by our College Data Analytics TeamWill you go to Holy Cross for free thanks to the G.I. Bill®? GI Bill® benefits are limited and differ by school, so the specifics matter.
The table below compares the guaranteed Post-9/11 tuition benefit to the cost of attending Holy Cross. See the living-expense and book sections below for those benefits.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Veteran tuition & fees | $60,850 |
| Guaranteed Post-9/11 tuition benefit | $20,235 |
| Tuition out of pocket | $40,615 |
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 Holy Cross.
College of the Holy Cross is a Yellow Ribbon school: the institution and the VA jointly fund tuition that exceeds the GI Bill® cap. Roughly 9 students used Yellow Ribbon benefits here in the latest reporting year.
The exact number of seats and the maximum contribution vary by degree level and program, so confirm the current limits with the schools veteran services office.
DoD Tuition Assistance pays up to $250 per credit hour for active-duty students; here is how the per-credit charge at Holy Cross compares.
| Residency | Per-credit charge | Below $250 cap? |
|---|---|---|
| In-state | $850 |  |
| Out-of-state | $850 | |
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 Holy Cross.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Estimated living expenses (room & board, academic year) | $17,750 |
| Post-9/11 monthly housing allowance (MHA) | $2,985/mo |
| Housing benefit (academic year, ~8 months) | $23,880 |
| Estimated surplus in your pocket | $6,130 |
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.
With a Post-9/11 book stipend of up to $1,000 per year, the estimated $1,000 in supply costs at Holy Cross, so the stipend covers them in full.
This is the real volume of GI Bill® and military tuition benefits paid out at Holy Cross.
Approximately 13 veterans received Post-9/11 GI Bill® tuition payments of $244,790.
| Benefit | Recipients | Total disbursed | Average / recipient |
|---|---|---|---|
| GI Bill® (all students) | 11 | $27,731 | $2,521 |
| GI Bill® — undergraduate | 11 | $27,731 | — |
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.