CHICAGO (AP) — University of Illinois trustees are expected to freeze in-state tuition rates at the school's three campuses.

Trustees meet in Chicago on Thursday and will to vote on a plan announced last week to freeze tuition for the coming school year at current rates.

President Robert Easter said last week the university wants to make affordability a top priority.

The plan would freeze tuition at $12,036 a year in Urbana-Champaign, $10,584 at the Chicago campus and $9,405 in Springfield. State law guarantees first-year students at public universities their tuition won't increase for four years.

Tuition would increase by 2 percent for non-Illinois residents.

Tuition at universities across the country has increased sharply in recent years.

Trustees are also expected to approve Timothy L. Killeen's hiring as the next university president.

Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

More From WROK 1440 AM / 96.1 FM