Get the current Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33) rates for August 1, 2024, to July 31, 2025. And learn about how we determine how much of the full benefit rate you can get.
The Post-9/11 GI Bill is an incredibly valuable education benefit for military veterans who served on active duty after September 10, 2001. This GI Bill helps cover the costs of education and living expenses while in school. But how exactly does the Post-9/11 GI Bill pay work? Let’s break it down.
Tuition and Fees
The Post-9/11 GI Bill helps pay tuition and fees directly to the school The amount covered depends on what type of school you attend
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For public schools, the GI Bill covers all net in-state tuition and fees
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For private schools, the GI Bill covers up to $28,937 per academic year.
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For foreign schools, the GI Bill covers up to $28,937 per academic year.
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For vocational/technical training programs, the GI Bill covers up to $28,937 per academic year.
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For flight training programs, the GI Bill covers up to $16,535 per academic year.
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For correspondence courses, the GI Bill covers up to $14,055 per academic year.
The Post-9/11 GI Bill pays the net cost of tuition and fees. This is the total cost minus any financial aid, scholarships, or tuition assistance you may receive.
The tuition payment is sent directly to your school. Not having to pay the money up front or wait to be reimbursed is a big plus.
Monthly Housing Allowance
A monthly housing allowance (MHA) is one of the best parts of the Post-9/11 GI Bill. You can get it as long as you are at least half-time in school.
If you go to school in person, your MHA is based on the Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) for an E-5 with dependents in the school’s zip code. MHA rates are adjusted annually on August 1st.
Your MHA payment amount depends on:
- Your Post-9/11 GI Bill eligibility percentage
- Your course load (full-time vs part-time)
- If you take classes in-person vs online
If you take all online classes, your MHA is capped at half the national average BAH rate, which is $1,169 for 2025.
If you take a mix of online and in-person classes, your MHA is prorated.
The MHA is paid directly to you at the end of each month you’re enrolled. You can use it to pay rent, utilities, and other living expenses.
Book and Supply Stipend
As part of the Post-9/11 GI Bill, veterans can get up to $1,000 a year to help pay for school supplies, equipment, books, and other school-related items.
If you attend school at a college/university, you can receive up to $41.67 per credit hour, up to 24 credits per year.
If you attend a vocational or non-degree program, you can receive up to $83 per month.
The book/supply stipend is paid directly to you proportionally based on enrollment. You’ll get the first payment after your term starts and you can use the money as you see fit.
Tutorial Assistance
If you need some extra help with coursework, you may be eligible for up to $100 per month for tutorial assistance, up to a maximum of $1,200. This can help pay for tutoring or other academic support services.
To qualify, you must be enrolled at least half-time and have a deficiency in a particular subject that directly threatens your continued progress and success in your program of education.
Licensing and Certification Test Fees
The Post-9/11 GI Bill can reimburse you up to $2,000 per test for licensing and certification exams. This includes things like the CISSP for cybersecurity, the PMP for project management, and many more professional certifications.
You are charged one month of GI Bill entitlement for every $2,414.18 in test fees paid.
Relocation Allowance
If you need to move from a highly rural area for school, you may qualify for a one-time rural relocation allowance of $500.
To be eligible, your home must be in a county with 6 or less people per square mile. And you must relocate at least 500 miles or travel by air because no ground transportation options exist.
Yellow Ribbon Program
If your tuition and fees exceed the Post-9/11 GI Bill’s maximums, your school may cover the difference through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Participating schools enter into an agreement with the VA to match its contributions to reduce or eliminate your out-of-pocket costs.
Over 5,000 schools voluntarily participate in the Yellow Ribbon Program. Make sure to consider Yellow Ribbon schools if you expect your tuition/fees to exceed the GI Bill’s limits.
Eligibility Tiers
It’s important to understand that your Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits are prorated based on your length of active duty service after 9/11/2001:
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At least 36 months of active duty = 100% of maximum benefits
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At least 30 continuous days of active duty + discharge for service-connected disability = 100% of maximum benefits
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30-35 months of active duty = 90% of maximum benefits
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24-29 months of active duty = 80% of maximum benefits
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18-23 months of active duty = 70% of maximum benefits
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6-17 months of active duty = 60% of maximum benefits
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90 days to 6 months of active duty = 50% of maximum benefits
So if you didn’t serve at least 36 months on active duty, you’ll receive a percentage of the maximum benefit amounts mentioned earlier.
For example, if you served 18 months, you’d be eligible for 70% of the maximum tuition payment, 70% of the maximum MHA, etc.
How You Get Paid
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Tuition/fees are paid directly to the school. You don’t have to worry about coming up with the money.
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The monthly housing allowance and book/supply stipend are paid directly to you via direct deposit at the end of each month after verification of your enrollment.
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Most other benefits like licensing/certification and rural relocation are paid as a reimbursement once you submit proof of payment/completion.
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Tutorial assistance payments are made directly to your tutor after submitting invoices.
Apply Early!
The GI Bill is a great benefit, but make sure to apply early through the VA to get your COE (Certificate of Eligibility). It can take 30-45 days to process your application.
Without your COE, your school can’t verify your benefit eligibility or enroll you in classes.
Also be aware that GI Bill processing slows down from May to August during peak enrollment season for fall classes.
Find the Right School
Make sure to choose an approved GI Bill school that offers your program and provides the support services you need. Research total costs, financial aid options, and Yellow Ribbon eligibility.
Use the GI Bill Comparison Tool to weigh your options and choose the best school for you. Planning ahead will ensure a smooth enrollment process and maximize your education benefits.
The Post-9/11 GI Bill involves several moving parts, but taking the time to understand it fully will pay off tremendously. This hard-earned benefit can help you achieve your education dreams and career goals. Take advantage of every dollar you’ve rightfully earned through your military service.
