by our College Data Analytics TeamWondering what the G.I. Bill® actually covers at RMCAD? The answer depends on the school — benefits are capped and the details vary, so it pays to do your research.
Here is how the Post-9/11 GI Bill® tuition benefit stacks up against the published cost of attending RMCAD. See the living-expense and book sections below for those benefits.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Veteran tuition & fees | $23,720 |
| Guaranteed Post-9/11 tuition benefit | $20,235 |
| Tuition out of pocket | $3,485 |
The Post-9/11 GI Bill® caps the annual tuition benefit (about $20,235), so the tuition above that is a gap veterans must cover through Yellow Ribbon, savings, or other aid at RMCAD.
Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design 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. Roughly 17 students used Yellow Ribbon benefits here in the latest reporting year.
Seat counts and matching amounts change by program each year; verify the details with the schools military and veteran services team.
DoD Tuition Assistance pays up to $250 per credit hour for active-duty students; here is how the per-credit charge at RMCAD compares.
| Residency | Per-credit charge | Below $250 cap? |
|---|---|---|
| In-state | $2,430 |  |
| Out-of-state | $2,430 | |
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 RMCAD.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Estimated living expenses (room & board, academic year) | $13,304 |
| Post-9/11 monthly housing allowance (MHA) | $2,982/mo |
| Housing benefit (academic year, ~8 months) | $23,856 |
| Estimated surplus in your pocket | $10,552 |
At this school the academic-year housing benefit exceeds typical living costs, so most full-time students come out ahead. Your actual MHA depends on your rate of pursuit and the school’s location.
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 RMCAD run about $1,591, leaving about $591 out of pocket.
Beyond the coverage math above, this is how much veteran education-benefit money actually flows to RMCAD.
Roughly 157 students drew Post-9/11 GI Bill® tuition benefits totaling $2,354,506.
| Benefit | Recipients | Total disbursed | Average / recipient |
|---|---|---|---|
| GI Bill® (all students) | 115 | $2,008,726 | $17,467 |
| GI Bill® — undergraduate | 115 | $2,008,726 | — |
| GI Bill® — graduate | 0 | $0 | — |
| DoD Tuition Assistance (all) | 24 | $58,749 | $2,448 |
| DoD TA — undergraduate | 24 | $58,749 | — |
| 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.