ABERDEEN, S.D.(KELO)- The South Dakota Board of Regents approved a 2.9-percent tuition rate hike Thursday…after five consecutive years of holding tuition steady.

Regents’ Executive Director Nathan Lukkes says it’s a delicate balance between affordability and maintaining quality programs for students.

Regents President Tim Rave says South Dakota’s public universities are still among the most affordable in the nation.