by our College Data Analytics TeamWill you go to STU for free thanks to the G.I. Bill®? GI Bill® benefits are limited and differ by school, so the specifics matter.
Here is how the Post-9/11 GI Bill® tuition benefit stacks up against the published cost of attending STU. Housing and book benefits are covered separately below.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Veteran tuition & fees | $34,770 |
| Guaranteed Post-9/11 tuition benefit | $20,235 |
| Tuition out of pocket | $14,535 |
Because the Post-9/11 tuition benefit is capped near $20,235 per year, tuition above the cap is the veterans responsibility at STU.
St. Thomas 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. About 5 Yellow Ribbon recipients were reported at this school.
Available Yellow Ribbon seats and maximum contributions differ by program and degree level — check with the veteran services office for current limits.
DoD Tuition Assistance pays up to $250 per credit hour for active-duty students; here is how the per-credit charge at STU compares.
| Residency | Per-credit charge | Below $250 cap? |
|---|---|---|
| In-state | $600 |  |
| Out-of-state | $600 | |
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 STU.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Estimated living expenses (room & board, academic year) | $14,688 |
| Post-9/11 monthly housing allowance (MHA) | $3,612/mo |
| Housing benefit (academic year, ~8 months) | $28,896 |
| Estimated surplus in your pocket | $14,208 |
For most full-time students the housing allowance covers the cost of living off campus, with money left over. 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 STU run about $360, 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 STU.
Approximately 37 Post-9/11 recipients used tuition benefits worth $454,548.
| Benefit | Recipients | Total disbursed | Average / recipient |
|---|---|---|---|
| GI Bill® (all students) | 34 | $509,670 | $14,990 |
| GI Bill® — undergraduate | 9 | $207,850 | — |
| GI Bill® — graduate | 25 | $301,820 | — |
These are federal education benefits — the Post-9/11 GI Bill® for veterans and DoD Tuition Assistance for active-duty 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.