AUGUSTA (AP) – The Maine Community College System board of trustees on Wednesday approved a 2.5 percent tuition increase at the state’s seven two-year college campuses next fall.

The board voted unanimously in favor of the increase to help make up for a $1.2 million shortfall brought on by state budget cuts and increases in the cost of heating oil, utilities and health care.

With the increase, tuition for in-state students goes from $80 to $82 per credit hour. For the 2008-09 school year, tuition for full-time students from Maine will go up $60 to $2,460.

The board tried to keep the tuition increase to a minimum, even as its expenses have gone up 12.4 percent for heating oil, 10 percent for utilities and 4.5 percent for health care in the past year, said Dennis King, the board’s chairman. The system is also facing a $950,000 reduction in state funding for the coming fiscal year.

“Given that inflation is up 4 percent, this is a reasonable increase, but it’s a step we take reluctantly knowing the financial challenges faced by so many of our students,” King said.

Tuition for out-of-state students will increase from $160 to $164 per credit hour, or $4,920 for a full-time student.

The community college system has campuses in Auburn, Bangor, Fairfield, Presque Isle, South Portland, Calais and Wells, with a total enrollment of nearly 14,000.

In the past five years, enrollment has grown by about 3,700 students. MCCS President John Fitzsimmons said he expects the growth to continue as residents seek to learn new skills during tough economic times.

“The board sought to keep this necessary increase to a minimum, recognizing that now is not the time to restrict access to higher education in Maine,” he said.

AP-ES-04-23-08 1658EDT