by our College Data Analytics TeamHow much of the cost at BVU will the G.I. Bill® cover? Coverage is not unlimited and varies school to school, so the fine print is worth checking.
The table below compares the guaranteed Post-9/11 tuition benefit to the cost of attending BVU. Housing and book benefits are covered separately below.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Veteran tuition & fees | $40,190 |
| Guaranteed Post-9/11 tuition benefit | $20,235 |
| Tuition out of pocket | $19,955 |
The Post-9/11 GI Bill® caps the annual tuition benefit (about $20,235), so the tuition above that is a gap veterans must cover through Yellow Ribbon, savings, or other aid at BVU.
Buena Vista University participates in the Yellow Ribbon Program, which can cover tuition and fees beyond the Post-9/11 GI Bill® cap through matching funds from the school and the VA. In the most recent year, about 5 students received Yellow Ribbon awards at this school.
The exact number of seats and the maximum contribution vary by degree level and program, so confirm the current limits with the schools veteran services office.
DoD Tuition Assistance pays up to $250 per credit hour for active-duty students; here is how the per-credit charge at BVU compares.
| Residency | Per-credit charge | Below $250 cap? |
|---|---|---|
| In-state | $0 |  |
| Out-of-state | $0 | |
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 BVU.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Estimated living expenses (room & board, academic year) | $8,913 |
| Post-9/11 monthly housing allowance (MHA) | $1,464/mo |
| Housing benefit (academic year, ~8 months) | $11,712 |
| Estimated surplus in your pocket | $2,799 |
The benefit generally more than covers off-campus living costs here. MHA amounts reflect the local housing rate for the school’s area.
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 BVU run about $1,132, leaving about $132 out of pocket.
Beyond the coverage math above, this is how much veteran education-benefit money actually flows to BVU.
Approximately 21 veterans received Post-9/11 GI Bill® tuition payments of $321,797.
| Benefit | Recipients | Total disbursed | Average / recipient |
|---|---|---|---|
| GI Bill® (all students) | 20 | $241,278 | $12,064 |
| GI Bill® — undergraduate | 17 | $209,703 | — |
| GI Bill® — graduate | 3 | $31,575 | — |
| DoD Tuition Assistance (all) | 4 | $10,750 | $2,688 |
| DoD TA — undergraduate | 3 | $9,250 | — |
| DoD TA — graduate | 1 | $1,500 | — |
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.