by our College Data Analytics TeamWondering what the G.I. Bill® actually covers at SMCC? Coverage is not unlimited and varies school to school, so the fine print is worth checking.
Below is the gap between the Post-9/11 tuition benefit and the cost at SMCC. See the living-expense and book sections below for those benefits.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Veteran tuition & fees | $3,797 |
| Guaranteed Post-9/11 tuition benefit | $3,797 |
| Tuition out of pocket | $0 |
Public-college veterans generally have their entire in-state tuition paid by the Post-9/11 GI Bill® at SMCC.
Southern Maine Community College 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.
Available Yellow Ribbon seats and maximum contributions differ by program and degree level — check with the veteran services office for current limits.
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 SMCC falls under that cap.
| Residency | Per-credit charge | Below $250 cap? |
|---|---|---|
| In-state | $1,276 |  |
| Out-of-state | $1,276 | |
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 SMCC.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Estimated living expenses (room & board, academic year) | $8,056 |
| Post-9/11 monthly housing allowance (MHA) | $3,117/mo |
| Housing benefit (academic year, ~8 months) | $24,936 |
| Estimated surplus in your pocket | $16,880 |
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 SMCC run about $1,400, leaving about $400 out of pocket.
Beyond the coverage math above, this is how much veteran education-benefit money actually flows to SMCC.
Roughly 97 students drew Post-9/11 GI Bill® tuition benefits totaling $191,492.
| Benefit | Recipients | Total disbursed | Average / recipient |
|---|---|---|---|
| GI Bill® (all students) | 87 | $142,095 | $1,633 |
| GI Bill® — undergraduate | 87 | $142,095 | — |
| DoD Tuition Assistance (all) | 78 | $140,159 | $1,797 |
| DoD TA — undergraduate | 78 | $140,159 | — |
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.