Students at the University of California and California State University systems upset over this year's double-digit undergraduate fee increases should brace themselves: the regents and trustees of each system will consider next week raising them roughly another 25 percent.

The fees could increase even more this summer as state lawmakers grapple with how to close a $35 billion budget gap.

"The cuts to UC have been particularly painful," said UC spokesman Hanan Eisenman. "Any further cuts to the University of California could force UC toward additional fee increases."

In December, the UC regents approved an 11 percent annual increase for undergraduate fees. The proposed 24 percent increase for the 2003-04 academic year would bump total annual fees to $5,082. The increase would take effect this summer.

CSU trustees approved a 10 percent increase last year. The proposed 25 percent annual increase would raise fees to $1,968 to cope with a proposed budget shortfall of $447 million.

If Gov. Gray Davis' proposed $302 million cuts to the University of California are approved, UC will face a $1 billion shortfall by the 2003-04 academic year. Last year's fee increase as well as the proposed one would cover less than 20 percent of that shortfall.

Already the university has sustained deep cuts in state funding for areas such as research, student services, academic support and outreach to K-12 schools. At the same time, it faces the challenge of accommodating enormous enrollment growth across the nine-campus system.

Nevertheless, the University of California Student Association opposes the proposed fee hikes and says the "sticker shock" might deter some would-be students from applying.

UC students plan to oppose the increase at a rally Wednesday at the UC regents meeting in San Francisco.

"It's going to create a real problem for a lot of students," said association executive director Adam Miller. "California has to really think about what its priorities are and invest in students and invest in education and in the future of California.

"Without a quality educational system and an accessible one as well, California will not be in the position it has been the last 30 years as leader of the nation and leader of the world in economics and technological developments."

At this point, the governor's proposed budget cuts for UC seem to be the best-case scenario. State Assembly Speaker Herb Wesson, D-Los Angeles, has proposed reducing the university's base budget by another $80.5 million. State Senate Republicans have proposed cutting at least another $300 million, while Assembly Republicans have suggested cutting $400 million more than Davis proposes, said Eisenman.

"We've already had to deal with huge cuts and any further cuts would be a serious blow to the university," he said. "There's a lot of uncertainty."

UC Regent Judith Hopkinson said fee increases are unfortunate but necessary. The university's fees would still be below the $6,694 average of four public institutions to which it compares itself: University of Illinois, University of Michigan, State University of New York and the University of Virginia.

"I don't think we have any options," she said.

Both systems set aside one-third of all fee increases for financial aid. At the University of California, students who receive need-based grants have families with annual incomes of $60,000 or less. But the university will try to find a way to help all students should fees increase further, Eisenman said. "Students from all income groups who encounter extraordinary financial difficulty will, during the course of the year, be considered on a case-by-case basis for additional UC grants to offset a portion of the fee increase."

UC AND CSU FEE HIKES

• Universities, with budgets squeezed by state, will vote this summer whether to increase students' costs

• Universities, with budgets squeezed by state, will vote this summer whether to increase students' costs Annual undergraduate fees will have gone up $1,200 if UC's 24 percent increase is approved. With the increase, academic fees for a year would be $5,082.

UC graduate student fees would increase 20 percent to $5,071. Selected professional school student fees would increase as well. Law school fees, for example, would increase 14 percent to $8,230.

CSU undergraduate fees would increase 25 percent to $1,968. Graduate fees would increase 20 percent to $2,082.