The Board of Trustees at the Michigan State University approved a tuition hike for the 2016-17 academic year for the seventh consecutive year. Students will see an increase of up to 3.9 percent.

The increase comes after the MCU board had adopted budget guidelines. The board states that the increase is necessary for the university to ensure its place in the world's top 100 universities, as well as to provide students with a world-class education, MSU Today reported.

Freshmen and sophomores will see their fees increase by 3.7 percent; or a cost of $16.75 per credit hour with a total of $468.75 per credit hour for the entire academic year.

Juniors and seniors of the university would see an increase of 3.9 percent; or a cost of $19.75 per credit hour.

The previous increase was approved on June 2015, with the board voted to a 2.7 percent increase. The increase is expected to rack up $14,092.50 per pupil from the lower division with a full load of 30 credits. Meanwhile, upper division students are expected to shell out $15,682 in costs, according to The State News.

The largest portion of the increase would be for the out-of-state students, whom would experience a 4.2 percent increase in tuition.

The budget guideline that called for the increase was due to the budget legislation, pending Gov. Rick Snyder's signature, that results in universities will not qualify for its state funding for next year unless the universities adopt to the guideline to increase fees, but should not go beyond 4.2 percent.

The consecutive increase in tuition fees have been linked to Michigan's budget cuts for higher education in 2011. The board cites that the previous increase of 2.9 percent was not enough to compensate for the pre-2011 budget, according to The Oakland Press.

The budget legislation that awaits the Snyder's signature calls for a $60 million funding increase, but would likely fall short by $20 million as analysts predict.

Topics Michigan State University, Students