There may not be a tuition increase for in-state students after the University of North Carolina Board of Governors froze increases for next year.

But there is likely to be a $300 hike in out-of-state and graduate tuition next school year.

N.C. Central University Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Roland Gaines confirmed the freezing of in-state tuition and also explained the need to increase tuition at a Feb. 11 student forum hosted by the SGA in the Alfonso Student Union at 7 p.m.

UNC institutions made presentations to the Board of Governors Feb. 10 and NCCU asked the board to increase yearly tuition for the 2005-2006 school year by $225 for in-state undergraduates and $300 for out-of-state students.

NCCU in-state tuition for this year is $3,891, while out-of-state is $15,751.

Gaines said he understands that students have financial difficulties, but there is need for a tuition increase to enable the University to retain and recruit competent faculty.

“Why would we increase [tuition] and when know students can’t afford it?” asked Gaines.

He said half of the money from the increase will go to financial aid and half to faculty salaries.

Beverly Washington Jones, interim provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs, said the faculty raises will be mainly based on their evaluations.

“If we go after quality professors, we will have to pay more,” said Jones.

Simaya Kelly, an English sophomore from northern Virginia, said she dreads the increase in out-of-state tuition.

“If tuition increases again, that’s more loans I have to take out, and more money I have to pay back,” Kelly said.

Another student who pays out-of-state tuition, psychology junior Candice Harding, said she will not be too upset with the increase.

“Half of the money is going to financial aid,” said Harding. “I understand why they would increase tuition.”

NCCU students have faced several tuition increases in the past. Only last year, tuition was increased by $300.

The UNC Board of Governors approved a 4 percent increase while the state legislature added an additional 5 percent for the 2000-01 school year.

This raised NCCU in-state undergraduate tuition by 9 percent to $1,272 per semester. Out-of-state tuition increased by 14 percent to $9,194 per year.

The board also approved an 8 percent increase in tuition for in-state students in March 2002, while out-of-state tuition increased by 12 percent.

This brought NCCU in-state tuition up by 24 percent to $3,148 per year, and out-of-state tuition rose from $9,194 to $10,497 per year, an increase of 14 percent.