by our College Data Analytics TeamWill you go to ESF 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.
The table below compares the guaranteed Post-9/11 tuition benefit to the cost of attending ESF. Living-expense and book benefits are addressed in their own sections below.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Veteran tuition & fees | $9,206 |
| Guaranteed Post-9/11 tuition benefit | $9,206 |
| Tuition out of pocket | $0 |
The Post-9/11 GI Bill® tuition benefit is enough to cover the full tuition and fees at ESF.
SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry is a Yellow Ribbon school: the institution and the VA jointly fund tuition that exceeds the GI Bill® cap.
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.
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 ESF falls under that cap.
| Residency | Per-credit charge | Below $250 cap? |
|---|---|---|
| In-state | $111 |  |
| Out-of-state | $111 | |
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 ESF.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Estimated living expenses (room & board, academic year) | $10,580 |
| Post-9/11 monthly housing allowance (MHA) | $2,127/mo |
| Housing benefit (academic year, ~8 months) | $17,016 |
| Estimated surplus in your pocket | $6,436 |
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.
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 ESF run 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 ESF.
In the latest reporting year, about 29 Post-9/11 recipients used tuition benefits worth $188,455.
| Benefit | Recipients | Total disbursed | Average / recipient |
|---|---|---|---|
| GI Bill® (all students) | 21 | $162,769 | $7,751 |
| GI Bill® — undergraduate | 21 | $162,769 | — |
| GI Bill® — graduate | 0 | $0 | — |
| DoD Tuition Assistance (all) | 0 | $0 | — |
| DoD TA — undergraduate | 0 | $0 | — |
| DoD TA — 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.