The state Board of Regents’ 3.5 percent tuition hike is a fair one. The increase — touted as the smallest in 14 years — looks to be based on inflation and not special interests or pet projects that demand more out of students’ pocketbooks for less services.

Actual costs to students after the increase are minimal. It’s estimated that undergraduate in-state students will only have to cough up about $92 more per year. It’s not ideal, but it could be worse.

The hike even has the approval of Government of the Student Body president.

“Basically, this is very fair,” GSB President Dan Mangan said. “We are pleased they made a recommendation so low.”

Mangan correctly called the low increase a “victory for students.”

Hopefully the hike is a signal that the Regents may understand that Iowa State, Iowa and Northern Iowa students alone cannot absorb the increasing cost of higher education.

Rapidly rising post-high school education costs, as the Regents hopefully realize, is an issue all Iowans must address. The American marketplace requires that those entering have basic skills learned only through continuing education.

If students don’t have access to the resources needed to obtain those skills, ultimately, everyone suffers.