In five years, undergraduate tuition at Penn State has risen from about $10,000 a year to $14,412 a year.

Penn State senior Marcus Melvin told WJAC-TV that the tuition spike and increased demand for scholarships is challenging for working students.

“I don’t have much support from my family financially, so I’m actually going to the library to use their books, I can’t afford to buy them myself,” said Melvin. “It’s a lot of extra stuff I have to do, just to make it by.”

The group of protesting students marched with signs, a drummer and a bullhorn several blocks, through the Hetzel Union Building and onto the steps of Old Main shortly after noon.

Nigeria native Cunde Oduwaiya told WJAC-TV that several of her friends were forced to drop out after repeated tuition hikes since 2008.

"Penn State continues to increase tuition every single year,” said Oduwaiya. “We cannot afford it, and therefore, I'd rather miss a day of class than an entire semester."

Gov. Tom Corbett is expected to release information on state appropriations to university in early March, Penn State officials will likely set the 2011-2012 tuition in July.

University Park Undergraduate Association president Christian Ragland said that the ongoing education funding cuts are disheartening to students that work part-time jobs to help pay for tuition.

"We're the future of the nation, so they have to support our education. How can we lift the community, the society and the country if the investment is not there with us,” said Ragland. “We're not naive to think we want all the money, but at least show us the sign that our higher education is worth the investment."