by our College Data Analytics TeamWill you go to CW for free thanks to the G.I. Bill®? GI Bill® benefits are limited and differ by school, so the specifics matter.
The table below compares the guaranteed Post-9/11 tuition benefit to the cost of attending CW. Housing and book benefits are covered separately below.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Veteran tuition & fees | $24,705 |
| Guaranteed Post-9/11 tuition benefit | $20,235 |
| Tuition out of pocket | $4,470 |
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 CW.
The College of Westchester 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. Roughly 2 students used Yellow Ribbon benefits here in the latest reporting year.
Seat counts and matching amounts change by program each year; verify the details with the schools military and veteran services team.
For active-duty students, Tuition Assistance covers up to $250 per credit hour — the indicators below show whether CW is below that cap.
| Residency | Per-credit charge | Below $250 cap? |
|---|---|---|
| In-state | $165 |  |
| Out-of-state | $165 | |
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 CW.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Estimated living expenses (room & board, academic year) | $9,520 |
| Post-9/11 monthly housing allowance (MHA) | $4,230/mo |
| Housing benefit (academic year, ~8 months) | $33,840 |
| Estimated surplus in your pocket | $24,320 |
The benefit generally more than covers off-campus living costs here. Your actual MHA depends on your rate of pursuit and the school’s location.
Eligible veterans receive up to $1,000 a year for books and supplies; CW estimates these costs at about $1,000, so the stipend covers them in full.
Beyond the coverage math above, this is how much veteran education-benefit money actually flows to CW.
Roughly 20 veterans received Post-9/11 GI Bill® tuition payments of $228,135.
| Benefit | Recipients | Total disbursed | Average / recipient |
|---|---|---|---|
| GI Bill® (all students) | 11 | $185,662 | $16,878 |
| GI Bill® — undergraduate | 11 | $185,662 | — |
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.