(RALEIGH) -- Trustees for UNC-Chapel Hill and N.C. State University both approved tuition hikes last week.  Monday East Carolina University trustees met and are expected to discuss tuition increases.

Universities say the hikes are need to fill gaps in the budget. State House Speaker Tom Tillis said there is some waste among UNC System schools.

"That's why we've asked the Board of Governors and other people to look at it, because that's exactly what we're expecting from them.  They've got to come back and let us know that they really do need more money.  We did estimate some cuts that was difficult, but I think they were able to get though it and now what they have to do is convince us that the money is being well spent," said Tillis.

Tuition hikes ultimately must be approved by the UNC System Board of Governors and by state lawmakers.