College students in West Virginia will be paying between 3.7 percent and eight percent more this fall.

The West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission has approved tuition hikes to cover increasing costs and mandated three percent salary increases for faculty and staff at most of the state's colleges and universities.

West Virginia and Marshall universities set their own rates. For West Virginia residents seeking undergraduate degrees, WVU-Parkersburg offers the cheapest tuition at $2,620.

WVU's tuition increased the most, by eight percent, and is the most expensive for in-state students at $5,100.

In-state tuition at seven other higher-education institutions increased between 3.72 percent and 7.47 percent to between $4,272 and $4,898.

In-state Marshall students will pay 5.5 percent more, bringing their tuition to $4,598.

Chancellor Brian Noland says the cost of attending college in West Virginia is still a bargain.