OXFORD - The state College Board voted Thursday to increase tuition for out-of-state students but spared state residents an increase.

But room and board fees will increase for all students regardless of residency.

Systemwide, the increase will amount to an average 3.1 percent rise in tuition for the state's eight universities.

The University of Mississippi will likely see the biggest gain from the tuition increase. It was awarded the highest rate increase at 4.6 percent - an average of $578 per student per year - and has the most students from out-of-state (31 percent).

Tuition at Ole Miss for the spring 2009 semester was $2,553 for a full-time, in-state undergraduate student, and $6,234 for undergraduate non-residents.

Students in professional programs paid considerably more - as much as $5,910 for fifth- and sixth-year pharmacy for Mississippi residents and $12,093 for those from outside the state.

Larry Sparks, vice chancellor for administration at Ole Miss, said the out-of-state tuition increase is expected to bring in another $2.3 million in the 2009-10 academic year.

"Tuition and fees are our largest revenue source," he said. "They make up 31 percent of our overall operating budget and 51 percent of our core operations. As we put together our 2010 budget, I expect tuition to be an even more important source of revenue."

Mississippi State University was awarded an out-of-state tuition increase of 4.2 percent. About one-fifth of MSU's students are from outside of Mississippi. In Fiscal Year 2008, tuition accounted for one-sixth of the institution's overall revenues.

The University of Southern Mississippi's out-of-state tuition will have the smallest percentage gain at 2.4 percent, but its $306 amount slightly outpaces Mississippi Valley State University's $294, 2.6-percent increase.

Statewide, room rates will increase an average of 5.2 percent, or $171. Jackson State University will have the largest price climb at $246 per year, or 7 percent.

Board rates increased an average $114 or 5.1 percent for the system.

College Board spokesman Jennifer Rogers said the increases were based on requests made to the board by the individual institutions.

Contact Daily Journal Oxford Bureau reporter Errol Castens at (662) 281-1069 or errol.castens@djournal.com.