by our College Data Analytics TeamWill you go to SJC for free thanks to the G.I. Bill®? 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 SJC. Living-expense and book benefits are addressed in their own sections below.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Veteran tuition & fees | $1,790 |
| Guaranteed Post-9/11 tuition benefit | $1,790 |
| 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 SJC.
Federal data does not indicate that SJC currently participates in the Yellow Ribbon Program. If you need benefits beyond the Post-9/11 cap, ask the schools veteran services office whether any programs participate.
Active-duty service members using DoD Tuition Assistance are capped at $250 per credit hour. The chart below shows whether the per-credit charge at SJC falls under that cap.
| Residency | Per-credit charge | Below $250 cap? |
|---|---|---|
| In-state | $87 |  |
| Out-of-state | $153 | |
The Post-9/11 GI Bill® also covers housing through a Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA). The table compares the housing benefit to estimated living expenses at SJC.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Estimated living expenses (room & board, academic year) | $11,720 |
| Post-9/11 monthly housing allowance (MHA) | $1,692/mo |
| Housing benefit (academic year, ~8 months) | $13,536 |
| Estimated surplus in your pocket | $1,816 |
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 SJC run about $1,420, leaving about $420 out of pocket.
Beyond the coverage math above, this is how much veteran education-benefit money actually flows to SJC.
In the latest reporting year, about 109 veterans received Post-9/11 GI Bill® tuition payments of $152,214.
| Benefit | Recipients | Total disbursed | Average / recipient |
|---|---|---|---|
| GI Bill® (all students) | 100 | $142,768 | $1,428 |
| GI Bill® — undergraduate | 100 | $142,768 | — |
| DoD Tuition Assistance (all) | 13 | $4,288 | $330 |
| DoD TA — undergraduate | 13 | $4,288 | — |
GI Bill® benefits follow the veteran; DoD Tuition Assistance is an active-duty benefit paid while serving.
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.