year degree equaled the percentage of New Englanders with a four-year degree, “Maine’s economy would be 27 percent larger than it is today,” he said. “That’s what educational attainment means.”