The Worcester State University Board of Trustees has approved a $500 fee increase which will bring tuition and fees for a full-time commuter student to $8,157 and $18,657 for the average residential student.

The university faces declining state funding and significant costs that continue to rise. “I am committed to meeting our obligations, while providing the best educational experience for our students,” said President Barry M. Maloney. “In addition to meeting our collective bargaining obligations, we are investing in seven new faculty positions to ensure that our students have the resources where they need them the most: in the classroom. We are also investing in improved technology for our students.”

He remarked that the university also tapped $2.4 million in university reserves and is continuing to fund a need based financial aid allocation to meet the needs of WSU’s neediest students. The reserve fund dollars are being deployed for one-time expenditures such as capital projects, library materials, equipment and technology.

State funding for the university continues to decline. Commonwealth funding of WSU has declined 23 % since 2009.