If you are attending a private or foreign school it will pay up to $28,937. 09 for the 2024-2025 academic year. An academic year lasts from Aug. 1 to July 31.
The Post-9/11 GI Bill will also pay you a monthly housing allowance that is based on the militarys Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) for an E-5 with dependents.
In the Yellow Ribbon program, private schools can choose to take part. This can waive some of the difference between the tuition you are charged and the amount covered by the Post-9/11 GI Bill. Be sure to ask your school if it participates in the program.
The amount of tuition and fees covered by the GI Bill is determined by your Post-9/11-GI Bill entitlement percentage, which is based on the number of months you have served on active duty after Sep. 10, 2001. For example, if you have served 24 months on active duty after Sep. 10, 2001, your GI Bill percentage is 80%. If you are attending a public school as an in-state resident and the tuition is $10,000 a semester, the Post-9/11 GI Bill would cover 80% of your tuition and fees, or $8,000. Active-duty time can also include Title 10 mobilizations for reserve and National Guard members.
Public schools must charge all eligible veterans who have been out of the military for less than three years, their dependents who are using transferred benefits, and the dependents using transferred benefits of active-duty members the resident tuition rate.
Don’t feel alone if you want to know how much the GI Bill pays for college. It can be hard to understand the VA’s education benefits because the rates you get paid depend on your GI Bill chapter, the type of school you go to, your enrollment status, and other things.
We’ll show you how much the Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33), which is the most popular way to pay for school, pays each semester in this article. We’ll cover your tuition, housing allowance, book stipends, and other costs so you can get an idea of how much money you’ll get from the GI Bill in total.
Tuition and Fees
The Post-9/11 GI Bill provides money to cover tuition and required fees at schools approved for VA benefits. The maximum tuition payment depends on whether you attend a public or private school.
Public Schools
For public schools, the Post-9/11 GI Bill pays 100% of in-state tuition and fees This applies even if you’re classified as an out-of-state student by the school.
For instance, if you live in the same state as the public school and the semester cost $10,000, the Post-9/11 GI Bill would pay for it all.
Active duty time can also include Title 10 mobilizations for reservists and National Guard members to qualify for 100% tuition coverage.
Private Schools
For private schools and foreign schools, the GI Bill pays up to a national maximum per academic year.
The national maximum for 2022-2023 is $28,238.55. For semesters and quarters, the limit is a proportional amount of the yearly cap.
If the tuition at your private school is higher than the national maximum, you will have to pay the extra amount yourself unless your school offers Yellow Ribbon.
Yellow Ribbon
The Yellow Ribbon Program can help cover costs above the GI Bill tuition cap at participating private schools.
Yellow Ribbon schools voluntarily enter an agreement with VA to match dollar-for-dollar any additional tuition costs not covered by the GI Bill. This effectively eliminates the tuition gap.
Make sure to ask if your private school participates in Yellow Ribbon – not all do.
Monthly Housing Allowance
On top of tuition, the Post-9/11 GI Bill provides a monthly housing stipend, called the Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA), to help cover living expenses.
The MHA payment is prorated based on your GI Bill eligibility percentage and rate of pursuit (credits taken). Full-time students receive the full MHA amount they qualify for.
The MHA is based on the military’s Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) for an E-5 with dependents in your school’s zip code. The MHA can be over $2,000 per month depending on where you attend school.
You must be enrolled more than half-time in seated classes to receive the MHA. Distance learners and fully online students receive a reduced national average MHA.
Book and Supply Stipends
The Post-9/11 GI Bill provides an annual $1,000 books and supplies stipend to purchase textbooks, laptops, and other required materials.
The book stipend is prorated by credits enrolled. Full-time students taking at least 12 credits can receive the full $1,000 per academic year.
The book stipend is paid proportionally based on enrollment each semester. For example, a student taking 6 credits could receive up to $500 for that semester.
Time Limits
Post-9/11 GI Bill payments are limited by your total months of benefits eligibility. Most veterans have 36 months of full-time benefits.
Your semester payments count against your total month cap based on your rate of pursuit. Taking 12 credits would use one month of benefits, while 6 credits uses a half month.
Carefully factoring in remaining eligibility is crucial to avoid unexpectedly losing your benefits before finishing your degree.
Total GI Bill Funding
Adding up these main payments gives you an estimate of how much the Post-9/11 GI Bill will provide per semester:
- Tuition and fees (based on public vs. private school limits)
- Monthly housing allowance
- $500 to $1,000 for book stipend
This can add up to over $20,000 per semester for students attending high-cost private universities. Public school students also receive robust funding covering most educational expenses.
Here are a few examples of potential total semester GI Bill payments:
-
Public school, in-state:
- Tuition: $10,000
- MHA: $2,100
- Books: $500
- Total: $12,600
-
Private school, Yellow Ribbon:
- Tuition: $22,000
- MHA: $2,300
- Books: $1,000
- Total: $25,300
-
Online private school:
- Tuition: $12,000
- MHA: $918
- Books: $500
- Total: $13,418
These figures demonstrate how Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits can make earning your degree affordable and limit student loan debt.
Make sure to apply early and provide needed documents to begin using your benefits. Find out your specific payment amounts by contacting your school’s VA certifying official. With the right planning, your GI Bill can fully fund your college aspirations!
Frequently Asked Questions
How is the housing allowance calculated?
The Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA) is based on the military’s Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) for an E-5 with dependents in your school’s zip code. The MHA is prorated by your GI Bill eligibility percentage and rate of pursuit.
Can I use the GI Bill for graduate school?
Yes, you can use the GI Bill for graduate degrees like masters and doctoral programs. The tuition and MHA amounts are the same. Total Post-9/11 GI Bill eligibility is limited to 36 months.
What if I attend more than one semester per year?
Your total GI Bill payments are limited per academic year, not calendar year. Payments like the housing stipend reset each August 1st. Taking summer semesters can help maximize benefits.
What if I’m not eligible for 100% of the benefit?
If you qualify for less than 100% of Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits, your payments are prorated. For example, with 60% eligibility your tuition payment would be 60% of the maximum tuition rate.
Can spouses or dependents use transferred benefits?
Veterans can transfer GI Bill eligibility to spouses and dependents. Payment amounts are calculated the same for eligible transferees.
Keep Up With Your Education Benefits
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Amanda Miller is an editor and writer for Military. com specializing in coverage of military and veteran pay and benefits. In the 1990s, she became a journalist and started writing about the military for Military Times in 2007. Since then, she has contributed to a number of military-focused magazines, such as Military Officer Magazine, The War Horse, and Air Read Full Bio © Copyright 2024 Military. com. All rights reserved. This article may not be republished, rebroadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without written permission. To reprint or license this article or any content from Military. com, please submit your request.
