Lawmakers consider SUNY, CUNY tuition hike

Legislation pushed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo to raise tuition at New York's public universities is heading for votes.

The bill would authorize State University of New York and City University of New York campuses to increase tuition by up to $300 annually for five years.

That could boost annual tuition at SUNY and CUNY to about $6,500 from less than $5,000 now.

The state university centers at Albany, Binghamton, Buffalo and Stony Brook could raise undergraduate tuition for non-residents by up to 10 percent annually for five years.

SUNY has nearly 470,000 students on its 64 campuses.

The bill advancing Friday is meant to even out tuition spikes with small, predictable increases and more aid for some students. It also authorizes $140 million in capital funding.