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CHAPEL HILL – After a tuition increase announcement, the financial aid office on the UNC campus has stayed busy now that more students can get help or receive more money.

Recently, UNC System President Erskine Bowles approved a 5.2 percent tuition hike for all public universities to help balance the budget. UNC students will see the highest increase for the next two years. Thousands of students turn to financial aid and there may be even more now. With a $750 tuition increase for the next two years, on top of $200 approved earlier this year, Carolina students will see a total increase of $950 this school year.

The higher tuition charges mean that students need more aid. In fact, UNC financial aid administrators had to work over the weekend to increase the financial aid awards of students who qualify.

“I rely on it, one of the reasons I came to Carolina is because I got a lot of financial aid and knowing that I got more money was a good experience for me,” said Britney Smith, a UNC incoming freshman.

Nearly 7,000 undergraduate, graduate and professional students received supplemental grants for the Fall. Another 4,000 are expected to benefit over the next few weeks. For those who don't rely on financial aid, the tuition hike is a burden.

“It's more money coming out of my parents pocket,” said Simone Boney, a UNC incoming freshman.

According to University officials, Carolina dedicated 38-percent of all new tuition collections to be used for increasing need-based financial aid. The other part will go to protecting the academic core. UNC isn't the only school raising the rates as N.C. State University students will see the next biggest increase in tuition with a total of $900 a year.