By Jessica Mazzola, NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

NEWARK — A group of community college students in the state’s largest city say a proposed tuition increase could force them to stop pursuing a higher education. But, Essex County College officials say an increase may be the only way to continue providing services to students.

Student activists say they are planning a protest during the Essex County College board meeting next week during which trustees are set to vote on a proposed tuition increase. Students who attended a February board meeting when the proposal was discussed say the increase could be as much as 20 percent, raising the cost of attendance for county residents from about $108.50 per credit to $132.50.

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