by our College Data Analytics TeamWondering what the G.I. Bill® actually covers at Iowa State? 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 Iowa State. Living-expense and book benefits are addressed in their own sections below.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Veteran tuition & fees | $10,497 |
| Guaranteed Post-9/11 tuition benefit | $10,497 |
| Tuition out of pocket | $0 |
The Post-9/11 GI Bill® tuition benefit is enough to cover the full tuition and fees at Iowa State.
Through the Yellow Ribbon Program, Iowa State University 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.
DoD Tuition Assistance pays up to $250 per credit hour for active-duty students; here is how the per-credit charge at Iowa State compares.
| Residency | Per-credit charge | Below $250 cap? |
|---|---|---|
| In-state | $1,535 |  |
| Out-of-state | $1,535 | |
Beyond tuition, the Post-9/11 GI Bill® pays a Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA) while you are enrolled. Here is how that benefit compares to the estimated cost of living at Iowa State.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Estimated living expenses (room & board, academic year) | $9,726 |
| Post-9/11 monthly housing allowance (MHA) | $1,770/mo |
| Housing benefit (academic year, ~8 months) | $14,160 |
| Estimated surplus in your pocket | $4,434 |
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.
With a Post-9/11 book stipend of up to $1,000 per year, the estimated $1,091 in supply costs at Iowa State, leaving about $91 out of pocket.
Beyond the coverage math above, this is how much veteran education-benefit money actually flows to Iowa State.
In the latest reporting year, about 418 students drew Post-9/11 GI Bill® tuition benefits totaling $3,569,702.
| Benefit | Recipients | Total disbursed | Average / recipient |
|---|---|---|---|
| GI Bill® (all students) | 356 | $3,321,366 | $9,330 |
| GI Bill® — undergraduate | 317 | $2,930,788 | — |
| GI Bill® — graduate | 39 | $390,578 | — |
| DoD Tuition Assistance (all) | 125 | $507,333 | $4,059 |
| DoD TA — undergraduate | 119 | $492,083 | — |
| DoD TA — graduate | 6 | $15,250 | — |
These are federal education benefits — the Post-9/11 GI Bill® for veterans and DoD Tuition Assistance for active-duty 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.