PORTLAND, Maine (AP)   More than 4,000 Maine students are attending the state’s public universities without paying tuition or fees.

Chancellor James Page and the presidents of Maine’s public universities say that nearly a quarter of roughly 16,000 Maine undergraduates are currently attending free of tuition and fee expense.

The Monday announcement comes after the University of Maine System in March said it’s facing a $3 million budget shortfall. That’s despite a tuition increase and an increase in state funding.

In-state tuition rates at University of Maine universities vary from nearly $7,000 to $8,700. Fees range from $850 to $2,380.

Meanwhile, students also face room and board rates between $8,000 and $10,000.

Maine public universities say they awarded 24,000 students with an average financial aid award of nearly $12,000 last year.