The GI Bill is one of the best and most generous education benefits programs in the country. It provides crucial financial assistance to veterans, active-duty servicemembers, and their families pursuing higher education. But how much exactly does the GI Bill pay for school? Let’s take a deep dive into the different GI Bill programs and find out.
The Post-9/11 GI Bill – The Most Comprehensive Education Benefit
The Post-9/11 GI Bill, also known as Chapter 33, is the most widely used and generous GI Bill program. Here’s a quick rundown of the key benefits it provides:
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Full tuition coverage – The Post-9/11 GI Bill covers 100% of in-state public school tuition and fees. For 2022-2023 the maximum benefit is $26,804 per academic year.
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Generous allowances – You get a monthly housing allowance based on your school’s location, plus $1,000 a year for books and supplies.
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Wide coverage – The Post-9/11 GI Bill can be used for undergraduate, graduate, and even vocational programs. It covers most public and private colleges across the country.
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Ability to transfer benefits – Servicemembers can transfer unused benefits to their spouse or children
How Much You Get Depends on Your Service
The Post-9/11 GI Bill pays differently based on your length of service. Here’s a quick table summarizing the payment tiers:
| Length of Service | Percentage of Maximum Benefit |
|---|---|
| At least 36 months | 100% |
| At least 30 continuous days on active duty and discharged for service-connected disability | 100% |
| 30-35 months | 90% |
| 24-29 months | 80% |
| 18-23 months | 70% |
| At least 6 months but less than 18 months | 60% |
| At least 90 days but less than 6 months | 50% |
So if you served for 2 years, you would get 80% of the full benefit. The minimum service requirement is 90 days of active duty service post 9/11.
Yellow Ribbon Program – For Private Schools
The Yellow Ribbon Program helps cover costs above the Post-9/11 GI Bill tuition cap at expensive private colleges and graduate schools. The school and VA partner to cover any tuition and fees that exceed the cap.
Over 5,000 degree-granting schools voluntarily participate in this program. Make sure to check if your school offers the Yellow Ribbon Program.
Montgomery GI Bill – For Those Enlisting Before 2009
The Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB) is available in two versions – one for active duty members (Chapter 30) and one for reservists (Chapter 1606).
The MGIB provides up to $2,150 per month directly to the student for education-related expenses. The benefit is paid out for 36 months of full-time training.
The key difference with the Post-9/11 GI Bill is that MGIB does not cover tuition and fees directly. It simply provides a monthly stipend that you can use to pay educational expenses.
Also, MGIB benefits are not tiered based on length of service like the Post-9/11 GI Bill. All eligible veterans get the full 36 months of benefits.
GI Bill Rates For Flight Training Programs
The GI Bill can be used for flight training programs as well. Here are the coverage amounts:
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Post-9/11 GI Bill – Covers up to $15,239 per year for flight training.
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Montgomery GI Bill – Same monthly stipend as mentioned earlier.
Keep in mind that flight training programs need to be offered by degree-granting institutions to qualify for GI Bill coverage. Programs at non-degree granting flight schools are not covered.
Payments For Apprenticeships and On-The-Job Training
You can use your GI Bill benefits for apprenticeship and on-the-job training programs as well. Here’s what you get:
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A monthly housing allowance. This is prorated based on training hours.
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$1,000 per year for books and supplies.
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Your GI Bill entitlement is charged at a proportional rate based on the monthly housing allowance.
Using GI Bill for job training is a great option if you want to gain hands-on skills and experience. Programs like HVAC technician, EMT, welder, computer programmer are covered.
Licensing and Certification Exam Fees
You can get reimbursed up to $2,000 per test for licensing and certification exams. This includes costs for required test fees and preparatory courses.
Examples include exams for a real estate license, CCNA certification, CompTIA A+ certification, SHRM certification etc.
National Testing Programs
There is no limit on the reimbursement amount for national tests like the SAT, GRE, GMAT, LSAT etc. The full test and preparatory course fees are covered.
Choosing The Right School
While the GI Bill provides generous education benefits, make sure you choose an approved program at an accredited and reputable school. Your GI Bill money will go to waste at shady institutions offering substandard education.
Do your research and check out school ratings on sites like Niche.com. Make sure your program meets state education requirements and is authorized for GI Bill benefits. Also look into career prospects, graduation rates, faculty qualifications etc.
The investment of your GI Bill benefits deserves careful consideration – it can truly be a life-changing opportunity if utilized wisely.
Additional Resources
Current rates by program
Find out how much money you can get through the Post-9/11 GI Bill for tuition, housing, and other education costs.
Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty (Chapter rates
Find out how much money you can get through the Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty (MGIB-AD) to help you pay for education and cover expenses while you’re training for a job.
How Much Money I Made Using The Post 9/11 GI Bill
FAQ
How much money will I get from the GI Bill?
Does the GI Bill pay for 4 years of college?
What is the maximum GI Bill benefit?
How much is the Mgib monthly payment?
How much does the GI Bill pay for a public school?
If you are attending a public school with tuition of $10,000 per semester, 80% of your tuition and fees, or $8,000, would be paid by the Post-9/11 GI Bill. 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.
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.
How much does GI Bill increase a year?
Effective Aug. 1, those using the Post-9/11 GI Bill at a private or foreign school will see their maximum yearly GI Bill rate increase from $27,120.05 to $28,937.09. Those who are enrolled in flight schools will see their annual maximum GI Bill benefit increase from $15,497.15 to $16,535.46.
What are the GI bill payment rates for 2024-2025?
Here are the GI Bill (Chapter 33) payment rates for the 2024-2025 academic year (Aug. 1, 2024-July 31, 2025). Maximum amounts with prorated eligibility percentages are listed below from the Department of Veterans Affairs’ website. Reimbursed up to $2,000 per test.
How much is GI Bill reimbursement?
For national testing programs, there is no maximum amount of GI Bill reimbursement. Your entitlement will be charged one month for every $2,348.36 spent in 2024-2025; currently, that amount is $2,262.59. You can be reimbursed the actual net costs, not to exceed $14,055.13 annually in 2024-2025. That’s up from $13,172.57 currently.
What is the GI Bill percentage?
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.