One way to lessen the effect of dramatic budget cuts on students (fewer classes, fewer enrollments) would be to raise tuition above the 7% planned increase. But the question then becomes: how would a larger tuition increase affect the out-of-pocket costs that students must pay? Our Office of Planning and Budgeting has put together an analysis of the effect of a 14% tuition increase ($875 per year) on the net costs paid by students.
Because of increased financial aid and increased federal tax credits, students with a family income below $160,000 would see no increase in net costs. You can find a chart on the issue here.