70th Anniversary of the GI Bill 1944 to 2014: Then and Now 

1944
GI Bill
48 months of training 
$500/year in tuition to school
$50/month student stipend 

College Tuition, University of Pennsylvania
Tuition: $400
Room and Board: $530 
  
E-6, Staff Sargent Salary
$648/yeah

Minimum Wage: 30 cents per hour

Purchasing Power (Average): 
Home $8,600
Car $1,220
Gallon of Gas 21 cents
Bread: 9 cents/loaf
Milk: 62 cents/gal
Postage Stamp: 3 cents

2014
Post-9/11 GI Bill
36 months of training 
Full in-station tuition and fees paid directly to school.
Monthly housing allowance based on E-5 w/ dependents location pay.
 
$1000/year books and supplies 

College Tuition, University of Pennsylvania
Tuition: $40,594,
Room: $8,330
Meals: $4,592

E-6, Army Staff Sargent Salary
$28,569.60/year

Minimum Wage: $7.25 per hour (Federal) 

Purchasing Power (Average): 
Home: $317,500
Car: $32,086
Gallon of Gas: $3.44 
Bread: $2.39 /loaf 
Milk: 99 cents/gal
Postage Stamp: 49 cents

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