by our College Data Analytics TeamHow much of the cost at Sterling College will the G.I. Bill® cover? 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 Sterling College. Housing and book benefits are covered separately below.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Veteran tuition & fees | $32,200 |
| Guaranteed Post-9/11 tuition benefit | $20,235 |
| Tuition out of pocket | $11,965 |
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 Sterling College.
Sterling 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 Sterling College falls under that cap.
| Residency | Per-credit charge | Below $250 cap? |
|---|---|---|
| In-state | $2,200 |  |
| Out-of-state | $2,200 | |
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 Sterling College.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Estimated living expenses (room & board, academic year) | $9,532 |
| Post-9/11 monthly housing allowance (MHA) | $1,446/mo |
| Housing benefit (academic year, ~8 months) | $11,568 |
| Estimated surplus in your pocket | $2,036 |
For most full-time students the housing allowance covers the cost of living off campus, with money left over. 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; Sterling College estimates these costs at about $1,240, leaving about $240 out of pocket.
Beyond the coverage math above, this is how much veteran education-benefit money actually flows to Sterling College.
Roughly 3 veterans received Post-9/11 GI Bill® tuition payments of $51,443.
| Benefit | Recipients | Total disbursed | Average / recipient |
|---|---|---|---|
| GI Bill® (all students) | 17 | $59,600 | $3,506 |
| GI Bill® — undergraduate | 17 | $59,600 | — |
| GI Bill® — graduate | 0 | $0 | — |
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.