Attending North Carolina Central University is about to get more expensive.

On Friday, the school’s board of trustees approved a package of tuition and fee increases for the 2012-13 academic year totaling $1.58 million. That comes to an increase of $192 per year for undergraduate students and $242 for graduate students.

In a separate vote, the board approved an additional increase of $782,000 per year for each of the next five years. That increase comes to $100 per student each year.

Combined, the two increases would raise tuition 10 percent next year for in-state undergraduates.

Most of the money raised would go to support instructional budgets and need-based financial aid, school official said.

The increases still must be approved by the UNC System Board of Governors.

While acknowledging the impact on low-income students, NCCU Chancellor Charlie Nelms said the tuition and fee hikes are needed to offset recent funding cuts by the state.

“Any increase in tuition and fees is too much for low-wealth students to have to pay,” he said in a statement Friday. “We have attempted to balance our commitment to access, affordability and quality. Low cost but poor quality is not a bargain for anyone.”

State lawmakers reduced NCCU’s funding by $13 million, or 14 percent, this year, said Claudia O. Hager, associate vice chancellor for finance. From fiscal year 2000-01 to fiscal year 2010-11, she said, the university has absorbed more than $12 million in permanent cuts and $36 million in one-time budget reductions. The additional $13 million budget reduction for the current year brings the total loss of permanent funding and one-time budget loss to nearly $60 million during that period.

“After experiencing years of permanent budget cuts and reversion requirements, reductions at this level are difficult for the university to absorb without seriously impacting direct instruction,” she said.

School officials said the the increases were discussed at length with students at a series of recent meetings.

The proposed $1.58 million tuition increase would be spent as follows:

— $525,000, or nearly one-third of the total increase, would provide for expanded course offerings. More than $5 million was cut from the instructional budget for 2011-12, leading to a loss of 57 faculty positions and a 14 percent reduction in course sections.

— $343,000 would be applied to student and academic support budgets, which experienced a $2.5 million cut in 2011-12. This is money for classroom supplies, curriculum materials for faculty, faculty development, classroom building maintenance, student services and operating budgets. The budget cut resulted in a loss of six positions, which provided academic advising, financial aid counseling and career planning services to students.

— $595,000 would be allocated to financial aid, including $470,000 for need-based financial aid and $125,000 for graduate student aid.

— The remaining funds would support the library operations ($75,000) and technology enhancements for technology and computer replacements for Smart Classrooms ($50,000).

The trustees also voted to increase annual fees for dining, housing, health services, athletics, education and technology, and student activities by amounts averaging about 6 percent. Overall, Hager said, the total cost of attending NCCU for in-state undergraduates would increase by about 6 percent next year.

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