Students at Clanton’s Jefferson State Community College campus will pay about 15 percent more for tuition in the spring.

Citing state budget cuts, the Alabama Board of Education approved an adjustment of the tuition rate for state community and technical colleges from $71 to $85 per credit hour, about 19 percent or about $420 for the typical students.

Despite the increase, David Bob, Jeff State’s director of community and media relations, said he still thinks two-year colleges are a good value.

“I think it’s the best value, actually,” Bobo said. “Certainly, at Jeff State we put our students first, so we don’t like to tell a student, ‘you’re going to have to pay more.’

“But tuition hasn’t been raised in about five years, and we’ve had so many budget cuts with proration. You want to maintain the quality of education. Something’s gotta give.”

The rate will increase to $90 per credit hour for fall semester 2010, and an annual $2 per credit hour increase was authorized for fall 2011 and beyond.

“It’s the worst of times and the best of times,” Interim Chancellor Joan Davis said. “On the one hand, we have record enrollment throughout the system. On the other hand, that record enrollment is straining already tight budgets and resources at our colleges.”