Military Life
Money briefing: Post 9/11 GI Bill
DEFENSE CREDIT UNION COUNCIL (DCUC)
September 18, 2026
The Post-9/11 GI Bill pays tuition and fees for up to 36 months—or the equivalent of four academic years—when you enroll for post-secondary education. (graphicswizard (123RF))
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Your access to higher education gets better and better.
The Post-9/11 GI Bill pays tuition and fees for up to 36 months—or the equivalent of four academic years—when you enroll for post-secondary education in:
A degree-granting undergraduate or graduate program at an accredited college or university, or what the VA refers to as Institutions of Higher Learning (IHLs)
Accredited private or state-approved technical, vocational, or training programs
Certification or licensing programs
Flight training
Apprenticeships
A STEM BENEFIT
An additional nine months of benefits, up to $30,000, may be available if you’re pursuing a degree in a science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) program that requires more than the standard 128 semester credit hours or 192 quarter credit hours to complete. You apply separately for this extended benefit near the end of your first 36 months of study.
WHO QUALIFIES?
To qualify for the full benefit, you must serve at least 36 months on active duty, excluding training or initial commit-ment, after 9/11/2001. You’re also fully qualified if you are discharged because of a service-related disability or have been awarded the Purple Heart.
Once you’ve qualified, your right to this education benefit never expires. That’s a change from the past, when you had a 15-year window after your last discharge or release from service to use it or lose it. This time limit still applies if you left the service before January 1, 2013.
TUITION PAYMENTS
Tuition and fee payments are made directly to the school in which you enroll. If you qualify for the maximum benefit, the GI Bill covers the full cost of in-state tuition and fees at a public college or university.
To be approved to receive payments under the GI Bill, public institutions are required to charge in-state tuition and fees if you are accepted by the school and qualified to use the program’s benefits regardless of your legal residence, which could be in another state. You must remain continuously enrolled at the same school, but you don’t lose eligibility if you leave the state for breaks between courses, semesters, or terms.
Tuition and fee payments are made directly to the school in which you enroll. (jemastock (123RF))
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However, veterans enrolling for the first time or transferring credits must do so within three years of discharge from a period of active duty lasting at least 90 days to qualify for in-state tuition.
Alternatively, the GI Bill pays a fixed amount, adjusted each year, toward the cost of tuition and fees at a private US college or university or a qualifying insti-tution located outside the United States. That amount is equal to the maximum being paid to public colleges in the year.
Up to the same amount is available for non-degree granting programs, though specific programs, including flight school and correspondence courses, are eligible for a smaller dollar amount.
YELLOW RIBBON PROGRAM
The Yellow Ribbon program, created at the same time as the Post-9/11 GI Bill, allows approved colleges and universities to cover some or all the tuition and fees that the GI Bill doesn’t cover.
In addition, the VA matches the amount the institution provides. For example, if a college provides $10,000, the VA will add $10,000. That $20,000 is in addition to the standard GI Bill benefit.
Participating schools publish the amount they will contribute and the number of students who can partici pate each year. No school promises that everyone who is eligible will receive support, but once you’re in the program you usually can count on funding through graduation. You can find a list of the participating schools at www.benefits. va.gov/gibill/yellow_ribbon.asp.
One caution: You must be at the 100% benefit level to take advantage of the Yellow Ribbon program and no longer on active duty. But an eligible dependent child to whom you transferred your benefit may qualify.
HOUSING AND BOOKS
You may be eligible for a monthly housing allowance (MHA) when you take advantage of the GI Bill, provided you’re not on active duty. This amount, which is paid directly to you, is based on the Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) for an E-5 with dependents and the ZIP code for the campus where you take the majority of your classes. Rates change each year on August 1 and vary from location to location. If you’re enrolled in an online or distance learning program, though, the MHA is a smaller fixed amount.
You’ll also receive an annual stipend of up to $1,000 to pay for books and supplies. (yqbalzhu (123RF))
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You’ll also receive an annual stipend of up to $1,000 to pay for books and supplies. And, if a national entrance exam, such as the SAT, ACT, GMAT, or LSAT, is required for your program, the cost of the fee is generally reimbursed. So is the cost of meeting licensing or certification requirements.
READY TO APPLY?
To apply for Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits, you complete VA Form 22-1990, “Application for VA Education Benefits,” at www.benefits.va.gov/gibill/apply.asp or call 888-442-4551.