by our College Data Analytics TeamHow much of the cost at JMU will the G.I. Bill® cover? 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 JMU. Living-expense and book benefits are addressed in their own sections below.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Veteran tuition & fees | $13,576 |
| Guaranteed Post-9/11 tuition benefit | $13,576 |
| 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 JMU.
Through the Yellow Ribbon Program, James Madison University and the VA share the cost of tuition above the Post-9/11 cap. In the most recent year, about 1 students received Yellow Ribbon awards at this school.
Available Yellow Ribbon seats and maximum contributions differ by program and degree level — check with the veteran services office for current limits.
DoD Tuition Assistance pays up to $250 per credit hour for active-duty students; here is how the per-credit charge at JMU compares.
| Residency | Per-credit charge | Below $250 cap? |
|---|---|---|
| In-state | $192 |  |
| Out-of-state | $192 | |
The Post-9/11 GI Bill® also covers housing through a Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA). The table compares the housing benefit to estimated living expenses at JMU.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Estimated living expenses (room & board, academic year) | $12,584 |
| Post-9/11 monthly housing allowance (MHA) | $2,163/mo |
| Housing benefit (academic year, ~8 months) | $17,304 |
| Estimated surplus in your pocket | $4,720 |
For most full-time students the housing allowance covers the cost of living off campus, with money left over. Your actual MHA depends on your rate of pursuit and the school’s location.
With a Post-9/11 book stipend of up to $1,000 per year, the estimated $1,254 in supply costs at JMU, leaving about $254 out of pocket.
This is the real volume of GI Bill® and military tuition benefits paid out at JMU.
Approximately 582 Post-9/11 recipients used tuition benefits worth $5,560,419.
| Benefit | Recipients | Total disbursed | Average / recipient |
|---|---|---|---|
| GI Bill® (all students) | 482 | $5,505,755 | $11,423 |
| GI Bill® — undergraduate | 457 | $5,297,567 | — |
| GI Bill® — graduate | 25 | $208,188 | — |
| DoD Tuition Assistance (all) | 20 | $61,738 | $3,087 |
| DoD TA — undergraduate | 20 | $61,738 | — |
| DoD TA — graduate | 0 | $0 | — |
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.