How Much Does The GI Bill Pay For School?

The GI Bill is one of the most valuable benefits offered to Veterans who served on active duty. This education benefit helps Veterans pay for college, graduate school, training programs, and more. But how much does the GI Bill actually pay for your education? Let’s take a closer look at Post-9/11 GI Bill payment rates.

Post-9/11 GI Bill Overview

The Post-9/11 GI Bill is the most widely used education benefit for Veterans today. This version of the GI Bill pays for tuition and fees, provides a monthly housing allowance, and gives a stipend for textbooks and supplies.

The Post-9/11 GI Bill offers the most generous payment rates making it a great option for Veterans pursuing higher education. Depending on your length of service you could qualify for up to the full benefit rate.

Tuition and Fee Coverage

For tuition and fees, the Post-9/11 GI Bill offers different coverage rates depending on the type of school you attend.

Public Schools

If you attend a public college or university, the Post-9/11 GI Bill will pay all of your in-state tuition and fees. This is one of the biggest advantages of the GI Bill – you can attend a public state school tuition-free.

For example, if you live in Virginia and attend a public Virginia university full time, the GI Bill would cover your full in-state tuition and fees which could be $12,000 or more per year.

Private Schools

For private colleges and universities, the Post-9/11 GI Bill will pay up to $26,381.11 per year for the 2023-2024 academic year. This maximum coverage amount increases slightly each year.

So if your private school tuition is more than $26,381.11, you may have to pay the difference out of pocket. Many private schools also offer Yellow Ribbon programs to help make up the difference in tuition costs.

Vocational Programs

If you attend a technical school, flight school, or other vocational program, the GI Bill will cover up to $26,381.11 per year in tuition and fees for 2023-2024. This helps Veterans pursue careers in skilled trades or technical certifications.

Monthly Housing Allowance

One of the best parts of the Post-9/11 GI Bill is the monthly housing allowance it offers. This helps Veteran students pay for rent, mortgages, and other living expenses while going to school.

The housing allowance is equal to the DoD’s Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) for an E-5 with dependents. The amount depends on where you attend school – metropolitan areas have higher BAH rates.

For example, the housing allowance for Los Angeles is over $3,000 per month for 2023. Veterans who attend school online receive a reduced housing allowance.

Textbook and Supply Stipend

Each academic year, the Post-9/11 GI Bill provides a stipend to help pay for books, supplies, equipment, and other materials you need for your classes.

For 2023-2024, this stipend is $1,000 per year if you’re attending college. For vocational programs, it’s $83 per month. The textbook stipend is paid directly to the Veteran at the start of each term.

Total Payment Amounts

Just how much can you get in total GI Bill benefits? Here are some examples of potential payment amounts:

• Veteran attending public in-state college:

  • Tuition: $12,000
  • Housing: $2,400/month
  • Textbooks: $1,000

• Veteran attending private college:

  • Tuition: $26,381
  • Housing: $2,000/month
  • Textbooks: $1,000

• Veteran in vocational program:

  • Tuition: $26,381
  • Housing: $1,700/month
  • Textbooks: $83/month

These examples demonstrate how the Post-9/11 GI Bill can provide tens of thousands in benefits per year to help Veterans attend school.

Eligibility for Full Benefits

To receive the full benefit amounts described, you must have at least 36 months of active duty service post 9/11. Veterans with less service qualify for a percentage of full benefits:

• 90-100% for 30-36 months served
• 80% for 24-30 months served
• 60-70% for 18-24 months served
• 40-50% for 6-18 months served
• <40% for < 6 months served

So the more active duty time you have as a Veteran, the more GI Bill funding you can receive.

Applying for Benefits

To start using your Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits, you need to apply through the VA and get approval. You can submit an application online through the GI Bill website.

Make sure to have your DD214 discharge papers handy. Once approved, you can start using your benefits at accredited schools and programs.

Time Limit for Using Benefits

Under the Post-9/11 GI Bill, you have 15 years to use your education benefits after separating from active duty. The VA calculates this as 36 months of full time enrollment.

Take your time and use this generous benefit to help pay for education and training throughout your career and life. The financial support can really make achieving your academic goals more feasible.

Transferring Benefits

A great option is to transfer your Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits to your spouse or dependent children. This allows them to use your benefits for their own academic pursuits.

Transferability must be approved while still on active duty. Transferred benefits expire 15 years after your separation from service.

Choosing the Right School

With up to the full cost of college paid for, the GI Bill gives you amazing flexibility and options when selecting a school. You can attend top tier universities and elite vocational programs with very minimal cost.

Research VA approved programs and schools to find the right fit for your career goals. Consider public universities or private schools with excellent Yellow Ribbon funding.

Attending School Online

Thanks to the monthly housing allowance, the Post-9/11 GI Bill works great for online learning too. You can take distance learning classes through accredited schools and still receive payments.

Online schooling gives Veterans the flexibility to work or raise a family while taking classes on their own schedule. Just remember that the housing allowance is reduced for fully online programs.

Changing Schools

A great benefit of the GI Bill is the ability to change schools and programs if needed to meet your evolving interests and plans. You can transfer schools with no penalty and have your GI Bill benefits adjusted.

As long as you maintain satisfactory academic progress, you can tap into your GI Bill benefits at multiple approved institutions during your eligibility period.

In Summary

The generous Post-9/11 GI Bill benefit provides Veterans with extensive financial assistance for education and training. Key payment provisions include:

• Full tuition at in-state public schools
• Up to $26,381 tuition at private or foreign schools
• Monthly housing allowance based on location
• $1,000 yearly textbook stipend
• Total benefits up to tens of thousands per year
• Eligibility for 36 months of full time use
• Option to transfer benefits to dependents

This invaluable investment in Veteran education helps you afford school and secures your future. Consult with your VA representative to fully utilize your GI Bill benefits.