by our College Data Analytics TeamWill you go to Big Bend Community College 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 Big Bend Community College. Housing and book benefits are covered separately below.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Veteran tuition & fees | $4,909 |
| Guaranteed Post-9/11 tuition benefit | $4,909 |
| Tuition out of pocket | $0 |
The Post-9/11 GI Bill® tuition benefit is enough to cover the full tuition and fees at Big Bend Community College.
Federal data does not indicate that Big Bend Community College currently participates in the Yellow Ribbon Program. Check directly with the school, since participation can change year to year.
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 Big Bend Community College falls under that cap.
| Residency | Per-credit charge | Below $250 cap? |
|---|---|---|
| In-state | $64 |  |
| Out-of-state | $64 | |
The Post-9/11 GI Bill® also covers housing through a Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA). The table compares the housing benefit to estimated living expenses at Big Bend Community College.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Estimated living expenses (room & board, academic year) | $17,868 |
| Post-9/11 monthly housing allowance (MHA) | $1,902/mo |
| Housing benefit (academic year, ~8 months) | $15,216 |
| Estimated shortfall to cover yourself | $2,652 |
The housing benefit does not fully cover estimated living costs at this school — budget for the gap. 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; Big Bend Community College estimates these costs at about $762, so the stipend covers them in full.
These figures show the GI Bill® and DoD Tuition Assistance dollars veterans and service members actually used at Big Bend Community College.
Roughly 20 Post-9/11 recipients used tuition benefits worth $63,815.
| Benefit | Recipients | Total disbursed | Average / recipient |
|---|---|---|---|
| GI Bill® (all students) | 20 | $77,744 | $3,887 |
| GI Bill® — undergraduate | 20 | $77,744 | — |
| DoD Tuition Assistance (all) | 2 | $5,291 | $2,646 |
| DoD TA — undergraduate | 2 | $5,291 | — |
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.