by our College Data Analytics TeamWill you go to MWCC 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.
Below is the gap between the Post-9/11 tuition benefit and the cost at MWCC. Housing and book benefits are covered separately below.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Veteran tuition & fees | $6,000 |
| Guaranteed Post-9/11 tuition benefit | $6,000 |
| Tuition out of pocket | $0 |
For public schools, the Post-9/11 GI Bill® covers the full in-state tuition and fees, so eligible veterans typically owe nothing toward tuition at MWCC.
Mount Wachusett Community College is a Yellow Ribbon school: the institution and the VA jointly fund tuition that exceeds the GI Bill® cap.
Available Yellow Ribbon seats and maximum contributions differ by program and degree level — check with the veteran services office for current limits.
Active-duty service members using DoD Tuition Assistance are capped at $250 per credit hour. The chart below shows whether the per-credit charge at MWCC falls under that cap.
| Residency | Per-credit charge | Below $250 cap? |
|---|---|---|
| In-state | $215 |  |
| Out-of-state | $215 | |
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 MWCC.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Estimated living expenses (room & board, academic year) | $9,812 |
| Post-9/11 monthly housing allowance (MHA) | $3,183/mo |
| Housing benefit (academic year, ~8 months) | $25,464 |
| Estimated surplus in your pocket | $15,652 |
At this school the academic-year housing benefit exceeds typical living costs, so most full-time students come out ahead. MHA amounts reflect the local housing rate for the school’s area.
With a Post-9/11 book stipend of up to $1,000 per year, the estimated $1,540 in supply costs at MWCC, leaving about $540 out of pocket.
These figures show the GI Bill® and DoD Tuition Assistance dollars veterans and service members actually used at MWCC.
Approximately 62 veterans received Post-9/11 GI Bill® tuition payments of $238,383.
| Benefit | Recipients | Total disbursed | Average / recipient |
|---|---|---|---|
| GI Bill® (all students) | 52 | $213,123 | $4,099 |
| GI Bill® — undergraduate | 52 | $213,123 | — |
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.