Students at the University of North Texas will see their tuition go up by more than $16 per semester credit hour twice over the next two years.

The Board of Regents approved tuition increases for the 2008-09 and 2009-10 school years during Thursday's board meeting at the UNT Dallas campus.

Tuition will increase by $16.42 per credit hour in 2008-09, or $246.30 total for a student taking 15 hours. In 2009-10, tuition will rise by $17.75 per credit hour.

UNT's last tuition increase was in 2007, when the cost of a semester hour rose by $4.

Officials said the increases would help keep UNT below the state average for tuition costs among comparable universities and would help pay for initiatives in UNT's strategic plan.

Those initiatives include boosting the university's research profile and enhancing its reputation.

Regent Charles Mitchell expressed concern about how the tuition increases might affect minorities and other students who generally are less able to afford higher education.

But UNT officials said the university would increase its funding of scholarships and grants for such students.

The 2008-09 tuition increase will generate about $20 million for the university, UNT spokeswoman Kelley Reese said. That money will go toward student assistance, faculty retention and hiring, and other needs.

The Student Union fee will increase by $1 for the 2008-09 and 2009-10 school years. Officials rejected all other proposed fee increases, UNT President Gretchen Bataille said.