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We value your trust. Our mission is to provide readers with accurate and unbiased information, and we have editorial standards in place to ensure that happens. Our editors and reporters thoroughly fact-check editorial content to ensure the information you’re reading is accurate. We maintain a firewall between our advertisers and our editorial team. Our editorial team does not receive direct compensation from our advertisers.
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The GI Bill is one of the most valuable benefits available to military members and veterans. This federal program helps servicemembers and veterans pay for college, graduate school, and job training programs. But how exactly does the GI Bill pay for school? And what does it cover? This complete guide answers all your questions about using GI Bill benefits to earn a degree.
What is the GI Bill?
The GI Bill is a broad term for several veterans education benefit programs administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The original GI Bill was signed in 1944 to help WWII veterans adjust to civilian life by paying for vocational training or college.
Since then, the GI Bill has been updated several times. The most recent iteration is the Post-9/11 GI Bill which went into effect in 2009. This newest version of the GI Bill provides the most generous education benefits to veterans who served on active duty after September 10 2001.
Overall, the various GI Bill programs provide money to cover tuition, housing textbooks, and other education-related costs. GI Bill benefits can be used at colleges universities, vocational schools, apprenticeship programs, and other types of education and job training.
Key Types of GI Bill Benefits
There are a few main GI Bill programs to know about:
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Post-9/11 GI Bill – For veterans who served at least 90 days of aggregate active duty after Sept. 10, 2001. Provides money for tuition housing, books and supplies.
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Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB) – For veterans who enlisted and contributed $100 per month for 12 months. Provides monthly education benefits to use for tuition, housing, etc.
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Survivors’ and Dependents’ Assistance – Provides education benefits to spouses and children of disabled or deceased veterans.
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Vocational Rehabilitation – For veterans with service-related disabilities. Helps veterans train for a new career.
The Post-9/11 GI Bill tends to provide the most generous benefits, covering all in-state tuition and fees at public schools and providing a monthly housing allowance.
How Much Does the GI Bill Cover for College?
The Post-9/11 GI Bill provides up to 36 months of education benefits. This includes:
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Tuition and Fees: The Post-9/11 GI Bill covers all in-state tuition and fees at public colleges and universities. For private or foreign schools, it covers up to $26,146.81 per year.
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Housing Allowance: You’ll receive a monthly housing stipend based on the cost of living where your school is located. For 2023, the average housing allowance is $2,161 per month.
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Book Stipend: You get up to $1,000 per year for textbooks and supplies.
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Rural Benefit: If you move from a rural area, you may qualify for a one-time $500 payment.
The exact amount you receive depends on your length of service, tuition costs, and housing costs in your area. The VA will determine your percentage of maximum coverage.
Do All Colleges Accept the GI Bill?
The good news is that most colleges and universities in the United States accept the GI Bill!
Any school that participates in federal student aid programs must accept the GI Bill. This includes public state colleges, private nonprofit colleges, vocational schools, and accredited online colleges.
Some key facts:
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Over 5,000 colleges across the country take GI Bill benefits.
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All public colleges accept the GI Bill, since they participate in federal student aid.
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Many private for-profit colleges accept the GI Bill, like University of Phoenix, DeVry University, and more.
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Overseas colleges can be approved for GI Bill benefits in some cases.
GI Bill benefits can also be used for apprenticeships, on-the-job training programs, flight schools, correspondence courses, national testing programs, and entrepreneurship training.
How to Apply for the GI Bill
Follow these steps to get your GI Bill benefits:
1. Apply for your Certificate of Eligibility (COE): This is done through the VA and confirms your eligibility.
2. Submit college applications: Apply to the colleges you want to attend. Make sure to apply for financial aid and scholarships too.
3. Send your COE to the school: Once accepted, send your approved COE to the college’s VA or financial aid office.
4. Submit GI Bill benefit application: Work with the financial aid office to fill out VA forms detailing your enrollment and chosen program.
5. Confirm your enrollment: Verify your enrollment at the start of each term to receive benefits!
The entire application process can take 2-3 months, so start early! Research schools, apply for aid, and request your COE from the VA right when you begin planning your education.
Can the GI Bill Run Out?
