by our College Data Analytics TeamWondering what the G.I. Bill® actually covers at SMC? GI Bill® benefits are limited and differ by school, so the specifics matter.
Here is how the Post-9/11 GI Bill® tuition benefit stacks up against the published cost of attending SMC. Living-expense and book benefits are addressed in their own sections below.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Veteran tuition & fees | $7,364 |
| Guaranteed Post-9/11 tuition benefit | $7,364 |
| Tuition out of pocket | $0 |
The Post-9/11 GI Bill® tuition benefit is enough to cover the full tuition and fees at SMC.
Federal data does not indicate that SMC 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.
DoD Tuition Assistance pays up to $250 per credit hour for active-duty students; here is how the per-credit charge at SMC compares.
| Residency | Per-credit charge | Below $250 cap? |
|---|---|---|
| In-state | $1,930 |  |
| Out-of-state | $1,930 | |
The Post-9/11 GI Bill® also covers housing through a Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA). Below, the academic-year housing benefit is set against the estimated living costs at SMC.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Estimated living expenses (room & board, academic year) | $7,460 |
| Post-9/11 monthly housing allowance (MHA) | $1,539/mo |
| Housing benefit (academic year, ~8 months) | $12,312 |
| Estimated surplus in your pocket | $4,852 |
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.
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 SMC run about $1,520, leaving about $520 out of pocket.
Beyond the coverage math above, this is how much veteran education-benefit money actually flows to SMC.
Approximately 11 students drew Post-9/11 GI Bill® tuition benefits totaling $30,900.
| Benefit | Recipients | Total disbursed | Average / recipient |
|---|---|---|---|
| GI Bill® (all students) | 13 | $44,205 | $3,400 |
| GI Bill® — undergraduate | 13 | $44,205 | — |
| DoD Tuition Assistance (all) | 3 | $6,300 | $2,100 |
| DoD TA — undergraduate | 3 | $6,300 | — |
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.