by our College Data Analytics TeamWill you go to CUA for free thanks to the G.I. Bill®? 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 CUA. Living-expense and book benefits are addressed in their own sections below.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Veteran tuition & fees | $55,834 |
| Guaranteed Post-9/11 tuition benefit | $20,235 |
| Tuition out of pocket | $35,599 |
Because the Post-9/11 tuition benefit is capped near $20,235 per year, tuition above the cap is the veterans responsibility at CUA.
Through the Yellow Ribbon Program, The Catholic University of America and the VA share the cost of tuition above the Post-9/11 cap. Roughly 67 students used Yellow Ribbon benefits here in the latest reporting year.
Seat counts and matching amounts change by program each year; verify the details with the schools military and veteran services team.
DoD Tuition Assistance pays up to $250 per credit hour for active-duty students; here is how the per-credit charge at CUA compares.
| Residency | Per-credit charge | Below $250 cap? |
|---|---|---|
| In-state | $834 |  |
| Out-of-state | $834 | |
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 CUA.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Estimated living expenses (room & board, academic year) | $17,370 |
| Post-9/11 monthly housing allowance (MHA) | $3,075/mo |
| Housing benefit (academic year, ~8 months) | $24,600 |
| Estimated surplus in your pocket | $7,230 |
At this school the academic-year housing benefit exceeds typical living costs, so most full-time students come out ahead. MHA amounts reflect the local housing rate for the school’s area.
With a Post-9/11 book stipend of up to $1,000 per year, the estimated $1,180 in supply costs at CUA, leaving about $180 out of pocket.
These figures show the GI Bill® and DoD Tuition Assistance dollars veterans and service members actually used at CUA.
Roughly 99 students drew Post-9/11 GI Bill® tuition benefits totaling $2,076,490.
| Benefit | Recipients | Total disbursed | Average / recipient |
|---|---|---|---|
| GI Bill® (all students) | 91 | $2,554,914 | $28,076 |
| GI Bill® — undergraduate | 52 | $1,700,788 | — |
| GI Bill® — graduate | 39 | $854,126 | — |
| DoD Tuition Assistance (all) | 1 | $1,430 | $1,430 |
| DoD TA — undergraduate | 0 | $0 | — |
| DoD TA — graduate | 1 | $1,430 | — |
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.