Yes, GI Bill benefits have a time limit:
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Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits are limited to 36 months of coverage.
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Montgomery GI Bill benefits expire 10 years after separating from active duty.
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Benefits for spouses and dependents expire 15 years after the veteran’s retirement or discharge.
To make your benefits last, be strategic about when you use them. Consider:
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Knocking out general education credits at community college before transferring to a 4-year university.
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Pursuing certifications or vocational training with lower time commitments than a bachelor’s degree.
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Using tuition assistance while on active duty to save GI Bill months.
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Finding ways to reduce costs like buying used textbooks or living with family.
Plan ahead and make the most of every month of benefits you have!
Can Family Members Use Transferred GI Bill Benefits?
The Post-9/11 GI Bill allows servicemembers to transfer unused benefits to their spouse or dependent children. Here’s how it works:
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The veteran must have at least 6 years of service and commit to serving 4 more years.
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Once approved by the military, the veteran can transfer benefits to dependents.
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Family members remain eligible for transferred benefits even if the veteran leaves service.
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Spouses can start using benefits right away. Children must wait until the veteran has completed 10 years of service.
Transferring benefits is a great option for military families! It allows spouses and kids to take advantage of the GI Bill for college while the servicemember remains in the military.
Combining the GI Bill With Other Aid
It’s smart to combine the GI Bill with other financial aid to reduce costs. Options include:
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Scholarships: Apply for private, corporate, college, and community scholarships.
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Grants: Federal and state grants help lower-income students.
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Financial aid: Fill out the FAFSA® form to qualify for aid like subsidized loans, work-study, etc.
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Tuition assistance: Take classes while serving using Tuition Assistance benefits from your military branch.
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Yellow Ribbon: This program helps cover GI Bill shortfalls at participating schools.
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State aid: Many states offer education benefits for veterans!
Stacking aid and benefits is an excellent way to get the most value from the GI Bill and graduate debt-free.
Maximizing Your GI Bill Benefits
Here are some final tips for making the most of the GI Bill:
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Research schools thoroughly to find the best value. Compare costs, graduation rates, and GI Bill acceptance.
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Consider lower-cost pathways like starting at community college before transferring.
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Pursue in-demand degrees that lead to higher-paying careers. STEM and healthcare fields are great options.
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Use tuition assistance, scholarships, and grants to supplement and prolong GI Bill benefits.
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Complete internships to boost your resume and gain practical skills.
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Take advantage of veteran support services on campus for mentoring and networking.
The GI Bill Opens Doors
The GI Bill provides amazing opportunities to pursue higher education and skills training. College costs can be a heavy burden, but the GI Bill helps lighten the load for veterans, servicemembers, and their families. If you served our country and want to continue your education, explore how these earned benefits can work for you!
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Calendar Icon 5 Years with Bankrate Calendar Icon 9 Years of editorial experience Aylea Wilkins has been at Bankrate since 2019, editing content in student, personal and home equity loans and auto, home and life insurance before taking on editing content in a variety of other categories.
Bankrate is always editorially independent. While we adhere to strict , this post may contain references to products from our partners. Heres an explanation for . Our is to ensure everything we publish is objective, accurate and trustworthy. Bankrate logo
Founded in 1976, Bankrate has a long track record of helping people make smart financial choices. We’ve maintained this reputation for over four decades by demystifying the financial decision-making process and giving people confidence in which actions to take next.
Bankrate follows a strict editorial policy, so you can trust that we’re putting your interests first. All of our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts, who ensure everything we publish is objective, accurate and trustworthy.
Our loans reporters and editors focus on the points consumers care about most — the different types of lending options, the best rates, the best lenders, how to pay off debt and more — so you can feel confident when investing your money. Bankrate logo
Bankrate follows a strict editorial policy, so you can trust that we’re putting your interests first. Our award-winning editors and reporters create honest and accurate content to help you make the right financial decisions.
We value your trust. Our mission is to provide readers with accurate and unbiased information, and we have editorial standards in place to ensure that happens. Our editors and reporters thoroughly fact-check editorial content to ensure the information you’re reading is accurate. We maintain a firewall between our advertisers and our editorial team. Our editorial team does not receive direct compensation from our advertisers.
