Post-9/11 GI Bill and Other Education Benefits

What it is

The Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33) helps you pay for college, trade school, apprenticeships, and on-the-job training. At the full (100%) level, it pays:

• Full in-state tuition and fees at public schools
• Up to $30,908.34 a year at private and foreign schools (August 1, 2026, to July 31, 2027)
• A monthly housing allowance (MHA) if you go more than half time, based on the military BAH for an E-5 with dependents at your school's ZIP code
• Up to $1,000 a year for books and supplies

If you take classes only online, the housing allowance is half the national average, capped at $1,198 a month for 2026-27. No housing allowance is paid over school breaks.

Who qualifies

You need at least 90 days of active duty after September 10, 2001, or 30 continuous days if you were discharged with a service-connected disability, or a Purple Heart. Your percentage (from 50% to 100%) depends on how much active duty you served. Most people get 36 months of benefits.

If you left the military on or after January 1, 2013, your benefit never expires. If you left before then, you have 15 years. Thanks to the Rudisill Supreme Court decision, people with 56 or more months of active duty who earned both Montgomery and Post-9/11 benefits may get up to 48 months total.

Transferring to your family

You can share up to 36 months with a spouse or children, but only while you are still serving. You need six years of service and must agree to serve four more. You submit the request through milConnect, not VA. Spouses can use it right away. Children can use it after you hit 10 years of service. This is one of the most-missed benefits, so decide before you separate.

Yellow Ribbon

If your private or out-of-state school costs more than the cap, the Yellow Ribbon Program can help. Participating schools agree to cover part of the gap and VA matches it. Not every school takes part, and spots can be limited, so ask early.

Other education programs

• Montgomery GI Bill (Chapter 30): pays a flat monthly amount to you, $2,601 a month full time for those with three or more years (from October 1, 2026). You pay tuition yourself.
• VET TEC 2.0: pays for high-tech training like coding and cybersecurity. It is open now. You need 36 months of active duty and must be under 62. You do not need GI Bill time left, and it pays a housing allowance.
• DEA (Chapter 35): for children and spouses of veterans who are permanently and totally disabled from service or who died from service. It pays $1,621 a month full time (from October 1, 2026).
• Fry Scholarship: for children and surviving spouses of service members who died in the line of duty after September 10, 2001. It pays like the Post-9/11 GI Bill for up to 36 months.

How it works when you are relocating

Your housing allowance is based on your school's location, not where you live. If you move and switch schools, the rate changes. Tell your school certifying official and VA as soon as possible to avoid debts.

How to apply

1. Apply on VA.gov (form 22-1990, or 22-5490 for DEA and Fry).
2. Get your Certificate of Eligibility.
3. Give it to your school's VA certifying official.
4. Verify your enrollment each month if VA asks you to.

Common mistakes

• Separating before transferring benefits to your kids.
• Dropping a class without knowing it can create a debt.
• Using the GI Bill for something cheap when VR&E or Tuition Assistance could pay instead.

Related benefits

If you have a disability rating, read about Veteran Readiness and Employment. Many states also offer free tuition for veterans and their families.