ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) – The trustees of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system have approved a budget that raises tuition, cuts programs and eliminates positions.

The budget approved Wednesday would raise tuition an average of nearly 4 percent on students in the system’s 25 state colleges. Students at the system’s seven universities will see their tuition go up an average of nearly 5 percent more than this year.

Overall, the system will operate with about $76 million less than it had in the current fiscal year, primarily because of anticipated cuts in state aid.

As a result, the 32 presidents of the colleges and universities are balancing their budgets by closing programs, increasing class sizes, limiting course offerings and delaying equipment purchases.

(© Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)