Students could face a $500 tuition increase this year if regents and the three university presidents decide to reach their goal of getting university tuition to rank at the top of the bottom one-third of other senior universities.

According to data compiled by the Arizona Board of Regents, the UA is exactly $497 away from the top of the bottom one-third, or the 34th spot on the tuition roster.

This increase would come on the heels of last year's record setting $1,000 tuition increase for resident undergraduates.

The Arizona Board of Regents will decide in March whether reaching the top of the bottom one-third among nation-wide tuition rates is something that should be accomplished this year or if the increase should be dispersed over time.

Karen Bender, a pre-med freshman, said spreading the tuition increase over time would be better.

"I think it would be hard for people who plan ahead for college," Bender said. "An unexpected increase would be hard."

President Peter Likins would not say if he would ask for a $500 tuition increase this year, but he said when it comes time to issue a proposal, he will ask for what he thinks is best for the university.

Ultimately though, the regents make the decision, he said.

"Ever since I've been here I've made more aggressive recommendations than the regents have accepted," Likins said, adding that he is not counting on getting to the top of the bottom third in one year.

Student lobbyists, university presidents and regents who are involved in the tuition-setting process will not decide on the exact amount they think tuition should be raised until the spring semester.

But Likins says the goal of reaching the top of the

bottom third is not in dispute.

"Nobody's going to disagree that we need to get there," Likins said. "The way to think about it is not about the money, but how long it takes to get there."

Erin Sisemore, a mathematics junior, said she thinks another large tuition increase could be hard on students.

"It would probably be easier for students if the increase was gradual," Sisemore said.

Regent Gary Stuart, who last year made the motion to approve the $1,000 tuition increase, said tuition will go up although he is unsure by how much.

"Yes it will go up. It has to go up. If it doesn't go up we will sink," he said. "I will have an opinion when the data is presented to the regents."

In January the regents will hold a statewide, televised tuition hearing for students to voice their opinions on how much to raise tuition and how much financial aid to allocate.

After the tuition hearings, the university presidents have 10 days to make their tuition recommendations for the following year.

The student lobbyists have 10 days after the presidents' proposals to make their tuition recommendations.

Stuart said he can already say one thing for sure; the amount of money set aside for financial aid is important for him.

"The key for me is, it's not about tuition, it's about financial aid," he said.

Likins said if his tuition recommendation is aggressive, his recommendation for a financial aid increase will also be aggressive.

Matt Ackel, undeclared freshman, thinks financial aid is also important.

"If it'll allow more students to get financial aid, that's a good reason to raise tuition," Ackel said.

If the tuition increase is supposed to make the universities financially competitive, Sisemore said she thinks the students should do their part to help make the universities academically competitive.

In particular, she said, those students who are receiving financial aid as a result of the increase should work as hard as those who are paying for the increase and contributing to the additional financial aid.

"Students who can't pay should show they are appreciative by getting good grades," Sisemore said.

Students said that even though $500 is a lot, and that many would feel the impacts, the education they receive for the cost is still worth it.

"I don't think it's enough to turn people away," Bender said.

Matt Petersen, a materials engineering sophomore, said he would not change his plans, even with a tuition increase.

"I'm willing to make the sacrifice, pay more, if it'll make the school better," he said.

Stuart said the regents did not view last year's $1,000 tuition increase as an increase in the cost of education.

"Last year we all agreed that tuition should be raised by $1,000, but we agreed on that number not as a cost, but as an investment," Stuart said.

He said that the average college graduate will earn about $1 million more, over the course of a lifetime, than a person without a college degree.