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COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) -- Students paying for college at South Carolina's 12 traditional four-year schools are facing lower tuition increases.

Only two schools -- South Carolina State University and Coastal Carolina University -- increased tuition for the fall by more than 4 percent. Last year, every school raised tuition by at least 4.5 percent, with several going significantly higher.

Officials at the universities told The State of Columbia that they were helped with the decrease in state money given to the colleges was smaller than expected. Funding decreased by just 5 percent to 8 percent after threats of cuts of up to 25 percent.

State Sen. Hugh Leatherman applauded the lower tuition increases. The Florence Republican sought a building moratorium last year for colleges he thought increased tuition too steeply.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)