by our College Data Analytics TeamWondering what the G.I. Bill® actually covers at Mercer? Coverage is not unlimited and varies school to school, so the fine print is worth checking.
Here is how the Post-9/11 GI Bill® tuition benefit stacks up against the published cost of attending Mercer. Living-expense and book benefits are addressed in their own sections below.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Veteran tuition & fees | $40,890 |
| Guaranteed Post-9/11 tuition benefit | $20,235 |
| Tuition out of pocket | $20,655 |
The Post-9/11 GI Bill® limits the annual tuition benefit to roughly $20,235, so tuition beyond that is out of pocket (or covered by Yellow Ribbon) at Mercer.
Mercer University 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. Roughly 7 students used Yellow Ribbon benefits here in the latest reporting year.
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 Mercer compares.
| Residency | Per-credit charge | Below $250 cap? |
|---|---|---|
| In-state | $13 |  |
| Out-of-state | $13 | |
The Post-9/11 GI Bill® also covers housing through a Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA). Below, the academic-year housing benefit is set against the estimated living costs at Mercer.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Estimated living expenses (room & board, academic year) | $14,528 |
| Post-9/11 monthly housing allowance (MHA) | $1,908/mo |
| Housing benefit (academic year, ~8 months) | $15,264 |
| Estimated surplus in your pocket | $736 |
The benefit generally more than covers off-campus living costs here. 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; Mercer estimates these costs at about $1,200, leaving about $200 out of pocket.
Beyond the coverage math above, this is how much veteran education-benefit money actually flows to Mercer.
In the latest reporting year, about 88 students drew Post-9/11 GI Bill® tuition benefits totaling $1,196,315.
| Benefit | Recipients | Total disbursed | Average / recipient |
|---|---|---|---|
| GI Bill® (all students) | 221 | $3,067,022 | $13,878 |
| GI Bill® — undergraduate | 142 | $1,907,648 | — |
| GI Bill® — graduate | 79 | $1,159,374 | — |
| DoD Tuition Assistance (all) | 43 | $102,743 | $2,389 |
| DoD TA — undergraduate | 8 | $18,000 | — |
| DoD TA — graduate | 35 | $84,743 | — |
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.