by our College Data Analytics TeamWill you go to Friends University 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.
Below is the gap between the Post-9/11 tuition benefit and the cost at Friends University. See the living-expense and book sections below for those benefits.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Veteran tuition & fees | $32,748 |
| Guaranteed Post-9/11 tuition benefit | $20,235 |
| Tuition out of pocket | $12,513 |
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 Friends University.
Through the Yellow Ribbon Program, Friends University and the VA share the cost of tuition above the Post-9/11 cap. In the most recent year, about 2 students received Yellow Ribbon awards 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 Friends University compares.
| Residency | Per-credit charge | Below $250 cap? |
|---|---|---|
| In-state | $37 |  |
| Out-of-state | $37 | |
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 Friends University.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Estimated living expenses (room & board, academic year) | $11,344 |
| Post-9/11 monthly housing allowance (MHA) | $1,431/mo |
| Housing benefit (academic year, ~8 months) | $11,448 |
| Estimated surplus in your pocket | $104 |
The benefit generally more than covers off-campus living costs here. MHA amounts reflect the local housing rate for the school’s area.
Eligible veterans receive up to $1,000 a year for books and supplies; Friends University estimates these costs at about $1,500, leaving about $500 out of pocket.
This is the real volume of GI Bill® and military tuition benefits paid out at Friends University.
In the latest reporting year, about 43 Post-9/11 recipients used tuition benefits worth $452,611.
| Benefit | Recipients | Total disbursed | Average / recipient |
|---|---|---|---|
| GI Bill® (all students) | 41 | $487,892 | $11,900 |
| GI Bill® — undergraduate | 31 | $409,844 | — |
| GI Bill® — graduate | 10 | $78,048 | — |
| DoD Tuition Assistance (all) | 6 | $19,250 | $3,208 |
| DoD TA — undergraduate | 5 | $18,500 | — |
| DoD TA — graduate | 1 | $750 | — |
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.