Kent State’s Board of Trustees approved a 3.5 percent tuition increase at its meeting Wednesday afternoon.

The increase amounts to about $327 per academic year and is the maximum percentage the state of Ohio allows a university to raise tuition.

“When you talk about tuition increases…it’s part of the cost of doing business — you have to invest to not necessarily make money, but you have to invest to provide students with what they want,” President Lester Lefton said in a statement following the meeting.

Room and board rates are also set to increase by about four percent.

Check back for more updates on the trustees’ meeting.

Editor’s note: This article has been edited to reflect the correct amount tuition will increase per academic year, starting in the fall.