by our College Data Analytics TeamWill you go to GCC 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 GCC. Living-expense and book benefits are addressed in their own sections below.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Veteran tuition & fees | $3,414 |
| Guaranteed Post-9/11 tuition benefit | $3,414 |
| Tuition out of pocket | $0 |
Because tuition is at or below the annual Post-9/11 benefit, the GI Bill® covers it in full at GCC.
GCC 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 GCC compares.
| Residency | Per-credit charge | Below $250 cap? |
|---|---|---|
| In-state | $294 |  |
| Out-of-state | $294 | |
The Post-9/11 GI Bill® also covers housing through a Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA). Here is how that benefit compares to the estimated cost of living at GCC.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Estimated living expenses (room & board, academic year) | $10,500 |
| Post-9/11 monthly housing allowance (MHA) | $2,450/mo |
| Housing benefit (academic year, ~8 months) | $19,600 |
| Estimated surplus in your pocket | $9,100 |
The benefit generally more than covers off-campus living costs here. The MHA is based on the school’s ZIP code and is paid at the full-time rate for resident students.
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 GCC run about $1,200, leaving about $200 out of pocket.
Beyond the coverage math above, this is how much veteran education-benefit money actually flows to GCC.
Approximately 81 veterans received Post-9/11 GI Bill® tuition payments of $214,264.
| Benefit | Recipients | Total disbursed | Average / recipient |
|---|---|---|---|
| GI Bill® (all students) | 22 | $72,828 | $3,310 |
| GI Bill® — undergraduate | 22 | $72,828 | — |
| DoD Tuition Assistance (all) | 3 | $4,030 | $1,343 |
| DoD TA — undergraduate | 3 | $4,030 | — |
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.