by our College Data Analytics TeamHow much of the cost at Messiah will the G.I. Bill® cover? 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 Messiah. Living-expense and book benefits are addressed in their own sections below.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Veteran tuition & fees | $40,640 |
| Guaranteed Post-9/11 tuition benefit | $20,235 |
| Tuition out of pocket | $20,405 |
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 Messiah.
Through the Yellow Ribbon Program, Messiah University and the VA share the cost of tuition above the Post-9/11 cap. About 20 Yellow Ribbon recipients were reported at this school.
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 Messiah compares.
| Residency | Per-credit charge | Below $250 cap? |
|---|---|---|
| In-state | $0 |  |
| Out-of-state | $0 | |
Beyond tuition, the Post-9/11 GI Bill® pays a Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA) while you are enrolled. The table compares the housing benefit to estimated living expenses at Messiah.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Estimated living expenses (room & board, academic year) | $11,910 |
| Post-9/11 monthly housing allowance (MHA) | $2,133/mo |
| Housing benefit (academic year, ~8 months) | $17,064 |
| Estimated surplus in your pocket | $5,154 |
For most full-time students the housing allowance covers the cost of living off campus, with money left over. The MHA is based on the school’s ZIP code and is paid at the full-time rate for resident students.
The Post-9/11 GI Bill® pays a books-and-supplies stipend of up to $1,000 per year. Estimated book and supply costs at Messiah run about $1,460, leaving about $460 out of pocket.
This is the real volume of GI Bill® and military tuition benefits paid out at Messiah.
Roughly 48 Post-9/11 recipients used tuition benefits worth $814,568.
| Benefit | Recipients | Total disbursed | Average / recipient |
|---|---|---|---|
| GI Bill® (all students) | 33 | $1,113,133 | $33,731 |
| GI Bill® — undergraduate | 22 | $1,039,861 | — |
| GI Bill® — graduate | 11 | $73,272 | — |
| DoD Tuition Assistance (all) | 0 | $0 | — |
| DoD TA — undergraduate | 0 | $0 | — |
| DoD TA — graduate | 0 | $0 | — |
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.