The board of trustees at Mercer University has approved a $185.4 million operating budget for the 2010-11 academic year, with a tuition increase of more than 3 percent.

Larry Brumley, a spokesman for the university, says the budget is $4 million larger than this years.

He says next years tuition, excluding expenses such as room and board, will be $30,360, an increase of more than $1,000 from this years $29,340.

Brumley says the school will be able to maintain its current level of academic and merit scholarships, but need-based scholarships may be reduced, since they are dependent on the schools endowment.

School officials also are encouraging students to seek other sources of financial aid, through state and federal grants, scholarships from outside organizations, work study and loans.

Tags: Georgia, Mercer University, budget cuts, colleges, universities, tuition increase