Central Missouri State University is hiking its tuition by six and a half percent for the next school year. The board of governors says it’s being done because of declining state funding for higher eduction, and because of rising costs of utilities and health-care benefits. Central is the latest state school to announce tuition hikes. The University of Missouri system is increasing tuition by seven and a half percent; Southwest Missouri State and Northwest Missouri State in Maryville have announced hikes of 11 and a half percent.