Bankrate’s editorial team writes on behalf of YOU – the reader. Our goal is to give you the best advice to help you make smart personal finance decisions. We follow strict guidelines to ensure that our editorial content is not influenced by advertisers. Our editorial team receives no direct compensation from advertisers, and our content is thoroughly fact-checked to ensure accuracy. So, whether you’re reading an article or a review, you can trust that you’re getting credible and dependable information. Bankrate logo
How can you maximize GI Bill benefits for college?
Even with the support of the GI Bill, you may still end up paying for some education costs out of pocket. But with careful planning, you can make your GI benefits go as far as possible. Here are some of the ways to do that:
- Squeeze in as many classes as you can: The GI bill pays for 36 months of benefits, which means the funds can be used to cover as many classes as you take in that time frame. Consider taking summer classes to get the most classes possible completed before the 36 months expire.
- Select a major and use benefits strategically: Identify your major early on, if possible, to help ensure that your 36 months of benefits don’t elapse before you’ve taken all required courses for graduation. If your 36 months run out before you’ve finished all of the necessary coursework, you may have to pay the remaining tuition and expenses on your own.
- Take online classes: Enrolling in online courses can save you on out-of-pocket costs such as gas, vehicle wear and tear, childcare and more. You’ll still be eligible for the housing allowance payments available through the GI Bill when studying online, though you’ll receive a reduced rate. If you take just one class in person on campus while enrolled primarily online, you’ll be eligible for an even higher housing allowance payment.
How Much Money I Made Using The Post 9/11 GI Bill
FAQ
Does the GI Bill fully pay for college?
Please let us know if you are eligible for 100% of your Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits. We will pay for your full $22,000 in tuition and fees. Please let us know if you are eligible for 15% of your Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits. We will pay for $15,400 of your tuition and fees.
How much does the GI Bill pay monthly?
As part of the Post-9/11 GI Bill, you may also get a monthly housing allowance based on the ZIP code of the school or campus where you attend most of your classes. This stipend averages $1,934. 80 a month but can exceed $2,700 depending on where you go to school.
How many years does GI Bill cover?
BENEFITS AND ELIGIBILITY For approved programs, the Post-9/11 GI Bill provides up to 36 months of education benefits. If you got out of active duty before January 1, 2013, you have 15 years from that date to use your benefits.
How many degrees can you get with GI Bill?
Yes. If you still have GI Bill benefits after your first degree, you can use them to pay for classes for a second degree. You can also take classes for two different degrees at the same school or in the same school district at the same time. This is called a dual degree program.
Does the GI Bill pay for college?
The Post-9/11 GI Bill pays for many of the costs of attending college, including: tuition and fees. The U. S. If you go to a public college, the Department of Veterans Affairs will pay for all of your in-state tuition and fees. If you go to a private college, the benefit ends.
Does the GI Bill cover Graduate School?
The GI Bill includes additional programs available to Soldiers during and after service. Get help paying for private or graduate school costs that aren’t covered by your Post-9/11 GI Bill if you are in the military or a veteran.
What are GI Bill benefits?
GI Bill benefits help you pay for school and cover expenses while you’re training for a job. GI Bill has been helping veterans and their families get money for school or training since 1944. It can cover all or some of the costs. Learn more about GI Bill benefits on this page—and how to apply for them.
Does GI Bill pay for school while on active duty?
You will not get an extra monthly housing stipend from the GI Bill if you use your benefits to pay for school while you are on active duty. This is because the GI Bill is meant to replace your military housing allowance. That housing stipend could be worth as much as or more than the tuition, depending on the school you go to.
What if the GI Bill doesn’t cover my school?
Check to see if your school is part of the Yellow Ribbon program if the GI Bill doesn’t cover the whole cost of your education. Schools make this deal with the VA to split the costs of school that aren’t covered by the GI Bill. This lowers or eliminates the amount that students have to pay out of their own pockets.
What does the GI Bill pay for?
A lot of different types of education and training costs are covered by GI Bill benefits. These include: college degree programs (20–30%), up to 100% of in-state tuition at public universities and colleges (undergraduate and graduate), Online learning. Vocational and technical training. Licensing and certification. Apprenticeship and on-the-job training.
