by our College Data Analytics TeamHow much of the cost at ECU will the G.I. Bill® cover? The answer depends on the school — benefits are capped and the details vary, so it pays to do your research.
Here is how the Post-9/11 GI Bill® tuition benefit stacks up against the published cost of attending ECU. Housing and book benefits are covered separately below.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Veteran tuition & fees | $7,361 |
| Guaranteed Post-9/11 tuition benefit | $7,361 |
| Tuition out of pocket | $0 |
At public institutions the Post-9/11 GI Bill® pays in-state tuition and fees in full, meaning most eligible veterans pay no tuition at ECU.
Through the Yellow Ribbon Program, East Carolina University and the VA share the cost of tuition above the Post-9/11 cap. About 8 Yellow Ribbon recipients were reported at this school.
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 ECU compares.
| Residency | Per-credit charge | Below $250 cap? |
|---|---|---|
| In-state | $727 |  |
| Out-of-state | $727 | |
On top of tuition, the Post-9/11 GI Bill® provides a Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA) for the months you are in school. The table compares the housing benefit to estimated living expenses at ECU.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Estimated living expenses (room & board, academic year) | $11,034 |
| Post-9/11 monthly housing allowance (MHA) | $1,770/mo |
| Housing benefit (academic year, ~8 months) | $14,160 |
| Estimated surplus in your pocket | $3,126 |
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 $1,794 in supply costs at ECU, leaving about $794 out of pocket.
Beyond the coverage math above, this is how much veteran education-benefit money actually flows to ECU.
In the latest reporting year, about 745 students drew Post-9/11 GI Bill® tuition benefits totaling $3,803,159.
| Benefit | Recipients | Total disbursed | Average / recipient |
|---|---|---|---|
| GI Bill® (all students) | 714 | $4,476,525 | $6,270 |
| GI Bill® — undergraduate | 610 | $3,921,236 | — |
| GI Bill® — graduate | 104 | $555,289 | — |
| DoD Tuition Assistance (all) | 95 | $338,223 | $3,560 |
| DoD TA — undergraduate | 61 | $187,438 | — |
| DoD TA — graduate | 34 | $150,785 | — |
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.