by our College Data Analytics TeamWondering what the G.I. Bill® actually covers at CAU? 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 CAU. See the living-expense and book sections below for those benefits.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Veteran tuition & fees | $26,446 |
| Guaranteed Post-9/11 tuition benefit | $20,235 |
| Tuition out of pocket | $6,211 |
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 CAU.
Clark Atlanta University is a Yellow Ribbon school: the institution and the VA jointly fund tuition that exceeds the GI Bill® cap. About 4 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.
DoD Tuition Assistance pays up to $250 per credit hour for active-duty students; here is how the per-credit charge at CAU compares.
| Residency | Per-credit charge | Below $250 cap? |
|---|---|---|
| In-state | $3,182 |  |
| Out-of-state | $3,182 | |
Beyond tuition, the Post-9/11 GI Bill® pays a Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA) while you are enrolled. The table compares the housing benefit to estimated living expenses at CAU.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Estimated living expenses (room & board, academic year) | $12,018 |
| Post-9/11 monthly housing allowance (MHA) | $2,490/mo |
| Housing benefit (academic year, ~8 months) | $19,920 |
| Estimated surplus in your pocket | $7,902 |
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.
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 CAU run about $1,900, leaving about $900 out of pocket.
This is the real volume of GI Bill® and military tuition benefits paid out at CAU.
In the latest reporting year, about 111 veterans received Post-9/11 GI Bill® tuition payments of $1,773,448.
| Benefit | Recipients | Total disbursed | Average / recipient |
|---|---|---|---|
| GI Bill® (all students) | 83 | $836,894 | $10,083 |
| GI Bill® — undergraduate | 69 | $744,017 | — |
| GI Bill® — graduate | 14 | $92,877 | — |
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.