by our College Data Analytics TeamHow much of the cost at Niagara will the G.I. Bill® cover? The answer depends on the school — benefits are capped and the details vary, so it pays to do your research.
Here is how the Post-9/11 GI Bill® tuition benefit stacks up against the published cost of attending Niagara. Living-expense and book benefits are addressed in their own sections below.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Veteran tuition & fees | $38,135 |
| Guaranteed Post-9/11 tuition benefit | $20,235 |
| Tuition out of pocket | $17,900 |
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 Niagara.
Niagara 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 Niagara compares.
| Residency | Per-credit charge | Below $250 cap? |
|---|---|---|
| In-state | $55 |  |
| Out-of-state | $55 | |
Beyond tuition, the Post-9/11 GI Bill® pays a Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA) while you are enrolled. Here is how that benefit compares to the estimated cost of living at Niagara.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Estimated living expenses (room & board, academic year) | $9,400 |
| Post-9/11 monthly housing allowance (MHA) | $2,169/mo |
| Housing benefit (academic year, ~8 months) | $17,352 |
| Estimated surplus in your pocket | $7,952 |
At this school the academic-year housing benefit exceeds typical living costs, so most full-time students come out ahead. The MHA is based on the school’s ZIP code and is paid at the full-time rate for resident students.
Eligible veterans receive up to $1,000 a year for books and supplies; Niagara estimates these costs at about $420, so the stipend covers them in full.
Beyond the coverage math above, this is how much veteran education-benefit money actually flows to Niagara.
Roughly 52 students drew Post-9/11 GI Bill® tuition benefits totaling $769,874.
| Benefit | Recipients | Total disbursed | Average / recipient |
|---|---|---|---|
| GI Bill® (all students) | 45 | $834,704 | $18,549 |
| GI Bill® — undergraduate | 37 | $713,772 | — |
| GI Bill® — graduate | 8 | $120,932 | — |
| DoD Tuition Assistance (all) | 9 | $30,785 | $3,421 |
| DoD TA — undergraduate | 7 | $23,570 | — |
| DoD TA — graduate | 2 | $7,215 | — |
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.