by our College Data Analytics TeamWill you go to Lamar University for free thanks to the G.I. Bill®? The answer depends on the school — benefits are capped and the details vary, so it pays to do your research.
The table below compares the guaranteed Post-9/11 tuition benefit to the cost of attending Lamar University. Housing and book benefits are covered separately below.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Veteran tuition & fees | $8,690 |
| Guaranteed Post-9/11 tuition benefit | $8,690 |
| Tuition out of pocket | $0 |
Public-college veterans generally have their entire in-state tuition paid by the Post-9/11 GI Bill® at Lamar University.
Lamar University is not listed as a Yellow Ribbon participant in current federal reporting. If you need benefits beyond the Post-9/11 cap, ask the schools veteran services office whether any programs participate.
DoD Tuition Assistance pays up to $250 per credit hour for active-duty students; here is how the per-credit charge at Lamar University compares.
| Residency | Per-credit charge | Below $250 cap? |
|---|---|---|
| In-state | $319 |  |
| Out-of-state | $319 | |
Beyond tuition, the Post-9/11 GI Bill® pays a Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA) while you are enrolled. Below, the academic-year housing benefit is set against the estimated living costs at Lamar University.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Estimated living expenses (room & board, academic year) | $9,266 |
| Post-9/11 monthly housing allowance (MHA) | $1,581/mo |
| Housing benefit (academic year, ~8 months) | $12,648 |
| Estimated surplus in your pocket | $3,382 |
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.
With a Post-9/11 book stipend of up to $1,000 per year, the estimated $1,250 in supply costs at Lamar University, leaving about $250 out of pocket.
These figures show the GI Bill® and DoD Tuition Assistance dollars veterans and service members actually used at Lamar University.
In the latest reporting year, about 296 veterans received Post-9/11 GI Bill® tuition payments of $1,614,154.
| Benefit | Recipients | Total disbursed | Average / recipient |
|---|---|---|---|
| GI Bill® (all students) | 345 | $1,911,732 | $5,541 |
| GI Bill® — undergraduate | 194 | $1,337,197 | — |
| GI Bill® — graduate | 151 | $574,535 | — |
| DoD Tuition Assistance (all) | 46 | $113,803 | $2,474 |
| DoD TA — undergraduate | 23 | $53,936 | — |
| DoD TA — graduate | 23 | $59,867 | — |
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.