Full rates for school and training programs
Effective August 1, 2024, to July 31, 2025
We’ll send your tuition and fees directly to your school or training program.
The amounts listed here are the maximum amounts we’ll pay this academic year for each type of school or training program. If you’re eligible for a percentage of the full benefit, multiply the amount by your percentage. This will give you the maximum amount we’ll pay this academic year.
Find out the full rate based on what type of school you’re attending:
- We’ll pay the net tuition and required fees at a public college or university, like a community college or state university. You might be able to get in-state tuition at a public school even if you haven’t lived in the state where the school is located. Learn more about in-state tuition rates.
- Private college or university: We’ll pay up to $28,937 in net tuition and required fees. 09.
- A foreign institution of higher learning is a college or university in a country other than the United States. It can be public or private. S. We’ll pay up to $28,937 in net tuition and required fees. 09 in U. S. dollars.
- For programs that don’t lead to a college degree, like HVAC repair, truck driving, EMT, or beautician school, we’ll pay up to $28,937 in net tuition and required fees. 09.
- Flight training (a program that doesn’t lead to a degree or rating): We’ll pay up to $16,535 in net tuition and required fees. 46.
- Correspondence school: We’ll pay up to $14,055 for the net tuition and required fees. Courses are usually sent to you by mail, and you can work at your own pace. 13.
You may be eligible for money to help pay for your housing while you’re studying. If you’re eligible for monthly housing allowance (MHA), we’ll pay you this allowance at the end of each month.
We will give you a “prorated payment,” which is a portion of the full monthly housing allowance, based on these two things:
- How much of the Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits you can get, and
- What kind of classes you’re taking or how many hours you have planned each week
You’re not eligible for an MHA payment if any of these are true:
- You’re on active duty, or
- When a Veteran is on active duty, you can use transferred benefits as a spouse, or
- You only go to school half the time or less, or
- You’re taking correspondence training or flight training, or
- You’re on break from school
Your MHA is based on the monthly Rates for an E-5 with Dependents for the Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH). This is called the resident MHA. The MHA you get from August 1, 2024, to July 31, 2025 is based on the rates for 2024.
You can use the Defense Department (DOD) lookup tool on the Defense Travel Management Office website to find out how much money you may be eligible to receive for housing. You’ll need the zip code for your school to get started.
We base your monthly housing allowance on the national average.
We’ll pay you up to $1,177.50 (equal to half the national average for MHA). This is the maximum amount we’ll pay you each month.
Note: If you take at least one class in person while taking other online learning classes, you may be eligible for the higher resident MHA.
We base your monthly housing allowance on the national average.
We’ll pay you up to $2,355.00 (equal to the national average for MHA). This is the maximum amount we’ll pay you each month.
Eligibility for a percentage of benefits if you served less than 36 months
If you served on active duty for less than 1,095 days (36 months), you’re eligible for only part of the Post-9/11 GI Bill benefit. We base the percentage you’re eligible for on the total amount of time you served on active duty (with or without breaks in service). We call this your “eligibility tier.”
Find the percentage of the full benefit you’re eligible for:
- 10% to 20% of the full benefit for 910 to 2094 days (30 to 3 15 months).
- 730% to 90% of the full benefit in days (24% to 99% of the full benefit in months)
- For 545% to 729 days (18% to 223% months), 20% of the full benefit is paid.
- 180 to 544 days (6 to 17 months): 2060% of the full benefit percentage
- 90% to 20179% of days (90% of days to 5% of months): 20% of the full benefit
The rates listed on this page are for 100% percent of the full benefit. If you’re eligible for a percentage of the full benefit, multiply the rates on this page by your percentage. This will give you the amount of your yearly payment.
How Much Money I Made Using The Post 9/11 GI Bill
FAQ
How much does the post 9 11 GI Bill 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.
Is the VA paying full bah for online classes?
If you’re taking only online classes (also called distance learning). We’ll pay a housing allowance based on 50% of the national average.
When should I expect GI Bill payments?
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.
How much does the Mgib pay per month?
We’ll pay you up to the rate listed here based on how many courses you’re taking: Full-time enrollment: $2,438. 00 for each full month. 3/4-time enrollment: $1,828. 50 for each full month. 1/2-time enrollment: $1,219. 00 for each full month.
What can I use my post-911 GI Bill for?
You can use your Post-911 GI Bill for many things, including: The Post-9/11 GI Bill can pay your full tuition and fees at school, provide you with a monthly housing allowance while you are going to school, and give you up to $1,000 a year for books and supplies.
When will I get my GI bill payment?
The payment will include the first partial month and the first full month of your enrollment. Example: If your enrollment starts on August 25, the advance payment will cover August 25 through September 30. You’ll get your next GI Bill payment for October 1–31 in early November because it’s paid at the end of the month.
How much does the GI Bill pay for a public school?
If you go to a public school that charges $10,000 a semester in tuition, the Post-9/11 GI Bill will pay 80% of your tuition and fees, or $8,000. The GI Bill can pay up to the full resident tuition at any public school if you are qualified to receive benefits at the 100% rate based on your active service shown above.
Can I get a GI Bill advance payment?
This depends on which GI Bill program you’re using. If you’re using the Post-9/11 GI Bill, you can’t get an advance payment. If your GI Bill isn’t the Post-9/11 GI Bill, you might be able to get a payment ahead of time. You’ll need to meet all of the requirements listed below. You must:
How much does the GI Bill pay per credit hour?
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.
Do I have to give up GI Bill benefits?
If you’re eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill and two or more additional education benefits, you must give up one of the additional education benefits. However, you may remain eligible for the benefit or benefits you did not give up. Use the chart below to compare the education benefits available through the following programs:
