It's going to cost more to be a Husky.

UConn approved a tuition hike Wednesday, meaning students will pay 23% more over the next five years. It will begin with a $608 tuition increase next fall.

UConn trustees say it's necessary because employee pension costs are rising and state funding is dropping.

At the main campus in Storrs, an in-state student who lives in the dorms will pay more than $30,000 a year next fall. By 2024, the number jumps to more than $33,000.

On top of the pension costs, the school is also paying $13 million to rejoin the Big East and offering free tuition to low-income students.

"I feel like the reason they put this up is because for us to literally pay for their tuition," says Jacqueline Torres, a freshman at the UConn Stamford campus.

UConn’s president says the free tuition program had no impact on the decision.

Some state lawmakers say UConn simply needs to get better at managing its own money.