by our College Data Analytics TeamHow much of the cost at STCC will the G.I. Bill® cover? The answer depends on the school — benefits are capped and the details vary, so it pays to do your research.
Below is the gap between the Post-9/11 tuition benefit and the cost at STCC. Housing and book benefits are covered separately below.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Veteran tuition & fees | $5,520 |
| Guaranteed Post-9/11 tuition benefit | $5,520 |
| Tuition out of pocket | $0 |
Public-college veterans generally have their entire in-state tuition paid by the Post-9/11 GI Bill® at STCC.
Springfield Technical Community College is a Yellow Ribbon school: the institution and the VA jointly fund tuition that exceeds the GI Bill® cap. In the most recent year, about 2 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.
Active-duty service members using DoD Tuition Assistance are capped at $250 per credit hour. The chart below shows whether the per-credit charge at STCC falls under that cap.
| Residency | Per-credit charge | Below $250 cap? |
|---|---|---|
| In-state | $221 |  |
| Out-of-state | $221 | |
Beyond tuition, the Post-9/11 GI Bill® pays a Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA) while you are enrolled. Below, the academic-year housing benefit is set against the estimated living costs at STCC.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Estimated living expenses (room & board, academic year) | $11,070 |
| Post-9/11 monthly housing allowance (MHA) | $2,436/mo |
| Housing benefit (academic year, ~8 months) | $19,488 |
| Estimated surplus in your pocket | $8,418 |
For most full-time students the housing allowance covers the cost of living off campus, with money left over. Your actual MHA depends on your rate of pursuit and the school’s location.
Eligible veterans receive up to $1,000 a year for books and supplies; STCC estimates these costs at about $1,200, leaving about $200 out of pocket.
Beyond the coverage math above, this is how much veteran education-benefit money actually flows to STCC.
Approximately 76 veterans received Post-9/11 GI Bill® tuition payments of $298,947.
| Benefit | Recipients | Total disbursed | Average / recipient |
|---|---|---|---|
| GI Bill® (all students) | 63 | $237,870 | $3,776 |
| GI Bill® — undergraduate | 63 | $237,870 | — |
| DoD Tuition Assistance (all) | 2 | $2,856 | $1,428 |
| DoD TA — undergraduate | 2 | $2,856 | — |
GI Bill® benefits follow the veteran; DoD Tuition Assistance is an active-duty benefit paid while serving.
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.