Topeka ? Kansas University students will pay more for room and board under an increase in student housing and food service that was approved Wednesday by the Kansas Board of Regents.

The room-and-board proposal would increase the yearly rate by $178, from $7,080 to $7,258, which equals 2.5 percent. That increase is for a typical double-occupancy room-and-board contract, and will take effect July 1.

All six state universities were granted increases by the regents.

The increases will range from 1.7 percent at Wichita State to 4 percent at Pittsburg State. Kansas State’s is 3.5 percent; Emporia State, 2.6 percent; and Fort Hays State, 2.4 percent.

Even with the increases, the cost of room and board at the Kansas schools would remain below the $8,194 average for public universities in the Midwest, according to a regents memo.

About 4,800 students live in KU student housing.