by our College Data Analytics TeamWill you go to Lees - McRae 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 Lees - McRae College. Living-expense and book benefits are addressed in their own sections below.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Veteran tuition & fees | $31,140 |
| Guaranteed Post-9/11 tuition benefit | $20,235 |
| Tuition out of pocket | $10,905 |
The Post-9/11 GI Bill® caps the annual tuition benefit (about $20,235), so the tuition above that is a gap veterans must cover through Yellow Ribbon, savings, or other aid at Lees - McRae College.
Lees-McRae College participates in the Yellow Ribbon Program, which can cover tuition and fees beyond the Post-9/11 GI Bill® cap through matching funds from the school and the VA.
Available Yellow Ribbon seats and maximum contributions differ by program and degree level — check with the veteran services office for current limits.
For active-duty students, Tuition Assistance covers up to $250 per credit hour — the indicators below show whether Lees - McRae College is below that cap.
| Residency | Per-credit charge | Below $250 cap? |
|---|---|---|
| In-state | $1,740 |  |
| Out-of-state | $1,740 | |
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 Lees - McRae College.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Estimated living expenses (room & board, academic year) | $13,730 |
| Post-9/11 monthly housing allowance (MHA) | $1,617/mo |
| Housing benefit (academic year, ~8 months) | $12,936 |
| Estimated shortfall to cover yourself | $794 |
Expect to make up the shortfall between the housing benefit and actual living costs. MHA amounts reflect the local housing rate for the school’s area.
Eligible veterans receive up to $1,000 a year for books and supplies; Lees - McRae College estimates these costs at about $600, so the stipend covers them in full.
These figures show the GI Bill® and DoD Tuition Assistance dollars veterans and service members actually used at Lees - McRae College.
Approximately 21 Post-9/11 recipients used tuition benefits worth $272,522.
| Benefit | Recipients | Total disbursed | Average / recipient |
|---|---|---|---|
| GI Bill® (all students) | 16 | $207,675 | $12,980 |
| GI Bill® — undergraduate | 16 | $207,675 | — |
| GI Bill® — graduate | 0 | $0 | — |
| DoD Tuition Assistance (all) | 1 | $2,500 | $2,500 |
| DoD TA — undergraduate | 1 | $2,500 | — |
| 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.