by our College Data Analytics TeamWill you go to University of Arizona for free thanks to the G.I. Bill®? The answer depends on the school — benefits are capped and the details vary, so it pays to do your research.
The table below compares the guaranteed Post-9/11 tuition benefit to the cost of attending University of Arizona. See the living-expense and book sections below for those benefits.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Veteran tuition & fees | $13,626 |
| Guaranteed Post-9/11 tuition benefit | $13,626 |
| Tuition out of pocket | $0 |
At public institutions the Post-9/11 GI Bill® pays in-state tuition and fees in full, meaning most eligible veterans pay no tuition at University of Arizona.
Through the Yellow Ribbon Program, University of Arizona and the VA share the cost of tuition above the Post-9/11 cap. In the most recent year, about 21 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 University of Arizona falls under that cap.
| Residency | Per-credit charge | Below $250 cap? |
|---|---|---|
| In-state | $65 |  |
| Out-of-state | $65 | |
The Post-9/11 GI Bill® also covers housing through a Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA). Below, the academic-year housing benefit is set against the estimated living costs at University of Arizona.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Estimated living expenses (room & board, academic year) | $12,000 |
| Post-9/11 monthly housing allowance (MHA) | $2,019/mo |
| Housing benefit (academic year, ~8 months) | $16,152 |
| Estimated surplus in your pocket | $4,152 |
The benefit generally more than covers off-campus living costs here. 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 University of Arizona run about $800, so the stipend covers them in full.
Beyond the coverage math above, this is how much veteran education-benefit money actually flows to University of Arizona.
In the latest reporting year, about 1,702 students drew Post-9/11 GI Bill® tuition benefits totaling $16,086,651.
| Benefit | Recipients | Total disbursed | Average / recipient |
|---|---|---|---|
| GI Bill® (all students) | 1,535 | $16,296,723 | $10,617 |
| GI Bill® — undergraduate | 1,264 | $12,391,407 | — |
| GI Bill® — graduate | 271 | $3,905,316 | — |
| DoD Tuition Assistance (all) | 1,146 | $2,928,654 | $2,556 |
| DoD TA — undergraduate | 1,085 | $2,769,663 | — |
| DoD TA — graduate | 61 | $158,991 | — |
These are federal education benefits — the Post-9/11 GI Bill® for veterans and DoD Tuition Assistance for active-duty 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.