Community college tuition rising in spring

Tuition at the state's community colleges will go up $7.30 per credit hour for the spring semester. All local community colleges now charge $94.03 per credit hour for in-state tuition.

The increase is necessary to serve the schools' booming enrollment, according to a news release from the State Board of Community Colleges.

The schools have been hit with four state funding cuts since 2008 while they have seen record-breaking enrollment hikes. Between the fall of 2006 and fall of 2008, community colleges have accounted for 71 percent of Virginia's in-state undergraduate growth.

"It would be equal to adding together the total enrollments of Christopher Newport University, Longwood University, the University of Mary Washington, the Virginia Military Institute and Virginia State University," said Gary Hancock, chairman of the state board.

"No responsible organization can serve that many people while undergoing round after round of budget cuts."