Effective use of BAH and other education factors

[reepicheep]

Started out in transportation. Moved here because intangibles.

Going back to school for a degree in accounting. An amazing sub-program of the VA's GI Bill, Veteran's Readiness and Employment (VRE) is likely to cover tuition and books in full. VRE is how I took the woodworking program I was in the last time I posted on here. I'm looking at a two year degree at a local CC with a transition to a 4 year when I have taken everything at the CC that will transfer over. I'm working in the field now and have been for over a year, and am intending to keep my full time employment. I'm likely not going to attend full time, but I'll take enough courses to be over half time, which is the threshold for BAH to kick-in. The VA scales the amount based on the number of credit hours, so I can expect something like 2/3 - 3/4 of the below totals.

VRE provides a housing stipend at the same rate as the GI Bill. This is Basic Allowance for Housing at the E-5 rate + dependents.

If I take one in-person class, I get the BAH rate for the school's zip code. If I take no in-person classes, I get the national BAH average.

Full rate for the school's zip code at full-time attendance = $1,791/month
Full rate for the national average for full-time attendance = $1,177.50/month

So on the surface it makes sense to take at least one in-person class and be on campus to get the full amount of BAH. However, I would appreciate the forum's assistance at evaluating other factors.

Tangible expenses if I take an in-person class

Vehicle expenses: Round trip = 33 miles x .67/mile (IRS reimbursement rate) = $22.11/day x 22 travel days in a term = $486.42 total
Food/drinks I will likely buy if I'm not at home (just being real here): $10/day x 22 school days - $220 total
Likely additional costs: Random crap I buy on campus (books, things to donate to, tips) $50/term
Opportunity cost of spending two hours a week driving: 44 hours total in the term.

I'm salaried so it's hard to put a dollar value on this; I wouldn't be using this time to run contracting clients; I'd probably just be working my main job anyway. I might need to work later if I am spending 4 hours of my week driving/in class...but I already work pretty weird hours and take random chunks of my day to do other things. It's more a question of how much is my free time or sleep worth than my working time, and I don't really know.

Total estimated expenses of being in-person: $756
Net BAH: $1,035

Whereas I pocket the entire $1,177.50 if I take all my classes online.

Intangibles

Connections with professors and students in person
On campus causes, groups, activities I might enjoy learning about/participating in (college people are likely to be closer to the intersection of educated/queer/kinky/godless heathen that I want to hang out with; a hard to find combo in an otherwise rural county)
Difficulty absorbing/focusing on material when presented in an asynchronous online format
It might be more fun/safer to take in person classes in the summer when it's not raining every single day (my car needs new tires yesterday)
There are definitely at least some terms I'm going to have take in-person classes regardless
It's easier to to be a working student if I'm not spending 4 hrs a week during the middle of the work day driving/in class

[ertyu]

Connections with professors and students in person
On campus causes, groups, activities I might enjoy learning about/participating in (college people are likely to be closer to the intersection of educated/queer/kinky/godless heathen that I want to hang out with; a hard to find combo in an otherwise rural county)

These open the doors to serendipity which, depending on how things pan out, might be invaluable.