Students attending Penn State University's main campus could see a 9.8 percent increase in their base tuition if deep cuts proposed by Gov. Ed Rendell stand, officials said this morning.

In an unusual move, Penn State's board of trustees this afternoon approved two price scenarios for the 2009-10 academic year, but delayed implementing either for one week as the state tries to hammer out a budget agreement for the commonwealth.

Under the more severe scenario, freshman and sophomore Pennsylvanians at University Park would see a 9.8 percent, or $1,280, increase for the upcoming school year, while out-of-state freshmen and sophomores at that campus would see a 7.9 percent or $1,920 increase per year. Under this scenario, Pennsylvania freshmen and sophomores attending commonwealth campuses would see a 4.9 percent increase. The tuition rates vary by campus.

Under a less severe scenario, the increase on the base rate at University Park for in-state freshmen and sophomores would be 4.5 percent, or $590 a year.

Out-of-state freshmen and sophomores at University Park would see a base rate increase of 3.7 percent, or $886, per year.

At commonwealth campuses, Pennsylvania freshmen and sophomores would see an increase of 3.9 percent per year.

Other students pay varying rates depending on their class year and course of study.

In a presentation to the board, which met today at the New Kensington PSU branch, university President Graham Spanier called this year's budget challenges "unprecedented" and said, "Even under the better-case scenario, it continues to shift the cost burden to students and their families."

Penn State is bracing for cuts that could equal nearly $61 million.

This spring, Penn State expected that federal stimulus money would enable the school to offset a 6 percent cut in its appropriation for 2009-10.

But last month Mr. Rendell proposed a 13 percent cut below the current funding level. Mr. Rendell also proposed that Penn State and other state-related universities be excluded from receiving federal stimulus money.