Virginia Tech today became the latest state university to become more expensive to attend this fall, hiking tuition and fees about 10.8 percent for in-state undergraduates.

Out-of-state students will pay 5.3 percent more in tuition and fees, according to the rates approved today by Tech's Board of Visitors.

The increases mean in-state undergraduates will pay $8,198 annually, while non-Virginia undergraduates will pay $20,825.

The rate hike comes one week after the University of Virginia increased its tuition and fees by 9.4 percent for in-state undergraduate students and 6.7 percent for non-Virginians.

James Madison University also increased its tuition rate last week -- 4.5 percent for in-state undergraduates and 6 percent for out-of-state undergraduates.

Radford University bumped up its costs last month, 4 percent for in-state undergraduates and 6 percent for out-of-state undergraduates.

College officials said the rate hikes were necessary to offset a cut in funding from the state. The General Assembly slashed funding this year to help make up for a budget shortfall.

-- Rex Bowman