by our College Data Analytics TeamWondering what the G.I. Bill® actually covers at CLU? GI Bill® benefits are limited and differ by school, so the specifics matter.
Below is the gap between the Post-9/11 tuition benefit and the cost at CLU. See the living-expense and book sections below for those benefits.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Veteran tuition & fees | $50,670 |
| Guaranteed Post-9/11 tuition benefit | $20,235 |
| Tuition out of pocket | $30,435 |
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 CLU.
California Lutheran 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 19 students received Yellow Ribbon awards at this school.
Seat counts and matching amounts change by program each year; verify the details with the schools military and veteran services team.
For active-duty students, Tuition Assistance covers up to $250 per credit hour — the indicators below show whether CLU is below that cap.
| Residency | Per-credit charge | Below $250 cap? |
|---|---|---|
| In-state | $810 |  |
| Out-of-state | $810 | |
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 CLU.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Estimated living expenses (room & board, academic year) | $19,431 |
| Post-9/11 monthly housing allowance (MHA) | $3,657/mo |
| Housing benefit (academic year, ~8 months) | $29,256 |
| Estimated surplus in your pocket | $9,825 |
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; CLU estimates these costs at about $936, so the stipend covers them in full.
Beyond the coverage math above, this is how much veteran education-benefit money actually flows to CLU.
Approximately 72 Post-9/11 recipients used tuition benefits worth $847,866.
| Benefit | Recipients | Total disbursed | Average / recipient |
|---|---|---|---|
| GI Bill® (all students) | 54 | $1,043,052 | $19,316 |
| GI Bill® — undergraduate | 38 | $791,969 | — |
| GI Bill® — graduate | 16 | $251,083 | — |
GI Bill® dollars are paid on the veterans behalf, while DoD Tuition Assistance supports active-duty service 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.