By KALEY CONNER

kconner@dailynews.net

Come fiscal year 2010, Fort Hays State University students will see a 7.5 percent tuition hike across the board.

The increase, approved by the Kansas Board of Regents Thursday, will set tuition at $98.20 per credit hour for in-state undergraduate students. The 7.5 percent increase also will apply to out-of-state and graduate students.

"We were hoping to build a budget that kept tuition below $100 per credit hour," FHSU President Edward H. Hammond said. "It positioned us to maintain our very affordable rate."

FHSU remains the only of six Regents universities to offer a tuition rate of less than $100 per credit hour.

Tuition increases ranged from 3.9 percent to 8.5 percent at the six universities. FHSU's tuition rate remains at about half the costs at the University of Kansas and Kansas State University.

FHSU also saw a slight rise in other fees, such as student activity and health fees. These costs increased by about 55 cents per credit hour.

In other business, the Board of Regents announced the disbursement of federal stimulus funds to the universities and mandated that a third of the funds be used to help offset tuition increases.

These monies will be used in the form of increased student financial aid, and FHSU administrators will begin meeting this week to determine how to best use these funds.

"We've got flexibility now to try to help students with the financial difficulties that they and their parents will be having," Hammond said, noting it's middle class students -- who might not qualify for low-income assistance -- who often need help.

FHSU received nearly $3 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, with about $770,000 allocated for tuition mitigation.

The remaining money, approximately $2 million, will be used for deferred maintenance projects. Hammond said the university already has several projects in place, including improvements to the campus' electric system, roof repairs and street improvements.

With state budget reductions totaling about 12 percent, the unexpected federal dollars will enable the university to accomplish projects that otherwise would have been postponed, Hammond said.

Another allotment of stimulus money is expected for fiscal year 2011, and the funds also will help stimulate the local economy, Hammond said, noting local contractors will be hired for maintenance projects.

Another goal to help offset economic woes is to encourage growth, and Hammond said the university's low tuition costs remain a drawing factor.

"I think a lot of students are looking at options of how they can manage their resources," Hammond said. "And I think that's one of the things at Fort Hays -- we have high quality education for reasonable costs."

FY 2010 Standard Tuition Rates for undergraduate residents:

* University of Kansas -- $218.90 per credit hour

* Kansas State University -- $206.20 per credit hour

* Wichita State University -- $149.90 per credit hour

* Pittsburg State University -- $121.73 per credit hour

* Emporia State University -- $114.20 per credit hour

* Fort Hays State University -- $98.20 per credit hour