by our College Data Analytics TeamWill you go to SVU for free thanks to the G.I. Bill®? The answer depends on the school — benefits are capped and the details vary, so it pays to do your research.
Below is the gap between the Post-9/11 tuition benefit and the cost at SVU. Housing and book benefits are covered separately below.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Veteran tuition & fees | $20,040 |
| Guaranteed Post-9/11 tuition benefit | $20,040 |
| Tuition out of pocket | $0 |
Tuition and fees here fall within the annual Post-9/11 GI Bill® benefit, so eligible veterans typically owe nothing toward tuition at SVU.
Southern Virginia 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.
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 SVU compares.
| Residency | Per-credit charge | Below $250 cap? |
|---|---|---|
| In-state | $250 |  |
| Out-of-state | $250 | |
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 SVU.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Estimated living expenses (room & board, academic year) | $7,000 |
| Post-9/11 monthly housing allowance (MHA) | $1,569/mo |
| Housing benefit (academic year, ~8 months) | $12,552 |
| Estimated surplus in your pocket | $5,552 |
At this school the academic-year housing benefit exceeds typical living costs, so most full-time students come out ahead. MHA amounts reflect the local housing rate for the school’s area.
Eligible veterans receive up to $1,000 a year for books and supplies; SVU estimates these costs at about $1,500, leaving about $500 out of pocket.
These figures show the GI Bill® and DoD Tuition Assistance dollars veterans and service members actually used at SVU.
In the latest reporting year, about 20 students drew Post-9/11 GI Bill® tuition benefits totaling $301,221.
| Benefit | Recipients | Total disbursed | Average / recipient |
|---|---|---|---|
| GI Bill® (all students) | 18 | $264,097 | $14,672 |
| GI Bill® — undergraduate | 18 | $264,097 | — |
| DoD Tuition Assistance (all) | 1 | $1,500 | $1,500 |
| DoD TA — undergraduate | 1 | $1,500 | — |
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.