Does AROTC pick up room and board when a cadet is at an SMC?

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sheriff3

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Quick question...
I know one can have the choice of R&B or tuition on an AROTC but in looking at the Citdel website it looks like the students are requires to live in the dorm for the entire 4 years, if that is the case then does the figure below get paid by the Army?

Total Cost
Full-time in-state upper classmen: $22,024
Full-time in-state freshman: $26,374
Full-time out-of-state upper classmen: $41,632
Full-time out-of-state freshmen: $45,982
*Tuition includes room and board, infirmary fees, laundry and dry cleaning as well as fees for uniforms, books and supplies.
 
My understanding is only the actual tuition, not including room and board. But I could be mistaken.
 
Army ROTC picks up Room and Board or Tuition. Not sure how it works for the Citadel. Some SMCs offer scholarships to ROTC scholarship recipients to defer the Room and Board costs. For some who earn academic scholarships or attend school in state, it is better financially for them to use it on Room and Board. I am sure someone will chime specifically about how it works for Citadel and if that cost is picked up or not by the school.
 
If you are funding college with a 529 plan it is important to note that room and board are not "qualified" expenses. As such they will not be reflected on the 1098-T issued by the the school. When you file your taxes you report that amount. You also report the amount (the distribution from the account) from the 1099-Q issued by the 529 fund.

So, it could be better to use the ROTC scholarship for room and board. And use the college fund for qualified expenses.

Otherwise you could find your self paying a penalty for not having enough qualified expenses to offset the distribution(s) from the 529 account.

I know this because it happened to me.
 
AJC -- I'm no CPA, but I think there is a nuance in your post.

From looking at the IRS rules: http://www.irs.gov/publications/p970/ch08.html, Room and Board are considered "Qualified Expenses" in certain circumstances:

"Expenses for room and board must be incurred by students who are enrolled at least half-time. The expense for room and board qualifies only to the extent that it is not more than the greater of the following two amounts.
  1. The allowance for room and board, as determined by the eligible educational institution, that was included in the cost of attendance (for federal financial aid purposes) for a particular academic period and living arrangement of the student.
  2. The actual amount charged if the student is residing in housing owned or operated by the eligible educational institution.

    You will need to contact the eligible educational institution for qualified room and board costs    ."
I assume your school doesn't require it's ROTC student to live in a specific dorm or barracks?
 
That particular son is not in ROTC. And FSU determined it was not eligible.
 
Room and Board and Tuition are separate at The Citadel. The Army pays for one or the other, same as everywhere else. Everyone chooses tuition since it's about 80% of the total cost.
 
I am not 100% positive, but I think 1 or 2 of the SMCs (Norwich I believe), that offers scholarships that cover Room & Board for AROTC scholarship recipients. Sounds like Citadel does not. I do not think VMI does either.
 
VMI provides $1000 towards Room and Board per year for those on a 4yr or 3yr ROTC scholarship
 
Norwich provides Room and Board for Scholarship recipients through their ID White Scholarship. You must maintain a 2.75 GPA to keep it.
 
Full Metal Bulldog said:
North Georgia covers Room and Board for cadets, at least back when I applied in 2011-2012.
Click to expand...

To clarify, North Georgia would only cover room and board for ROTC scholarship cadets who choose to use the scholarship for tuition. The majority of cadets are non ROTC scholarship, though many are on Georgia Military Scholarship and HOPE (state-based scholarships).

DS is a non-scholarship contracted cadet at UNG.
 
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