by our College Data Analytics TeamWill you go to HCC for free thanks to the G.I. Bill®? Coverage is not unlimited and varies school to school, so the fine print is worth checking.
Below is the gap between the Post-9/11 tuition benefit and the cost at HCC. Living-expense and book benefits are addressed in their own sections below.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Veteran tuition & fees | $2,506 |
| Guaranteed Post-9/11 tuition benefit | $2,506 |
| Tuition out of pocket | $0 |
The Post-9/11 GI Bill® tuition benefit is enough to cover the full tuition and fees at HCC.
There is no record that HCC participates in the Yellow Ribbon Program in the latest federal data. If you need benefits beyond the Post-9/11 cap, ask the schools veteran services office whether any programs participate.
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 | $23 |  |
| Out-of-state | $57 | |
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) | $9,662 |
| Post-9/11 monthly housing allowance (MHA) | $2,832/mo |
| Housing benefit (academic year, ~8 months) | $22,656 |
| Estimated surplus in your pocket | $12,994 |
At this school the academic-year housing benefit exceeds typical living costs, so most full-time students come out ahead. 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 HCC run about $1,560, leaving about $560 out of pocket.
Beyond the coverage math above, this is how much veteran education-benefit money actually flows to HCC.
Roughly 17 students drew Post-9/11 GI Bill® tuition benefits totaling $15,205.
| Benefit | Recipients | Total disbursed | Average / recipient |
|---|---|---|---|
| GI Bill® (all students) | 960 | $2,021,755 | $2,106 |
| GI Bill® — undergraduate | 960 | $2,021,755 | — |
| DoD Tuition Assistance (all) | 189 | $243,131 | $1,286 |
| DoD TA — undergraduate | 189 | $243,131 | — |
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.