The Radford University Board of Visitors has approved a $163 million operating budget for the fiscal year that begins Tuesday.

The largest in Radford's history, it's a 4.9 percent increase from the current year's budget. State funding accounts for 37 percent of the budget. Tuition and student fees will cover 52 percent. The balance will come from the federal government and miscellaneous sources.

More than $1.6 million of the $7.6 million increase will go to new graduate programs. The athletics budget is set to increase $1.7 million. Dining service costs will rise $2.1 million. The amount spent on instruction is budgeted to increase by $3.1 million. Student financial aid is budgeted to increase by $739,972.

Donna VanCleave, vice president for finance and administration, presented the budget to the board at a meeting Wednesday at Hotel Roanoke. She compared Radford's tuition, fees and room and board with other Virginia public colleges and declared Radford a bargain. The university is 13th out of 15 Virginia public four-year colleges, with a total in-state undergraduate cost of $13,252. William and Mary tops the list at $18,276. Virginia Tech's total is $13,674.

In-state students at Radford will pay 4.6 percent more next year than in the current year. Virginia Tech had the highest percentage increase in the state at 9.4 percent. The University of Virginia's College at Wise had the smallest percentage increase, 2.8 percent.

Radford President Penelope Kyle pointed out the difference between the cost of an academic year at Radford and a year at Longwood University -- $2,103.

"Is that a premium you would pay?" she asked.

Board member Mary Ann Hovis responded, "To go to Longwood?"

The board also authorized the administration to take advantage of a state program that allows universities some freedom from state oversight in certain areas, something the General Assembly approved in 2005. Theoretically, that will allow for more efficiency. Radford -- along with Old Dominion University, James Madison University and George Mason University -- plans to ask for state approval for more independence in managing its information technology and procurement programs.

"These will be the two areas where we will ask for more freedom," Kyle said.

Just avoiding fees paid to the state should save $30,000 annually, she said.