by our College Data Analytics TeamWondering what the G.I. Bill® actually covers at Salem? Coverage is not unlimited and varies school to school, so the fine print is worth checking.
Here is how the Post-9/11 GI Bill® tuition benefit stacks up against the published cost of attending Salem. See the living-expense and book sections below for those benefits.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Veteran tuition & fees | $32,236 |
| Guaranteed Post-9/11 tuition benefit | $20,235 |
| Tuition out of pocket | $12,001 |
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 Salem.
There is no record that Salem participates in the Yellow Ribbon Program in the latest federal data. Check directly with the school, since participation can change year to year.
For active-duty students, Tuition Assistance covers up to $250 per credit hour — the indicators below show whether Salem 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. Below, the academic-year housing benefit is set against the estimated living costs at Salem.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Estimated living expenses (room & board, academic year) | $12,540 |
| Post-9/11 monthly housing allowance (MHA) | $1,884/mo |
| Housing benefit (academic year, ~8 months) | $15,072 |
| Estimated surplus in your pocket | $2,532 |
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 Salem run about $1,336, leaving about $336 out of pocket.
These figures show the GI Bill® and DoD Tuition Assistance dollars veterans and service members actually used at Salem.
In the latest reporting year, about 3 students drew Post-9/11 GI Bill® tuition benefits totaling $36,059.
| Benefit | Recipients | Total disbursed | Average / recipient |
|---|---|---|---|
| GI Bill® (all students) | 2 | $31,995 | $15,998 |
| GI Bill® — undergraduate | 1 | $27,120 | — |
| GI Bill® — graduate | 1 | $4,875 | — |
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.