Post 9/11 GI Bill Tuition Benefits by State
The tuition benefits offered to military veterans through the Post 9/11 GI Bill is determined based on the tuition costs charged to in-state residents at state-operated colleges and universities. The following table displays what these benefits are by state:
| State | Maximum Charge per Credit Hour | Maximum Total Fees per Term |
| Alabama | $243.00 | $12,612.00 |
| Alaska | $151.00 | $13,419.00 |
| Arizona | $490.14 | $127.00 |
| Arkansas | $167.00 | $751.46 |
| California | 0* | $6,586.54 |
| Colorado | $419.00 | $43,035.00 |
| Connecticut | $486.00 | $1,946.00 |
| Delaware | $590.00 | $665.00 |
| District of Columbia | $105.00 | $657.00 |
| Florida | $682.23 | $3,172.86 |
| Guam | $173.00 | $414.00 |
| Georgia | $203.00 | $15,401.00 |
| Hawaii | $248.00 | $1,163.70 |
| Idaho | $238.00 | $2,233.70 |
| Illinois | $558.08 | $5,126.50 |
| Indiana | $230.05 | $11,415.00 |
| Iowa | $324.25 | $11,817.00 |
| Kansas | $369.50 | $3,436.00 |
| Kentucky | $295.00 | $1,830.00 |
| Louisiana | $410.50 | $2,541.70 |
| Maine | $312.50 | $4,655.00 |
| Maryland | $458.13 | $1,107.00 |
| Massachusetts | $71.50 | $5,939.50 |
| Michigan | $953.00 | $18,421.00 |
| Minnesota | $326.92 | $4,359.28 |
| Mississippi | $449.00 | $470.00 |
| Missouri | $253.00 | $1,622.41 |
| Montana | $205.40 | $1,414.45 |
| Nebraska | $227.75 | $1,574.25 |
| Nevada | $136.00 | $2,766.00 |
| New Hampshire | $933.00 | $4,768.00 |
| New Jersey | $437.50 | $5,102.00 |
| New Mexico | $201.40 | $10,600.00 |
| New York | $970.00 | $3,457.00 |
| North Carolina | $482.50 | $2,045.50 |
| North Dakota | $219.84 | $6,762.12 |
| Ohio | $477.00 | $12,280.00 |
| Oklahoma | $151.00 | $11,508.30 |
| Oregon | $407.00 | $42,828.00 |
| Pennsylvania | $700.00 | $8,205.00 |
| Puerto Rico | $85.00 | $525.00 |
| Rhode Island | $311.00 | $3,112.00 |
| South Carolina | $460.00 | $4,151.50 |
| South Dakota | $93.40 | $4,748.31 |
| Tennessee | $227.00 | $12,232.00 |
| Texas | $1,333.00 | $12,130.00 |
| Utah | $488.75 | $2,176.28 |
| Vermont | $460.00 | $2,203.00 |
| Virgin Islands | $120.00 | $563.00 |
| Virginia | $313.00 | $3,660.00 |
| Washington | $336.00 | $4,080.00 |
| West Virginia | $256.00 | $1592.00 |
| Wisconsin | $663.00 | $30,979.00 |
| Wyoming | $94.00 | $1,314.63 |
*California tuition benefits are zero because California does not charge tuition fees to their in-state undergraduates. More can be read about this here. Military students benefiting from the Post 9/11 GI Bill are strongly encouraged to look at something besides California, as their zero tuition rate makes it difficult to attend most colleges without student loans, even with the Yellow Ribbon Program fully implemented.
Further Reading:
The new GI bill (post 911) does not give California residents one red cent for tuition. This stinks. When you look at the chart of all 50 states and the benefits to GI’s, California is the only state that lists zero under tuition. Lots of states have lower tuition for state universities and community colleges but they still offer tuition payments. How can California treat their veterans so despicably? will benefits for the Montgomery bill change also? All my hopes for a colledge education are going down the drain!!!
The Montgomery GI Bill still offers financial assistance for students attending college in California. The current recommendation to active military and veterans attending school in California is to utilize the benefits of the Montgomery GI Bill instead of the Post 9/11 GI Bill, due to the fact that California does not charge students for enrollment based on units, but instead based on a flat fee. There’s more about it here.
Semantics should take a backseat in these types of situations. What is distressing is the runaround handed out almost giddily. The State Approving Agency for California, who was represented by one Sheila Hawkins, actually told me that the government is deciding what is best for the veterans. I was asked what was wrong with that. Not only was it a most fascist statement, but entirely wrong. Most veterans have families and are unable to complete their education in a traditional manner. To demand that we use our benefits in a particular way somewhat changes the idea that it is a benefit as much as a government handout, replete with restrictions and guidelines. The GI Bill is not welfare, it is a benefit that soldiers and sailors have earned, and we should be allowed to utilize our educational benefits in whatever way best suits our life situation. Close this loophole, before California falls even further down the progressive ladder it once dominated.
Great posting. I will continue to reference your site in the future. Veterans deserve to be rewarded for their hard work. The new post 9-1 GI bill provides assistance to veterans while the earn their online degrees.
This ruins my chance of achieving all the academic goals I wanted to. I served our country proudly with half of my enlistment spent stationed overseas and this is how I get repaid? If I had known this four years ago I might not have enlisted for the purpose of financing my education. I can’t afford to go to school without the BAH benefit of the new GI Bill but the “fee” allowance barely covers graduate school costs. Forget attending school out of state as well. I’m disgusted and disappointed.
Danielle i hear you. I’m also in Cali. The thing is 4 years ago their was no Post 9/11 G.I. Bill. So don’t change the G.I. Bill you currently have and your in the same spot you were 4 years ago. You don’t have to participate in the new one. Its also Cali’s fault for not charging tuition. What college doesn’t charge tuition? Solves that.
RLTW
I`m so discusted with this. I recently sold everything I owned and moved to California from Oregon to be closer to my family here and was planning on using the Post 9-11 GI Bill to go to school full time. I served two combat tours in Iraq in the infantry. I am a single dad of a 10 year old little girl and I am now lost on what to do. I have severe ptsd and have been struggling with my demons. My intent was to go to school full time at University of Phoenix to get a degree in business. I could have done most of this at home and on line. This was I could have raised my little girl as well. This is so wrong on so many levels. Now what do i do ? get a job ? Ive worked all my life. Im 50. I am in no condition to hold down a full time job and raise my girl. This post 911 bill I though was going to be what I needed to survive and make a better life foe me and my daughter. Its all lost now. Im going to send my little girl away to a family that can give her what she deserves and I do not know my fate. This is what we get for being loyal to our country. This is a tragety.
71$ per credit for mass is way wrong. I got to Umass lowell and its 309 per credit. where did they get this 71 per credit from
George–Check to see if Umass Iowell is participating in the Yellow Ribbon Program. If they are, this may help with your additional tuition expenditures. Hope this helps!
Well, fortunately, as California residents, we can still recieve benefits similar to students in other states by attending college online. Oh, wait……….no BAH.
Of course, I would be a resident of the only state this messed up AND we’re still unable to recieve comparable benefits as online students. Is there nothing I can do to recieve benefits that are deemed fit enough for my comrades? This is ridiculous.
FUBAR, anyone?
I recently spoke with a representative who told me California doesn’t use the word “tuition.” Instead it uses the word “fees” and the new GI Bill should cover all applicable fees. I understand they’re in the process of revising the wording in the new bill so Cali doesn’t sit alone. Don’t give up hope.