by our College Data Analytics TeamWill you go to Iowa Lakes Community College for free thanks to the G.I. Bill®? GI Bill® benefits are limited and differ by school, so the specifics matter.
The table below compares the guaranteed Post-9/11 tuition benefit to the cost of attending Iowa Lakes Community College. See the living-expense and book sections below for those benefits.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Veteran tuition & fees | $7,196 |
| Guaranteed Post-9/11 tuition benefit | $7,196 |
| Tuition out of pocket | $0 |
Tuition and fees here fall within the annual Post-9/11 GI Bill® benefit, so eligible veterans typically owe nothing toward tuition at Iowa Lakes Community College.
Federal data does not indicate that Iowa Lakes Community College currently participates in the Yellow Ribbon Program. Check directly with the school, since participation can change year to year.
DoD Tuition Assistance pays up to $250 per credit hour for active-duty students; here is how the per-credit charge at Iowa Lakes Community College compares.
| Residency | Per-credit charge | Below $250 cap? |
|---|---|---|
| In-state | $20 |  |
| Out-of-state | $20 | |
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 Iowa Lakes Community College.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Estimated living expenses (room & board, academic year) | $10,230 |
| Post-9/11 monthly housing allowance (MHA) | $1,488/mo |
| Housing benefit (academic year, ~8 months) | $11,904 |
| Estimated surplus in your pocket | $1,674 |
For most full-time students the housing allowance covers the cost of living off campus, with money left over. The MHA is based on the school’s ZIP code and is paid at the full-time rate for resident students.
Eligible veterans receive up to $1,000 a year for books and supplies; Iowa Lakes Community College estimates these costs at about $1,874, leaving about $874 out of pocket.
These figures show the GI Bill® and DoD Tuition Assistance dollars veterans and service members actually used at Iowa Lakes Community College.
Roughly 13 veterans received Post-9/11 GI Bill® tuition payments of $188,344.
| Benefit | Recipients | Total disbursed | Average / recipient |
|---|---|---|---|
| GI Bill® (all students) | 15 | $141,461 | $9,431 |
| GI Bill® — undergraduate | 15 | $141,461 | — |
| DoD Tuition Assistance (all) | 6 | $13,604 | $2,267 |
| DoD TA — undergraduate | 6 | $13,604 | — |
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.