From Sunday's Hattiesburg American, http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/article/20100110/NEWS01/1100335/1001/NEWS/University-tuition-may-go-up:

University presidents are calculating tuition hikes they say are necessary to offset large-scale cuts they face because of the budget crisis. The state College Board will decide final amounts in the coming weeks.

Leaders say increases could range from 5 percent to almost 10 percent for the coming year.

In a recent meeting with The Clarion-Ledger editorial board, University of Southern Mississippi President Martha Saunders said USM likely will ask for a 7 percent increase for next fall, 7 percent in fall 2011 and 5 percent in fall 2012.

Jackson State University President Ronald Mason said he could request up to a 9-percent increase for the coming year.

"Not that that will fill the hole, but it will make it at least somewhat more bearable," he said.

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Why not ask for 10% each of the 3 years?  USM is in desperate need of money.  A 10% increase is not that much money; tuition at USM is still a bargain.  More to the point: how many USM students actually pay their tuition out of their own (or their parents') pocket?  I imagine the vast majority pay tuition by scholarships, grants, and/or loans.  These students will probably get the increases covered, so why leave money on the table?  This is not a time for marketing games - no students wanting to go to MSU or Ole Miss will come to USM just because we are 1% cheaper.  As the JSU President said, we need to make it "more bearable."  A 10% increase each year will help cover increases in fixed costs, and may well save some jobs.