by our College Data Analytics TeamWill you go to Stanford for free thanks to the G.I. Bill®? Coverage is not unlimited and varies school to school, so the fine print is worth checking.
The table below compares the guaranteed Post-9/11 tuition benefit to the cost of attending Stanford. Housing and book benefits are covered separately below.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Veteran tuition & fees | $62,484 |
| Guaranteed Post-9/11 tuition benefit | $20,235 |
| Tuition out of pocket | $42,249 |
The Post-9/11 GI Bill® limits the annual tuition benefit to roughly $20,235, so tuition beyond that is out of pocket (or covered by Yellow Ribbon) at Stanford.
Through the Yellow Ribbon Program, Stanford University and the VA share the cost of tuition above the Post-9/11 cap. About 84 Yellow Ribbon recipients were reported at this school.
The exact number of seats and the maximum contribution vary by degree level and program, so confirm the current limits with the schools veteran services office.
For active-duty students, Tuition Assistance covers up to $250 per credit hour — the indicators below show whether Stanford is below that cap.
| Residency | Per-credit charge | Below $250 cap? |
|---|---|---|
| In-state | $783 |  |
| Out-of-state | $783 | |
Beyond tuition, the Post-9/11 GI Bill® pays a Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA) while you are enrolled. Below, the academic-year housing benefit is set against the estimated living costs at Stanford.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Estimated living expenses (room & board, academic year) | $19,922 |
| Post-9/11 monthly housing allowance (MHA) | $4,557/mo |
| Housing benefit (academic year, ~8 months) | $36,456 |
| Estimated surplus in your pocket | $16,534 |
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.
With a Post-9/11 book stipend of up to $1,000 per year, the estimated $825 in supply costs at Stanford, so the stipend covers them in full.
Beyond the coverage math above, this is how much veteran education-benefit money actually flows to Stanford.
Approximately 143 Post-9/11 recipients used tuition benefits worth $2,633,339.
| Benefit | Recipients | Total disbursed | Average / recipient |
|---|---|---|---|
| GI Bill® (all students) | 127 | $3,812,939 | $30,023 |
| GI Bill® — undergraduate | 30 | $982,607 | — |
| GI Bill® — graduate | 97 | $2,830,332 | — |
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.