Tuition for most undergraduate students on the University of Pittsburgh's main campus will rise this fall by 6.5 percent under a new price schedule approved this morning by the school's trustees.

Today's increase, combined with a tiered tuition policy already in place, means the yearly cost for an in-state undergraduate student enrolling in 2004 or later will increase to $12,106. That compares to $11,368 last year, a difference of $738.

In-state students enrolled prior to 2004 on the main campus will pay $10,910, up from $10,246 currently, university officials said.

Overall, on the main campus the in-state rate will increase by 6.5 percent, while the out-of-state rate will increase by 4.5 percent. Out-of-state students already pay significantly higher tuition.

Pitt's four regional campuses -- Bradford, Johnstown, Titusville and Greensburg -- will see a 4 percent increase for in-state students and 2 percent increase for out-of-state students.

The tuition increases approved this morning for the main campus are larger than recent hikes at Penn State University and the state's system of higher education. Penn State last week increased its base rate 4.3 percent to 5.5 percent, and the state system boosted tuition 2.75 percent.

In explaining the tuition hikes, Arthur Ramicone, Pitt's vice chancellor for budget and controller, said the university faced cost pressures, including an increase of more than 20 percent in utility costs, and lagging appropriations from the state.

First Published: July 20, 2007, 1:00 p.m.