by our College Data Analytics TeamWill you go to Clemson for free thanks to the G.I. Bill®? The answer depends on the school — benefits are capped and the details vary, so it pays to do your research.
The table below compares the guaranteed Post-9/11 tuition benefit to the cost of attending Clemson. Living-expense and book benefits are addressed in their own sections below.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Veteran tuition & fees | $15,554 |
| Guaranteed Post-9/11 tuition benefit | $15,554 |
| Tuition out of pocket | $0 |
For public schools, the Post-9/11 GI Bill® covers the full in-state tuition and fees, so eligible veterans typically owe nothing toward tuition at Clemson.
Clemson University is a Yellow Ribbon school: the institution and the VA jointly fund tuition that exceeds the GI Bill® cap. Roughly 1 students used Yellow Ribbon benefits here in the latest reporting year.
Available Yellow Ribbon seats and maximum contributions differ by program and degree level — check with the veteran services office for current limits.
Active-duty service members using DoD Tuition Assistance are capped at $250 per credit hour. The chart below shows whether the per-credit charge at Clemson falls under that cap.
| Residency | Per-credit charge | Below $250 cap? |
|---|---|---|
| In-state | $239 |  |
| Out-of-state | $239 | |
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 Clemson.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Estimated living expenses (room & board, academic year) | $12,872 |
| Post-9/11 monthly housing allowance (MHA) | $2,007/mo |
| Housing benefit (academic year, ~8 months) | $16,056 |
| Estimated surplus in your pocket | $3,184 |
For most full-time students the housing allowance covers the cost of living off campus, with money left over. The MHA is based on the school’s ZIP code and is paid at the full-time rate for resident students.
Eligible veterans receive up to $1,000 a year for books and supplies; Clemson estimates these costs at about $1,436, leaving about $436 out of pocket.
These figures show the GI Bill® and DoD Tuition Assistance dollars veterans and service members actually used at Clemson.
Approximately 614 veterans received Post-9/11 GI Bill® tuition payments of $7,676,900.
| Benefit | Recipients | Total disbursed | Average / recipient |
|---|---|---|---|
| GI Bill® (all students) | 507 | $7,725,036 | $15,237 |
| GI Bill® — undergraduate | 438 | $6,786,137 | — |
| GI Bill® — graduate | 69 | $938,899 | — |
| DoD Tuition Assistance (all) | 75 | $293,315 | $3,911 |
| DoD TA — undergraduate | 40 | $136,584 | — |
| DoD TA — graduate | 35 | $156,731 | — |
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.