by our College Data Analytics TeamWondering what the G.I. Bill® actually covers at SMU? The answer depends on the school — benefits are capped and the details vary, so it pays to do your research.
The table below compares the guaranteed Post-9/11 tuition benefit to the cost of attending SMU. Living-expense and book benefits are addressed in their own sections below.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Veteran tuition & fees | $64,460 |
| Guaranteed Post-9/11 tuition benefit | $20,235 |
| Tuition out of pocket | $44,225 |
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 SMU.
SMU is not listed as a Yellow Ribbon participant in current federal reporting. 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 SMU is below that cap.
| Residency | Per-credit charge | Below $250 cap? |
|---|---|---|
| In-state | $316 |  |
| Out-of-state | $316 | |
On top of tuition, the Post-9/11 GI Bill® provides a Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA) for the months you are in school. Here is how that benefit compares to the estimated cost of living at SMU.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Estimated living expenses (room & board, academic year) | $10,808 |
| Post-9/11 monthly housing allowance (MHA) | $2,652/mo |
| Housing benefit (academic year, ~8 months) | $21,216 |
| Estimated surplus in your pocket | $10,408 |
The benefit generally more than covers off-campus living costs here. The MHA is based on the school’s ZIP code and is paid at the full-time rate for resident students.
Eligible veterans receive up to $1,000 a year for books and supplies; SMU estimates these costs at about $800, 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 SMU.
| Benefit | Recipients | Total disbursed | Average / recipient |
|---|---|---|---|
| GI Bill® (all students) | 219 | $6,046,381 | $27,609 |
| GI Bill® — undergraduate | 94 | $3,705,672 | — |
| GI Bill® — graduate | 125 | $2,340,709 | — |
| DoD Tuition Assistance (all) | 10 | $19,000 | $1,900 |
| DoD TA — undergraduate | 0 | $0 | — |
| DoD TA — graduate | 10 | $19,000 | — |
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.