by our College Data Analytics TeamWill you go to Western 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 Western. Living-expense and book benefits are addressed in their own sections below.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Veteran tuition & fees | $5,446 |
| Guaranteed Post-9/11 tuition benefit | $5,446 |
| Tuition out of pocket | $0 |
Because tuition is at or below the annual Post-9/11 benefit, the GI Bill® covers it in full at Western.
Federal data does not indicate that Western currently participates in the Yellow Ribbon Program. Check directly with the school, since participation can change year to year.
DoD Tuition Assistance pays up to $250 per credit hour for active-duty students; here is how the per-credit charge at Western compares.
| Residency | Per-credit charge | Below $250 cap? |
|---|---|---|
| In-state | $81 |  |
| Out-of-state | $81 | |
On top of tuition, the Post-9/11 GI Bill® provides a Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA) for the months you are in school. Here is how that benefit compares to the estimated cost of living at Western.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Estimated living expenses (room & board, academic year) | $8,930 |
| Post-9/11 monthly housing allowance (MHA) | $1,350/mo |
| Housing benefit (academic year, ~8 months) | $10,800 |
| Estimated surplus in your pocket | $1,870 |
The benefit generally more than covers off-campus living costs here. MHA amounts reflect the local housing rate for the school’s area.
With a Post-9/11 book stipend of up to $1,000 per year, the estimated $1,600 in supply costs at Western, leaving about $600 out of pocket.
This is the real volume of GI Bill® and military tuition benefits paid out at Western.
Roughly 25 Post-9/11 recipients used tuition benefits worth $61,748.
| Benefit | Recipients | Total disbursed | Average / recipient |
|---|---|---|---|
| GI Bill® (all students) | 28 | $100,946 | $3,605 |
| GI Bill® — undergraduate | 28 | $100,946 | — |
| DoD Tuition Assistance (all) | 10 | $11,770 | $1,177 |
| DoD TA — undergraduate | 10 | $11,770 | — |
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.