The report from the New England Board of Higher Education says that only Connecticut's in-state rates were lower among the six states.

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) _ A new report from the New England Board of Higher Education says Maine's public four-year universities have the second-lowest in-state tuition and fee rates in New England.

The board's report looks at tuition and fee rates at New England public college and universities from the 2007-08 to the current school year.

The report says Maine's four-year schools charge an average of $8,725 a year for in-state tuition and fees. Only Connecticut's in-state rates were lower among the six states.

Maine's community colleges have the lowest average rates among two-year schools in the region, coming in at $3,287 this year.

In-state rates at Maine's four-year universities have risen 29 percent in the past five years, while the two-year schools have seen in-state rates go up only 7 percent.