by our College Data Analytics TeamWondering what the G.I. Bill® actually covers at HCC? Coverage is not unlimited and varies school to school, so the fine print is worth checking.
Here is how the Post-9/11 GI Bill® tuition benefit stacks up against the published cost of attending HCC. Housing and book benefits are covered separately below.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Veteran tuition & fees | $6,390 |
| Guaranteed Post-9/11 tuition benefit | $6,390 |
| Tuition out of pocket | $0 |
The Post-9/11 GI Bill® tuition benefit is enough to cover the full tuition and fees at HCC.
Through the Yellow Ribbon Program, Hagerstown Community College and the VA share the cost of tuition above the Post-9/11 cap.
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.
For active-duty students, Tuition Assistance covers up to $250 per credit hour — the indicators below show whether HCC is below that cap.
| Residency | Per-credit charge | Below $250 cap? |
|---|---|---|
| In-state | $21 |  |
| Out-of-state | $21 | |
The Post-9/11 GI Bill® also covers housing through a Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA). Below, the academic-year housing benefit is set against the estimated living costs at HCC.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Estimated living expenses (room & board, academic year) | $13,672 |
| Post-9/11 monthly housing allowance (MHA) | $1,968/mo |
| Housing benefit (academic year, ~8 months) | $15,744 |
| Estimated surplus in your pocket | $2,072 |
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.
Eligible veterans receive up to $1,000 a year for books and supplies; HCC estimates these costs at about $1,606, leaving about $606 out of pocket.
Beyond the coverage math above, this is how much veteran education-benefit money actually flows to HCC.
In the latest reporting year, about 70 students drew Post-9/11 GI Bill® tuition benefits totaling $217,187.
| Benefit | Recipients | Total disbursed | Average / recipient |
|---|---|---|---|
| GI Bill® (all students) | 57 | $189,965 | $3,333 |
| GI Bill® — undergraduate | 57 | $189,965 | — |
| DoD Tuition Assistance (all) | 6 | $4,176 | $696 |
| DoD TA — undergraduate | 6 | $4,176 | — |
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.