by our College Data Analytics TeamWondering what the G.I. Bill® actually covers at NIC? 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 NIC. Housing and book benefits are covered separately below.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Veteran tuition & fees | $4,960 |
| Guaranteed Post-9/11 tuition benefit | $4,960 |
| Tuition out of pocket | $0 |
Because tuition is at or below the annual Post-9/11 benefit, the GI Bill® covers it in full at NIC.
Through the Yellow Ribbon Program, North Idaho College and the VA share the cost of tuition above the Post-9/11 cap. 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.
For active-duty students, Tuition Assistance covers up to $250 per credit hour — the indicators below show whether NIC is below that cap.
| Residency | Per-credit charge | Below $250 cap? |
|---|---|---|
| In-state | $960 |  |
| Out-of-state | $960 | |
On top of tuition, the Post-9/11 GI Bill® provides a Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA) for the months you are in school. Here is how that benefit compares to the estimated cost of living at NIC.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Estimated living expenses (room & board, academic year) | $16,785 |
| Post-9/11 monthly housing allowance (MHA) | $2,346/mo |
| Housing benefit (academic year, ~8 months) | $18,768 |
| Estimated surplus in your pocket | $1,983 |
The benefit generally more than covers off-campus living costs here. MHA amounts reflect the local housing rate for the school’s area.
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 NIC run about $2,400, leaving about $1,400 out of pocket.
Beyond the coverage math above, this is how much veteran education-benefit money actually flows to NIC.
In the latest reporting year, about 109 Post-9/11 recipients used tuition benefits worth $266,147.
| Benefit | Recipients | Total disbursed | Average / recipient |
|---|---|---|---|
| GI Bill® (all students) | 118 | $288,375 | $2,444 |
| GI Bill® — undergraduate | 118 | $288,375 | — |
| DoD Tuition Assistance (all) | 2 | $3,023 | $1,512 |
| DoD TA — undergraduate | 2 | $3,023 | — |
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.