Overview of GI Bill Programs
The "GI Bill" isn't a single program — it's a family of education benefits with different eligibility rules, benefit levels, and uses. Choosing the right one (or combining them) can mean the difference between full tuition coverage and paying out of pocket.
The Four Main Programs
Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33)
The most generous and most commonly used program.
Eligibility:
- At least 90 days of aggregate active duty service after September 10, 2001
- Honorable discharge (or still serving)
- Benefit level scales with total active duty time (40%–100%)
Benefits at 100% level:
- Tuition & fees — paid directly to the school, up to the national maximum (~$28,937.94/year for 2025–2026 academic year for private schools; full in-state tuition at public schools)
- Monthly housing allowance (MHA) — equal to E-5 with dependents BAH rate for the school's ZIP code (online-only students receive 50%)
- Books & supplies stipend — up to $1,000/year
- 36 months of benefits (approximately 4 academic years)
- Yellow Ribbon Program eligibility for tuition exceeding the cap
- Transferable to dependents (with qualifying service commitment)
Benefit percentage by service time:
| Active Duty After 9/10/2001 | Benefit Level |
|---|---|
| 36+ months | 100% |
| 30–35 months | 90% |
| 24–29 months | 80% |
| 18–23 months | 70% |
| 12–17 months | 60% |
| 6–11 months | 50% |
| 90 days – 5 months | 40% |
| 30+ days (discharge for service-connected disability) | 100% |
Montgomery GI Bill — Active Duty (MGIB-AD, Chapter 30)
The older GI Bill program that requires a $1,200 pay reduction during your first year of service.
Eligibility:
- Served at least 2 years of active duty
- Enrolled and paid the $1,200 ($100/month for 12 months)
- Honorable discharge
Benefits:
- Flat monthly rate — approximately $2,185.40/month for full-time (2025 rate)
- Paid directly to you (not the school)
- 36 months of benefits
- No housing allowance — the flat rate is all-inclusive
- No Yellow Ribbon eligibility
When MGIB might be better than Post-9/11:
- Attending a very low-cost school (the flat rate exceeds tuition + housing)
- Some vocational/flight training programs
- You served less than 36 months but want the flat rate instead of a percentage
Tip: You can irrevocably elect to switch from MGIB to Post-9/11 GI Bill. Do the math carefully before switching — the VA's GI Bill Comparison Tool can help.
Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA, Chapter 35)
For spouses and children of veterans who are permanently and totally disabled or who died in service or from a service-connected condition.
Eligibility:
- Spouse or child of a veteran who:
- Died in the line of duty
- Is rated permanently and totally disabled (100% P&T)
- Died from a service-connected disability
- Children: ages 18–26 (with extensions available)
- Spouses: within 10 years of the VA's finding of P&T or the veteran's death
Benefits:
- Monthly education allowance (approximately $1,398/month for full-time in 2025)
- Up to 36 months of benefits
- Covers degree programs, certificates, apprenticeships, and on-the-job training
Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship
The Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits extended to children and spouses of service members who died in the line of duty after September 10, 2001.
Eligibility:
- Child or surviving spouse of an active duty member who died in the line of duty after 9/10/2001
- Children: may use between ages 18–33
- Spouses: lose eligibility upon remarriage (unless after age 57)
Benefits:
- Same as 100% Post-9/11 GI Bill — full tuition, MHA, books stipend
- Up to 36 months of benefits
- Can be combined with DEA (Chapter 35) for up to 81 months total
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Post-9/11 (Ch. 33) | MGIB-AD (Ch. 30) | DEA (Ch. 35) | Fry Scholarship |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Who | Veteran | Veteran | Dependents | Dependents |
| Tuition | Paid to school | Flat rate to you | Monthly rate | Paid to school |
| Housing | BAH-based MHA | Included in flat rate | No | BAH-based MHA |
| Books | $1,000/year | No | No | $1,000/year |
| Months | 36 | 36 | 36 | 36 |
| Yellow Ribbon | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| Transferable | Yes (to dependents) | No | N/A | N/A |
What's Covered
All programs generally cover:
- Undergraduate and graduate degrees at accredited institutions
- Vocational and technical training
- Apprenticeships and on-the-job training
- Licensing and certification exams (Post-9/11 and MGIB)
- Flight training (with specific requirements)
- Correspondence courses (MGIB only)
- Tutorial assistance — up to $100/month for 12 months
Not Covered
- Schools that aren't approved for VA education benefits
- Courses you've already completed (audit/repeat)
- Programs at schools that engage in deceptive practices (see the VA's caution flag list)
How to Apply
- Determine eligibility — use the VA's online eligibility tool
- Apply online at VA.gov using VA Form 22-1990 (first-time users) or VA Form 22-1995 (changing schools or programs)
- Get your Certificate of Eligibility (COE) — the VA will mail this
- Submit your COE to your school's certifying official — they'll certify your enrollment to the VA
- Maintain enrollment — benefits require continuous enrollment; report changes immediately
Integrity note: GI Bill fraud — including enrolling in classes you don't attend, falsifying enrollment status, or conspiring with schools to receive benefits without actually pursuing education — is a federal crime. These benefits exist because you earned them through service. Use them for genuine education and training.
Important Deadlines
- Post-9/11 GI Bill: No expiration date for those who separated after January 1, 2013 (Forever GI Bill provision). Those who separated before that date had a 15-year window.
- MGIB: Expires 10 years after last discharge
- DEA: Children must generally use between ages 18–26; spouses within 10 years
- Fry: Children between ages 18–33; spouses lose eligibility upon remarriage