Virginia Commonwealth University's board of visitors has approved a 9.4 percent tuition increase for in-state undergraduates next year, and a 5.3 percent hike for out-of-staters.

The board said Friday it decided on the increase for the 2008-09 school year rather than risk seeing progress stall on other initiatives.

Typical full-time, in-state undergraduate students will pay $6,779 a year for tuition and fees, and the same students living in university housing with meal plans will see a 6.8-percent increase to $14,693. Fees and tuition for out-of-state students will rise 5.3 percent to $19,724.

VCU President Eugene Trani said VCU remains the least expensive for undergraduates among the state's public doctoral institutions.