CONCORD, N.H. – Tuition at New Hampshire’s state universities will increase nearly 10 percent this year to offset a major reduction in state funding.

The University System Board of Trustees Tuesday hiked tuition at the University of New Hampshire by 8.7 percent. Tuition at Keene State College and Plymouth State University will go up by 9.7 percent.

Those increases apply to tuition, fees and room and meal costs.

Tuition at Granite State College, a commuter college with no room and board, will increase 5.8 percent.

The board in February had set increases at about 6 percent, which has been the average annual increase each of the past five years, but had to adjust that after lawmakers cut funding to the system by nearly 50 percent.

Total costs this coming school year for full-time New Hampshire students who live on campus will be $24,702 at UNH, $20,358 at Plymouth and $20,330 at Keene. Five years ago, those costs were $17,985 at UNH, $14,436 at Plymouth and $14,838 at Keene.

Board chairman Ed Dupont says the university system faces its most challenging year ever and is also cutting costs to cope with the budget shortfall.

Nick Bates of Newport, who will be a junior at UNH in the fall, said he is working a 40-hour week this summer to pay for college. He supplements what he earns by taking out student loans and having a work-study job during the school year.