STATE COLLEGE, Room and board rates at Penn State are going up roughly 4 percent next year to help defray increases in the cost of food, property expenses and other areas.

Trustees approved the rate hike Friday at a meeting at the main University Park campus. The average room and board rate, which would include a standard double room, will rise to $4,370 per semester beginning in the 2011-12 academic year, or $185 more than the current rate.

The school says that will help cover the 4.4 increase in costs. Much of the increase will go toward the maintenance or improvements of residence or dining facilities, most of which are more than 35 years old.

Data from Penn State shows its room and board rate ranks in the middle of the 11 Big Ten institutions.