by our College Data Analytics TeamHow much of the cost at Columbia will the G.I. Bill® cover? 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 Columbia. Housing and book benefits are covered separately below.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Veteran tuition & fees | $69,045 |
| Guaranteed Post-9/11 tuition benefit | $20,235 |
| Tuition out of pocket | $48,810 |
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 Columbia.
Columbia is not listed as a Yellow Ribbon participant in current federal reporting. If you need benefits beyond the Post-9/11 cap, ask the schools veteran services office whether any programs participate.
DoD Tuition Assistance pays up to $250 per credit hour for active-duty students; here is how the per-credit charge at Columbia compares.
| Residency | Per-credit charge | Below $250 cap? |
|---|---|---|
| In-state | $2,539 |  |
| Out-of-state | $2,539 | |
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 Columbia.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Estimated living expenses (room & board, academic year) | $17,058 |
| Post-9/11 monthly housing allowance (MHA) | $5,196/mo |
| Housing benefit (academic year, ~8 months) | $41,568 |
| Estimated surplus in your pocket | $24,510 |
The benefit generally more than covers off-campus living costs here. Your actual MHA depends on your rate of pursuit and the school’s location.
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 Columbia run about $1,392, leaving about $392 out of pocket.
Beyond the coverage math above, this is how much veteran education-benefit money actually flows to Columbia.
| Benefit | Recipients | Total disbursed | Average / recipient |
|---|---|---|---|
| GI Bill® (all students) | 372 | $9,269,694 | $24,919 |
| GI Bill® — undergraduate | 182 | $4,817,173 | — |
| GI Bill® — graduate | 190 | $4,452,521 | — |
| DoD Tuition Assistance (all) | 6 | $16,000 | $2,667 |
| DoD TA — undergraduate | 2 | $2,750 | — |
| DoD TA — graduate | 4 | $13,250 | — |
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.