With no limits in place, another community college fee hike likely - Matt Krupnick. Mercury News

With the state budget hole headed toward new depths next year, community college students likely will pay more than ever for their classes. Although the 2010 state budget is still months away from adoption, college and state leaders have begun discussing the new fees. Many say there’s little chance students will avoid paying more. “We’re definitely going to include it as an option for the Legislature,” said Paul Steenhausen of the nonpartisan Legislative Analyst’s Office. “We’ve got some really tough years coming up, and the Legislature will have some difficult choices to make.” Among those choices will be whether to further cut the budget for the two-year schools and make up some of the difference by charging students more than the $26 per unit they pay now. Such a rate, which matches the historical high but is well below fees in any other state, would amount to $780 per year for the standard full-time student.