by our College Data Analytics TeamWill you go to NKU for free thanks to the G.I. Bill®? Coverage is not unlimited and varies school to school, so the fine print is worth checking.
The table below compares the guaranteed Post-9/11 tuition benefit to the cost of attending NKU. Housing and book benefits are covered separately below.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Veteran tuition & fees | $10,896 |
| Guaranteed Post-9/11 tuition benefit | $10,896 |
| 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 NKU.
Northern Kentucky 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.
Seat counts and matching amounts change by program each year; verify the details with the schools military and veteran services team.
For active-duty students, Tuition Assistance covers up to $250 per credit hour — the indicators below show whether NKU is below that cap.
| Residency | Per-credit charge | Below $250 cap? |
|---|---|---|
| In-state | $384 |  |
| Out-of-state | $384 | |
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 NKU.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Estimated living expenses (room & board, academic year) | $11,660 |
| Post-9/11 monthly housing allowance (MHA) | $1,968/mo |
| Housing benefit (academic year, ~8 months) | $15,744 |
| Estimated surplus in your pocket | $4,084 |
The benefit generally more than covers off-campus living costs here. The MHA is based on the school’s ZIP code and is paid at the full-time rate for resident students.
With a Post-9/11 book stipend of up to $1,000 per year, the estimated $800 in supply costs at NKU, so the stipend covers them in full.
These figures show the GI Bill® and DoD Tuition Assistance dollars veterans and service members actually used at NKU.
Roughly 230 Post-9/11 recipients used tuition benefits worth $1,569,082.
| Benefit | Recipients | Total disbursed | Average / recipient |
|---|---|---|---|
| GI Bill® (all students) | 24 | $166,199 | $6,925 |
| GI Bill® — undergraduate | 24 | $166,199 | — |
| GI Bill® — graduate | 0 | $0 | — |
| DoD Tuition Assistance (all) | 13 | $35,983 | $2,768 |
| DoD TA — undergraduate | 12 | $32,983 | — |
| DoD TA — graduate | 1 | $3,000 | — |
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.