Ferris State University students could be paying more to go to the Big Rapids based school.

The board of trustees Friday approved a preliminary general fund budget for the 2017- 2018 academic year that includes a tuition increase for undergraduates of 3.77 percent.

This includes a lower-division increase of 3.57 percent, to $406 per credit hour, and an upper-division increase of 3.97 percent for an undergraduate rate, to $419 per credit hour.

The budget also includes a 2.5 percent increase in student assistance aid. Institutional aid to students has increased from $13 million, during the 2008-09 academic year, to $24.6 million in the upcoming academic year.

Trustees also approved a preliminary 2017-18 housing and dining budget of $32.6 million.