by our College Data Analytics TeamWondering what the G.I. Bill® actually covers at PAFA? 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 PAFA. Housing and book benefits are covered separately below.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Veteran tuition & fees | $44,600 |
| Guaranteed Post-9/11 tuition benefit | $20,235 |
| Tuition out of pocket | $24,365 |
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 PAFA.
PAFA is not listed as a Yellow Ribbon participant in current federal reporting. If you need benefits beyond the Post-9/11 cap, ask the schools veteran services office whether any programs participate.
DoD Tuition Assistance pays up to $250 per credit hour for active-duty students; here is how the per-credit charge at PAFA compares.
| Residency | Per-credit charge | Below $250 cap? |
|---|---|---|
| In-state | $1,600 |  |
| Out-of-state | $1,600 | |
The Post-9/11 GI Bill® also covers housing through a Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA). Here is how that benefit compares to the estimated cost of living at PAFA.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Estimated living expenses (room & board, academic year) | $18,662 |
| Post-9/11 monthly housing allowance (MHA) | $2,682/mo |
| Housing benefit (academic year, ~8 months) | $21,456 |
| Estimated surplus in your pocket | $2,794 |
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.
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 PAFA run about $1,768, leaving about $768 out of pocket.
These figures show the GI Bill® and DoD Tuition Assistance dollars veterans and service members actually used at PAFA.
Roughly 3 Post-9/11 recipients used tuition benefits worth $47,224.
| Benefit | Recipients | Total disbursed | Average / recipient |
|---|---|---|---|
| GI Bill® (all students) | 3 | $65,218 | $21,739 |
| GI Bill® — undergraduate | 1 | $12,759 | — |
| GI Bill® — graduate | 2 | $52,459 | — |
GI Bill® benefits follow the veteran; DoD Tuition Assistance is an active-duty benefit paid while serving.
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.