People who served on active duty or in the Selected Reserve for 90 days or more after September 11 can get school benefits through the Post-9/11 GI Bill. 10, 2001. The payment rate depends on how much active-duty time or federal service a member has.
The GI Bill is one of the most valuable benefits available to military members and veterans pursuing higher education or job training But how much does the GI Bill actually pay per month? The answer depends on which GI Bill program you use and your individual circumstances
This guide will tell you everything you need to know about how much you can get from the Post-9/11 GI Bill, which is the most popular GI Bill program right now.
Post-9/11 GI Bill Overview
The Post-9/11 GI Bill provides financial assistance for education and housing to individuals who served on active duty after September 10, 2001. Here are the main benefits available through the Post-9/11 GI Bill
- Tuition and fees payment sent directly to the school
- Monthly housing allowance
- Annual books and supplies stipend
- One-time rural benefit payment (if eligible)
The exact amount you receive depends on your length of service, enrollment status, and training program.
Tuition and Fees
The Post-9/11 GI Bill will pay up to the full cost of in-state tuition and fees at public schools. For 2024-2025, the maximum tuition and fees payment for private or foreign schools is $28,937.09.
If you served for at least sixteen months, you are eligible for a scholarship benefit of ten percent. If you served less time, you will get a percentage based on how long you worked:
- 90-100% for 30-36 months
- 80% for 24-29 months
- 70% for 18-23 months
- 60% for 6-17 months
- 50% for 90 days to 6 months
If you served two years and your tuition is $5,000 per semester, for example, the Post-9/11 GI Bill would pay $4,000 (80%) of your tuition per semester.
Monthly Housing Allowance
The monthly housing allowance (MHA) is one of the best parts of the Post-9/11 GI Bill. Rates for MHA in 2024 and 2025 are based on the Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) for an E-5 with dependents.
Your MHA depends on where you attend school, your enrollment status, and length of service:
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Location: Your MHA is based on the BAH rate for the zip code of your school. For online students, the MHA is $1,118.50.
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Enrollment status: Full-time students receive a full MHA. Part-time students receive a partial MHA based on credits taken.
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Service length: You receive a percentage of the full MHA based on your length of service, from 40-100%.
For example, if you live in Los Angeles and attend school full-time, your MHA would be $3,636 (100% of the Los Angeles BAH rate). If you served 4 years and attend half-time, your MHA would be around $1,454 (60% of full-time for 4 years of service).
Books and Supplies Stipend
Every academic year, the Post-9/11 GI Bill provides up to $1,000 for books and supplies. This is paid directly to the student at the start of each term.
If you attend a college or university, you can receive up to $41.67 per credit, up to 24 credits per year. At a non-degree school, you can receive up to $83 per month.
One-Time Rural Benefit
If you move from a rural area for school, you may qualify for a one-time $500 rural relocation benefit. To be eligible, your home must be in a county with 6 or fewer people per square mile.
Added Benefits
In addition to the core benefits above, the Post-9/11 GI Bill offers:
- Yellow Ribbon Program for tuition costs above the GI Bill cap
- Up to $100 per month for tutoring
- Work-study program for students
- Coverage of licensing and certification test fees
Benefits For Apprenticeships and On-The-Job Training
The Post-9/11 GI Bill also provides a monthly housing allowance, books and supplies stipend, and added benefits for approved apprenticeships and on-the-job training programs.
The housing allowance starts at the full BAH rate and decreases every 6 months as you progress through the training, down to 20% after 2 years.
Key Factors That Determine Your Monthly GI Bill Payment
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Length of service – The percentage of benefits you qualify for is based on your total active duty service time. Longer service means a higher percentage of benefits.
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Type of school – Public schools receive unlimited tuition payments. Private and foreign schools have annual caps.
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Enrollment status – Full-time students receive the full housing allowance. Part-time students receive a partial allowance.
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Training format – Classroom programs qualify for housing allowance. Online programs receive a reduced allowance.
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Location – Your housing payment depends on where you physically attend classes. Online students receive a national average.
