Tuition will increase at State University of New York colleges beginning in January.

Undergraduate students who are New York residents will pay $310 more beginning in January and $310 more in the fall, for an increase to $4,970. Annual increases after that will be based on a cost index for higher education of about 4 percent.

Current tuition is $4,350 and the typical cost of tuition, room and board at a SUNY school is about $15,000 a year for a state resident.

SUNY students who live outside the state will pay $1,130 more in the spring, rising to $2,260 more in the fall semester. That will bring the fall 2009 tuition to $12,870.

The first tuition increases since 2003 don't require approval by the Legislature.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)