California public university and community college students will pay higher fees and receive less financial help under Gov. Schwarzenegger's proposed budget released Friday.

Students attending the University of California and California State University systems will pay 10 percent more - consistent with what Schwarzenegger pledged in his State of the State address Tuesday.

UC tuition will rise to $5,482 from $4,984 this year. Cal State tuition will rise to $2,251 per year from $2,046.

Graduate tuition will jump 40 percent, to $7,307 from $5,219 per year at a UC, and to $3,158 from $2,256 per year at Cal State.

Some Inland educators said they were concerned about what the higher fees will mean for the state's future ability to educate its residents.

"How are you going to improve the state's economy by reducing the number of people who go to college?" Cal State San Bernardino President Al Karnig said. "He wants to bring in very valuable jobs? Who is going to work at those jobs?"

Community college students will face a 44 percent increase, to $26 per unit from $18.

Riverside Community College President Salvatore Rotella said it was important for families to keep the increase in perspective.

He said California residents pay the lowest community college fees in the nation.

"The big picture doesn't look bad," Rotella said. "It means moving more toward asking the students to bear more of the burden. We're getting away from the concept of a free education."

Students see pain
Some students said the higher fees would hurt.

"I realize we need to get the economy strengthened, but a fee increase makes it harder for people to accomplish their goals," said Maria Flores, a 20-year-old at Riverside Community College. "I know of at least three people who couldn't come to school this year because they can't afford it."

Angela Rocha, 23, works part time to put herself through school. The aspiring nurse said even a small increase in fees hurts.

"Sometimes I barely have money for my books," she said. "But I think most students will be OK with this and adjust to it after the initial shock."

UC Riverside junior Dina Biedermann, 30, said she wasn't thrilled about the fee increases but believes she has to accept them.

"It's going to hurt, of course," said Biedermann, a psychology/law and order major. "No one likes it, but I think Arnold's doing what he can. I don't really see any other way out."

State Education Secretary Richard Riordan said increases in fees for universities and community colleges shouldn't keep students out.

"No child is going to be refused entrance into a community college, state college or the University of California because they can't afford the fees," Riordan said during a news conference in Sacramento.

Changes in aid
Aides said students who want to attend college have a variety of financial assistance programs available, including grants, scholarships and loans.

But the governor's plan calls for less in financial aid for some students. While overall funding for the Cal Grant program, which offers no-strings college money to students, won't be cut, there would be new limitations.

For instance, grants for students at private colleges and universities would be capped at $5,482 a year instead of $9,708.

In addition, the maximum income a grant recipient's family could have would drop 10 percent. The proposal would not affect those who received grants before the current school year.

But there would be some new forms of aid.

State Finance Director Donna Arduin said during Friday's news conference that students who start at a community college will get free tuition when they want to transfer to a UC or Cal State.

At UCR, a committee is studying how the campus' selection criteria might change next fall. Schwarzenegger's plan calls for a 10 percent cut in UC enrollment, which would mean fewer students at UCR.

"That's a real change from our upward slope," UCR Chancellor France Cordova said Friday.

She has scheduled a series of forums this month to discuss the budget and what it means for UCR.