AUSTIN (February 14, 20130--University of Texas System regents Thursday ordered schools in the UT system to offer students a four-year fixed-rate tuition option by fall 2014.

After a decade of rising costs, Gov. Rick Perry has been pushing universities to offer students fixed-rate tuition plans and the Legislature is considering putting it into state law.

The University of Texas System has nine campuses with about 216,000 students.

The UT-Dallas campus has used a mandatory four-year tuition plan since 2008 and UT-El Paso has had an optional plan since 2006.

The regents Thursday ordered the other seven campuses to offer four-year plans.

Each campus would set the tuition rate.

Supporters say it will encourage students to graduate on time.