RICHMOND, Va. (AP) -- Tuition at Virginia's state-supported universities and colleges rose by 4.1 percent in 2012, the smallest rate of increase in the past 10 years.

Gov. Bob McDonnell touted the news Wednesday at a Virginia Commonwealth University event with college students wearing their school colors arrayed behind him.

After years of double-digit increases nearly doubled tuition and fees since 2002 at Virginia schools as the General Assembly cut funding, lawmakers approved $230 million this year to hold down increases. The average fell from 7.9 percent last year.

Two years ago, McDonnell expressed frustration in particular with VCU after tuition rates there increased by 24 percent, threatening to withhold the school's state support unless it reined in cost increases.

VCU held its increase this year to 3.9 percent, below the state average.