Tuition rates for out-of-state students could soon change due to a new budget passed by the Vermont House of Representatives.

In March, the House passed a budget that would remove “the 40 percent rule” completely.

The 40 percent rule is a nickname given to a law created in 1959 that sets the in-state tuition rate at 40 percent of tuition for out-of-state students, according to a March 22 Cynic article.

The price of tuition for in-state students is currently $14,664 while out-of-state tuition is $37,056, according to UVM’s website.

UVM is ranked as the fourth most expensive public university for out-of-state students, according to a Feb. 10 Cynic article.

Vermont was also ranked No. 49 for public state funding, according to the article.

The Senate proposed a three-year suspension of the rule, during which the effects of removal would be evaluated, said Wendy Koenig, director of federal and state relations.

The decision would be re- visited after three years, Koenig said.

“I know a lot of out-of-state students that got screwed with the amount they have to pay to be here,” first-year Kim Henry said. “And as an out-of-state student it would be really cool if I could pay less, but I also don’t want in-state students to have to pay more, either.”

In-state first-year Corey Pet- tengill supported the idea of the rule being removed.

“As long as no one ends up paying more for college than they would have before I don’t think it’s an issue,” Pettengill said.

In-state first-year Michaela Eckler agreed.

“If they’re planning to lower out-of-state tuition by getting rid of the rule then that’s great,”

Eckler said. “As long as in-state isn’t raised.”

The University has no intention of raising in-state tuition as a result of repealing this rule, Richard Cate, vice president for finance and treasurer of UVM said in a Feb. 10 Cynic article.

President Thomas Sullivan asked the Vermont Senate com- mittee to remove the 40 percent rule in February, according to the article.

Sullivan said out-of-state tuition would be lowered if the rule was removed, according to the article.

The University will worry about making plans for the removal of the rule once the bill has been approved by the state legislature, Koenig said.

The bill is under review by a conference committee to settle differences between Senate and House drafts, she said.

The combined draft of the bill will be voted on May 4.