by our College Data Analytics TeamWill you go to Western Dakota Tech 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 Western Dakota Tech. Housing and book benefits are covered separately below.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Veteran tuition & fees | $8,008 |
| Guaranteed Post-9/11 tuition benefit | $8,008 |
| Tuition out of pocket | $0 |
At public institutions the Post-9/11 GI Bill® pays in-state tuition and fees in full, meaning most eligible veterans pay no tuition at Western Dakota Tech.
Federal data does not indicate that Western Dakota Tech currently participates in the Yellow Ribbon Program. Contact the veteran services office to confirm whether any programs offer Yellow Ribbon matching.
For active-duty students, Tuition Assistance covers up to $250 per credit hour — the indicators below show whether Western Dakota Tech is below that cap.
| Residency | Per-credit charge | Below $250 cap? |
|---|---|---|
| In-state | $162 |  |
| Out-of-state | $162 | |
Beyond tuition, the Post-9/11 GI Bill® pays a Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA) while you are enrolled. Here is how that benefit compares to the estimated cost of living at Western Dakota Tech.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Estimated living expenses (room & board, academic year) | $11,700 |
| Post-9/11 monthly housing allowance (MHA) | $2,094/mo |
| Housing benefit (academic year, ~8 months) | $16,752 |
| Estimated surplus in your pocket | $5,052 |
For most full-time students the housing allowance covers the cost of living off campus, with money left over. 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 $1,000 in supply costs at Western Dakota Tech, so the stipend covers them in full.
Beyond the coverage math above, this is how much veteran education-benefit money actually flows to Western Dakota Tech.
Roughly 61 veterans received Post-9/11 GI Bill® tuition payments of $306,020.
| Benefit | Recipients | Total disbursed | Average / recipient |
|---|---|---|---|
| GI Bill® (all students) | 89 | $298,676 | $3,356 |
| GI Bill® — undergraduate | 89 | $298,676 | — |
| DoD Tuition Assistance (all) | 15 | $22,816 | $1,521 |
| DoD TA — undergraduate | 15 | $22,816 | — |
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.