by our College Data Analytics TeamWondering what the G.I. Bill® actually covers at BLC? GI Bill® benefits are limited and differ by school, so the specifics matter.
Here is how the Post-9/11 GI Bill® tuition benefit stacks up against the published cost of attending BLC. See the living-expense and book sections below for those benefits.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Veteran tuition & fees | $30,010 |
| Guaranteed Post-9/11 tuition benefit | $20,235 |
| Tuition out of pocket | $9,775 |
Because the Post-9/11 tuition benefit is capped near $20,235 per year, tuition above the cap is the veterans responsibility at BLC.
Through the Yellow Ribbon Program, Bethany Lutheran College and the VA share the cost of tuition above the Post-9/11 cap. In the most recent year, about 1 students received Yellow Ribbon awards at this school.
Available Yellow Ribbon seats and maximum contributions differ by program and degree level — check with the veteran services office for current limits.
DoD Tuition Assistance pays up to $250 per credit hour for active-duty students; here is how the per-credit charge at BLC compares.
| Residency | Per-credit charge | Below $250 cap? |
|---|---|---|
| In-state | $790 |  |
| Out-of-state | $790 | |
Beyond tuition, the Post-9/11 GI Bill® pays a Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA) while you are enrolled. The table compares the housing benefit to estimated living expenses at BLC.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Estimated living expenses (room & board, academic year) | $8,270 |
| Post-9/11 monthly housing allowance (MHA) | $1,935/mo |
| Housing benefit (academic year, ~8 months) | $15,480 |
| Estimated surplus in your pocket | $7,210 |
At this school the academic-year housing benefit exceeds typical living costs, so most full-time students come out ahead. The MHA is based on the school’s ZIP code and is paid at the full-time rate for resident students.
The Post-9/11 GI Bill® pays a books-and-supplies stipend of up to $1,000 per year. Estimated book and supply costs at BLC run about $800, so the stipend covers them in full.
This is the real volume of GI Bill® and military tuition benefits paid out at BLC.
Approximately 2 veterans received Post-9/11 GI Bill® tuition payments of $26,656.
| Benefit | Recipients | Total disbursed | Average / recipient |
|---|---|---|---|
| GI Bill® (all students) | 3 | $47,948 | $15,983 |
| GI Bill® — undergraduate | 2 | $38,801 | — |
| GI Bill® — graduate | 1 | $9,147 | — |
GI Bill® dollars are paid on the veterans behalf, while DoD Tuition Assistance supports active-duty service members.
References
More about our data sources and methodologies.
GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government website at benefits.va.gov/gibill.