The Post-9/11 GI Bill is the largest investment in veterans’ education since World War II, covering the full cost of an undergraduate education at any public university or college – and many private schools – for our nation’s newest generation of veterans.
You have earned these benefits, which can be used at more than 4,000 institutions nationwide, but you should use them carefully. Calculate your GI Bill benefits based on the school of your choice to determine if the Post-9/11 or Montgomery GI Bill benefits are better for you.
The Post-9/11 GI Bill provides up to 36 months of education benefits, generally payable for 15 years following your release from active duty. It is payable only for training at an eligible institution. The Bill covers tuition and fees not to exceed the maximum in-state tuition and fees at a public institution of higher learning. It also covers a monthly housing allowance, and an annual books and supplies stipend of $1,000 paid based on enrollment level (full-time/part-time). If you are enrolled exclusively in online training, you will not receive the housing allowance. If you are on active duty, you will not receive the housing allowance or books and supplies stipend.
The Montgomery GI Bill also provides up to 36 months of education benefits. It may be used for degree and certificate programs, flight training, apprenticeship/on-the-job training and correspondence courses. Remedial, deficiency and refresher courses may be approved under certain circumstances. Generally, benefits are payable for 10 years following your release from active duty.
In order to be eligible for the Montgomery GI Bill, you must pay $1,200 into the program initially. Only active duty service members are eligible for the Montgomery GI Bill, not National Guard and reservists. The Montgomery GI Bill provides a set monthly payment, which is sent directly to the veteran each month the veteran is enrolled in classes. The current monthly payment is set at $1,368 for full time students. Different rates apply if you are enrolled less than full time.
For more information on making the most of your benefits, click the links to the left – or below.
The first step toward taking advantage of your GI Bill benefits is to determine what your level of eligibility is – and what exactly you’re eligible for. Once you’re equipped with that information, you can begin calculating your benefits and applying them toward school tuition and fees.
Before you begin calculating your benefits, it’s a good idea to review the general benefit payment categories. These include: tuition and fees, monthly housing stipend, and books and supplies. You might also be interested to learn about your prospects for transferring benefits to your loved ones.
This section provides a real-life example of using Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits to pay for a school that exceeds the maximum tuition and fees covered. Instutions of higher learning and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs are working together to make attending your college of choice financially possible.
