The GI Bill is one of the most valuable benefits offered to military veterans pursuing higher education or job training. But exactly how much does the GI Bill pay per month? The answer depends on several factors.
Monthly Housing Allowance
One of the biggest components of GI Bill benefits is the monthly housing allowance (MHA) This helps cover housing costs while attending school
The 2024-2025 Post-9/11 GI Bill BAH rates show the housing allowance for full-time students based on location:
- Vallejo/Travis AFB, CA – $3,237
- Los Angeles, CA – $3,636
- San Diego, CA – $3,882
- Monterey, CA – $3,318
As you can see, the MHA can vary greatly depending on where you attend school. Big cities like Los Angeles and San Diego have higher BAH rates.
The MHA also depends on your GI Bill eligibility percentage. You need at least 36 months of active duty service to qualify for 100% of benefits. With less service, you may be eligible for 60-90% of full benefits.
For example, if you qualify for 80% of benefits, your Los Angeles MHA would be 80% of $3,636, or $2,909 per month.
Tuition and Fees
The Post-9/11 GI Bill also helps cover tuition and fees at public universities private colleges, vocational schools flight schools, foreign schools, and other approved education programs.
For 2024-2025, here are the maximum amounts the GI Bill will pay for tuition and fees:
- Public schools: 100% of in-state tuition and fees
- Private schools: Up to $28,937 per year
- Vocational/technical schools: Up to $28,937 per year
- Foreign schools: Up to $28,937 per year
- Flight training: Up to $16,535 per year
- Correspondence courses: Up to $14,055 per year
Again, these amounts are for veterans eligible for 100% of GI Bill benefits. Those with less service qualify for a prorated portion based on their eligibility percentage.
Book and Supply Stipend
The Post-9/11 GI Bill also provides up to $1,000 per year as a stipend to help pay for books, supplies, equipment, and other educational expenses. This money is paid directly to the student at the beginning of each school term.
Total GI Bill Payments
When you add up the housing allowance, tuition coverage, and book stipend, the Post-9/11 GI Bill can provide over $30,000+ per year in education benefits.
For example, a veteran attending school full-time in Los Angeles could receive:
- $3,636 per month for housing
- Up to $28,937 per year for tuition
- $1,000 per year for books
That’s over $43,000 per year in GI Bill benefits. Of course, total payments depend on each veteran’s individual eligibility percentage and actual tuition costs.
length of GI bill payments
The GI Bill provides 36 months of benefits to use within a 15-year window after leaving active duty. The payments are available for traditional 4-year degrees, vocational programs, graduate school, and other approved training.
Veterans can stretch their benefits further by attending public schools with lower tuition. Or they can finish sooner by taking heavy course loads or attending summer terms.
The GI Bill expires 15 years after separation from active duty, so it’s best to start using benefits sooner if possible.
Eligibility for gi bill payments
To qualify for Post-9/11 GI Bill payments, veterans must have:
- At least 90 days of aggregate active duty service after Sept. 10, 2001
- Received an honorable discharge
- A high school diploma or GED
Higher payment tiers are awarded based on total length of active duty service:
- 100% of benefits: 36+ months of active duty
- 90% of benefits: 30-35 months
- 80% of benefits: 24-29 months
- 70% of benefits: 18-23 months
- 60% of benefits: 6-17 months
- 50% of benefits: 90 days to 5 months
Transferring GI bill benefits
Active duty service members can transfer unused GI Bill benefits to their spouse or dependent children. This allows family members to receive payments even if the veteran doesn’t use the GI Bill themselves.
The DoD determines eligibility rules for GI Bill transfers. In most cases, the service member must commit to serving at least 6 more years before being eligible to transfer benefits.
GI Bill Monthly Allowance Summary
The Post-9/11 GI Bill provides substantial financial assistance through monthly housing allowances, full tuition coverage, and other education stipends.
Benefits are tiered based on time served on active duty. Veterans in expensive metro areas can receive over $3,000 per month just for housing.
Overall, the GI Bill makes earning a degree or skill training much more affordable for veterans after military service.
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:
- Qualify for the Post-9/11 GI Bill at the 100% benefit tier.
- Be attending an approved institute of higher learning in the U.S.
You may also receive a one-time rural relocation benefit payment of $500 to help cover the cost of relocating from a rural location to attend school.
To qualify, you must:
- Be an otherwise eligible veteran.
- Reside in a county with six persons or less per square mile (as determined by the most recent decennial census) and:
- Either physically relocate at least 500 miles to attend an educational institution – or –
- Travel by air to physically attend an educational institution if no other land-based transportation exists.
DoD authorizes individuals who have served at least six years in the military and who agree to serve at least another four years to transfer 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: A spouse cannot get the monthly housing allowance or Yellow Ribbon benefit if the sponsor is still on active duty.
How Much Money I Made Using The Post 9/11 GI Bill
FAQ
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