DUNMORE — Penn State trustees approved a $4.3 billion budget and a tuition increase of 2.9 percent for in-state students.

The vote came during the board's meeting at the Worthington Scranton campus today. It's to be followed by a news conference, which is likely to focus on the child sex abuse scandal the Freeh report that was just released Thursday.

State funding was flat for the 2012-13 year, following a 20 percent cut in the last fiscal year.

"Although there are signs the economy is still improving, the recovery is still fragile," President Rodney Erickson said.

Along with 2.9 percent for in-state students at University Park, out-of-state students will pay another 2.4 percent. All students at the commonwealth campuses will pay 1.9 percent more in the upcoming year.

Freshmen and sophomores who are Pennsylvania residents will pay $15,562 for 2012-2013. In-state juniors and seniors in most majors will pay $16,826, with other majors paying more.

Erickson said Penn State's tuition increase was among the lowest, along with a 2.8 percent increase at the University of Michigan.

State funding for the agricultural research and cooperative extension was also flat this year, following a $10.5 million cut last fiscal year.

"Stable funding from the state included in the 2012-132 appropriation will still require additional program reductions in these two line items to free up the necessary funds for inflationary increases for salaries, benefits and various programs," Erickson said.

Erickson said $28 million in targeted expense cuts are part of the budget. The budget does include "modest" salary increases for staff.

University staff saw pay freezes in 2009-10 and 2011-12 and 1 percent increases in January 2012.