Estimating Your Post-9/11 GI Bill Benefits
With many factors involved, it can be tricky to estimate exactly how much you’ll receive from the Post-9/11 GI Bill. Here are some examples to give you an idea:
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Example 1: You served 4 years and attend a public university full-time in Los Angeles. You would receive:
- Full tuition payment
- $3,636 monthly housing allowance
- $1,000 annual book stipend
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Example 2: You served 2 years and attend a private university part-time in Monterey. You would receive:
- $4,000 per semester tuition payment (80%)
- $1,659 monthly housing allowance (80% of Monterey BAH)
- $500 annual book stipend (80%)
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Example 3: You served 1 year and take online classes full-time. You would receive:
- $2,900 per semester tuition payment (60%)
- $1,118 monthly housing allowance
- $600 annual book stipend (60%)
How to Apply for the Post-9/11 GI Bill
To start using your Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits, you need to apply through the VA and enroll in an approved program. Here are the key steps:
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Step 1: Apply online at www.va.gov or submit VA Form 22-1990.
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Step 2: Wait for your Certificate of Eligibility confirming benefit details.
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Step 3: Take your Certificate of Eligibility to your school’s certifying official to enroll.
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Step 4: Verify your enrollment with VA to begin payments to you and the school.
The Post-9/11 GI Bill opens doors to education and job training for veterans. Understanding exactly how much you can expect to receive monthly and annually will help you maximize your benefits. Use the details provided in this guide to estimate your individual GI Bill payments.
Book and Supply Stipend
You may receive an annual book stipend of up to $1,000 per year with the Post-9/11 GI Bill. This stipend will be paid at the beginning of each term. It is paid proportionately based on the number of credits taken by each student at $41. 67 per credit hour.
The Post-9/11 GI Bill also includes a provision to help students avoid some or all of the out-of-pocket tuition and fees associated with education programs that may exceed the Post-9/11 GI Bill tuition benefit. The Yellow Ribbon Program is not automatic. Schools must enter into an agreement with the VA to share the expense.
To qualify to receive Yellow Ribbon benefits, you must meet the following criteria:
- Meet the requirements for the Post-9/11 GI Bill at the 10% benefit level.
- Attend a college or university in the U.S. that has been approved by the S.
You might also get a one-time $500 rural relocation benefit payment to help pay for moving from a rural area to a city to go to school.
To qualify, you must:
- Be an otherwise eligible veteran.
- Live in a county where there are six people or fewer per square mile (based on the most recent decennial census) and:
- Either move at least 500 miles away to go to school, or
- When there are no other ways to get to school on land, travel by air is the only option.
The Department of Defense (DoD) lets people who have served at least six years and agree to serve at least four more years give their unused GI Bill to family members. DoD and the individual services can make changes to this policy at any time.
NOTE: You can only transfer benefits while on active duty or in the Selected Reserve.
What You Qualify For
| If You Are | You Qualify For | ||||
| Tuition and Fees | Monthly Housing Allowance | Book Stipend | Yellow Ribbon | Relocation | |
| On Active Duty or in the Selected Reserve | X | X | Note 1 | ||
| Veteran | X | X | X | X | X |
| Spouse Using Transferred Benefits | X | NOTE 1 | X | NOTE 1 | X |
| Child Using Transferred Benefits | X | X | X | X | X |
NOTE 1: If the sponsor is still in active duty, the spouse cannot get the monthly housing allowance or the Yellow Ribbon benefit.
How Much Money I Made Using The Post 9/11 GI Bill
FAQ
What is the max the GI Bill will pay?
The maximum benefit provides: Full tuition & fees directly to the school for all public school in-state students. For those attending private or foreign schools’ tuition & fees are capped at $27,120. 05 for the 2023-2024 academic year.
Does the GI Bill pay once a month?
How payments work. Your payments will be sent to the bank account you set up for direct deposit with the VA. You will be paid at the end of each month. If school starts September 6, that means your first payment should arrive on or around October 1.
Does the GI Bill pay for 4 years of college?
Additional education: The Post-9/11 GI Bill covers up to 36 months of college or career training. If you need more time because you transferred schools, switched degree programs or took on an advanced degree, then you’ll have to cover the costs.
Is using the GI Bill worth it?
The GI Bill is one of the best benefits of military service. The Post-9/11 GI Bill, Montgomery GI Bill, and dependent GI Bill programs help service members, veterans and families reach their educational goals. Here’s how you can make the most of those educational benefits.
