by our College Data Analytics TeamWondering what the G.I. Bill® actually covers at Penn State Lehigh Valley? The answer depends on the school — benefits are capped and the details vary, so it pays to do your research.
The table below compares the guaranteed Post-9/11 tuition benefit to the cost of attending Penn State Lehigh Valley. Living-expense and book benefits are addressed in their own sections below.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Veteran tuition & fees | $15,180 |
| Guaranteed Post-9/11 tuition benefit | $15,180 |
| 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 Penn State Lehigh Valley.
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Lehigh Valley 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.
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 Penn State Lehigh Valley is below that cap.
| Residency | Per-credit charge | Below $250 cap? |
|---|---|---|
| In-state | $91 |  |
| Out-of-state | $91 | |
On top of tuition, the Post-9/11 GI Bill® provides a Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA) for the months you are in school. The table compares the housing benefit to estimated living expenses at Penn State Lehigh Valley.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Estimated living expenses (room & board, academic year) | $13,448 |
| Post-9/11 monthly housing allowance (MHA) | $2,400/mo |
| Housing benefit (academic year, ~8 months) | $19,200 |
| Estimated surplus in your pocket | $5,752 |
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 Penn State Lehigh Valley run about $1,840, leaving about $840 out of pocket.
This is the real volume of GI Bill® and military tuition benefits paid out at Penn State Lehigh Valley.
Approximately 38 students drew Post-9/11 GI Bill® tuition benefits totaling $324,714.
| Benefit | Recipients | Total disbursed | Average / recipient |
|---|---|---|---|
| GI Bill® (all students) | 25 | $317,059 | $12,682 |
| GI Bill® — undergraduate | 25 | $317,059 | — |
| GI Bill® — graduate | 0 | $0 | — |
| DoD Tuition Assistance (all) | 2 | $9,000 | $4,500 |
| DoD TA — undergraduate | 2 | $9,000 | — |
| DoD TA — graduate | 0 | $0 | — |
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.