BURLINGTON, Vt. (AP) – University of Vermont officials are considering a tuition increase that could have out-of-state students paying more than $30,000 a year to attend.

The college has proposed raising tuition, fees and room and board by more than 5 percent for out-of-state students. That would make out-of-state tuition $30,900 – an increase of about $1,500 over this year’s tuition.

Tuition for in-state students would rise 5.7 percent, to around $17,250 – an increase of $900.

UVM officials said the school is also increasing financial aid by about 11 percent.

“We want people to look beyond the sticker price to what we are able to offer students with needs, which is why we are putting more and more into financial aid,” said UVM President Dan Fogel. “But I think concern about sticker shock is a real concern and that’s why we’re keeping increases in single digits where others are getting into double digits.”

UVM trustees are due to meet in May to consider the proposal.

AP-ES-03-25-04 1926EST