by our College Data Analytics TeamWondering what the G.I. Bill® actually covers at Caltech? Coverage is not unlimited and varies school to school, so the fine print is worth checking.
Here is how the Post-9/11 GI Bill® tuition benefit stacks up against the published cost of attending Caltech. Housing and book benefits are covered separately below.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Veteran tuition & fees | $63,255 |
| Guaranteed Post-9/11 tuition benefit | $20,235 |
| Tuition out of pocket | $43,020 |
The Post-9/11 GI Bill® limits the annual tuition benefit to roughly $20,235, so tuition beyond that is out of pocket (or covered by Yellow Ribbon) at Caltech.
Through the Yellow Ribbon Program, California Institute of Technology and the VA share the cost of tuition above the Post-9/11 cap. About 2 Yellow Ribbon recipients were reported 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.
On top of tuition, the Post-9/11 GI Bill® provides a Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA) for the months you are in school. Below, the academic-year housing benefit is set against the estimated living costs at Caltech.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Estimated living expenses (room & board, academic year) | $19,431 |
| Post-9/11 monthly housing allowance (MHA) | $3,864/mo |
| Housing benefit (academic year, ~8 months) | $30,912 |
| Estimated surplus in your pocket | $11,481 |
At this school the academic-year housing benefit exceeds typical living costs, so most full-time students come out ahead. Your actual MHA depends on your rate of pursuit and the school’s location.
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 Caltech run about $1,428, leaving about $428 out of pocket.
Beyond the coverage math above, this is how much veteran education-benefit money actually flows to Caltech.
Roughly 3 veterans received Post-9/11 GI Bill® tuition payments of $52,334.
| Benefit | Recipients | Total disbursed | Average / recipient |
|---|---|---|---|
| GI Bill® (all students) | 4 | $31,620 | $7,905 |
| GI Bill® — undergraduate | 4 | $31,620 | — |
| GI Bill® — graduate | 0 | $0 | — |
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.