by our College Data Analytics TeamWondering what the G.I. Bill® actually covers at Cairn? 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 Cairn. Housing and book benefits are covered separately below.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Veteran tuition & fees | $32,625 |
| Guaranteed Post-9/11 tuition benefit | $20,235 |
| Tuition out of pocket | $12,390 |
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 Cairn.
Through the Yellow Ribbon Program, Cairn University-Langhorne and the VA share the cost of tuition above the Post-9/11 cap. About 2 Yellow Ribbon recipients were reported at this school.
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 Cairn is below that cap.
| Residency | Per-credit charge | Below $250 cap? |
|---|---|---|
| In-state | $0 |  |
| Out-of-state | $0 | |
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 Cairn.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Estimated living expenses (room & board, academic year) | $12,102 |
| Post-9/11 monthly housing allowance (MHA) | $3,027/mo |
| Housing benefit (academic year, ~8 months) | $24,216 |
| Estimated surplus in your pocket | $12,114 |
At this school the academic-year housing benefit exceeds typical living costs, so most full-time students come out ahead. MHA amounts reflect the local housing rate for the school’s area.
Eligible veterans receive up to $1,000 a year for books and supplies; Cairn estimates these costs at about $1,145, leaving about $145 out of pocket.
Beyond the coverage math above, this is how much veteran education-benefit money actually flows to Cairn.
In the latest reporting year, about 7 Post-9/11 recipients used tuition benefits worth $85,228.
| Benefit | Recipients | Total disbursed | Average / recipient |
|---|---|---|---|
| GI Bill® (all students) | 5 | $91,441 | $18,288 |
| GI Bill® — undergraduate | 4 | $87,091 | — |
| GI Bill® — graduate | 1 | $4,350 | — |
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.