Education Benefits & GI Bill
Four major education programs, each with different eligibility, coverage, and benefits. Find the right one for your situation.
Education Programs
VA Education Benefits
Each program has different eligibility requirements and benefits. Select the one that matches your situation.
- 1
Chapter 33
Post-9/11 GI Bill
Tuition, housing, and book support under current VA rules
The Post-9/11 GI Bill can help with approved tuition and fees and may include housing and book payments. The percentage and amount depend on qualifying service, training type, enrollment, school, location, and the rate period VA applies.
- Duration
- Generally up to 36 months; total entitlement across multiple education programs depends on service periods, elections, prior use, and VA's determination
- Housing
- Yes
- Transferable
- Yes
Benefits
- Tuition and fees: VA pays the school under the current public, private, foreign, or training-program rules and your eligibility tier; annual caps change by academic year
- Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA): based on the E-5 with dependents BAH rate at your school's ZIP code. Prorated by enrollment status and eligibility tier
- Online-only and foreign-school housing rates use separate VA calculations that change by academic year
- Books and supplies payments depend on training type, enrollment, and eligibility percentage; check the current VA rate table
How to Apply
- Apply online at VA.gov using VA Form 22-1990 (Application for VA Education Benefits)
- You can also apply by mail, in person at a VA Regional Office, or through a VSO
- Once approved, you'll receive a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) — give a copy to your school's VA certifying official
Tip
Check your current Post-9/11 GI Bill eligibility percentage and remaining entitlement before making enrollment or service decisions. Housing payments and Yellow Ribbon participation have additional school, program, and eligibility rules.
- 2
Chapter 30
Montgomery GI Bill — Active Duty
The original GI Bill — flat monthly payment
The Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty (MGIB-AD) provides a monthly benefit payment to eligible Veterans under the applicable training and enrollment rate. VA pays the student rather than the school. How it compares with the Post-9/11 GI Bill depends on the school, training, service periods, prior use, and the election rules for the individual record.
- Duration
- Generally up to 36 months; total entitlement across multiple programs depends on service periods, elections, prior use, and VA's determination
- Housing
- No
- Transferable
- No
Benefits
- A monthly payment whose current amount varies by service length, training type, and enrollment; use VA's current MGIB-AD rate table
- Payment goes directly to you — not to the school
- The $600 Buy-Up option increases your monthly benefit by up to $150/month if you contributed an additional $600 during service
- Covers degree programs, vocational/technical courses, apprenticeships, flight training, and correspondence courses
How to Apply
- Apply online at VA.gov using VA Form 22-1990
- You can also apply by mail or in person at a VA Regional Office
- You'll need your DD-214 showing character of discharge
Tip
Before making or changing an education-benefit election, compare the programs and ask VA to review how your service periods and prior use affect entitlement. The better option depends on the individual school, training, and record.
- 3
Chapter 35
DEA (Dependents' Educational Assistance)
Education benefits for dependents of disabled or deceased veterans
Chapter 35 DEA provides education and training benefits to eligible dependents (spouses and children) of veterans who are permanently and totally disabled from a service-connected condition, or who died from a service-connected disability or while on active duty. This is a separate benefit — it does not use or reduce the veteran's own GI Bill entitlement.
- Duration
- Up to 36 months for programs started on or after August 1, 2018. Up to 45 months for programs started before that date.
- Housing
- No
- Transferable
- No
Benefits
- Monthly stipend to help cover education and training costs (rate set annually by the VA)
- Covers undergraduate and graduate degrees, vocational and technical training, apprenticeships, and on-the-job training
- Covers licensing and certification exam costs
- Special restorative training if needed to overcome a disability for educational purposes
How to Apply
- Apply online at VA.gov using VA Form 22-5490 (Dependents' Application for VA Education Benefits)
- Or apply by mail, in person, or through a VSO
- VA will verify the qualifying Veteran or service-member circumstance and the applicant's relationship
Tip
If you're a surviving spouse or child, also check Fry Scholarship eligibility. Its payment structure differs from DEA, and election or combined-use rules can affect the choice.
- 4
Chapter 31
VR&E (Veteran Readiness & Employment)
Tuition, training, and job placement for disabled veterans
Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E, formerly Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment) may provide employment or independent-living services for eligible veterans and service members. A Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor separately determines entitlement and, when approved, develops an individualized plan that controls the services and costs VA authorizes.
- Duration
- Plan-specific. The counselor applies current entitlement, feasibility, extension, and rehabilitation-plan rules to the individual case.
- Housing
- Yes
- Transferable
- No
Benefits
- An approved plan may authorize tuition, fees, books, supplies, tools, or equipment needed for the rehabilitation goal
- An approved plan may include a subsistence allowance based on the applicable training and dependent rules
- Available tracks can include reemployment, rapid access to employment, self-employment, long-term training, or independent-living services
- The counselor and approved plan determine the services, provider, duration, and costs VA will authorize
How to Apply
- Apply online at VA.gov using VA Form 28-1900 (Disabled Veterans Application for Vocational Rehabilitation)
- Or apply by mail, in person at a VA Regional Office, or through a VSO
- If VA finds you eligible for an initial evaluation, a counselor will determine whether you are entitled to VR&E services
Tip
If a service-connected disability affects employment, you can apply for a VR&E evaluation before making an education-benefit election. Let the counselor and VA determine entitlement, plan coverage, and any interaction with previously used GI Bill benefits.
Comparison
Side-by-Side Comparison
See how the four education programs compare across key factors.
| Feature | Post-9/11 GI Bill | MGIB-AD | Ch. 35 DEA | VR&E (Ch. 31) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eligibility | 90+ days of qualifying active duty after 9/10/2001; or honorable discharge after a qualifying Purple Heart (any service length) or after 30 continuous days with a service-connected disability | Eligibility varies by statutory category; common requirements include qualifying service, the $1,200 contribution, education prerequisites, and an honorable discharge | Spouse or child of veteran with permanent/total disability or who died from service-connected causes | Veterans with a 10% or higher service-connected rating and no dishonorable discharge may apply; a VRC separately determines entitlement |
| Tuition Coverage | Net tuition and mandatory fees under the current public, private, foreign, or training-program rate rules and your eligibility tier | No direct tuition payment — VA pays the applicable monthly training rate to the student | Monthly stipend paid to dependent (rate set annually by VA) | Costs and services authorized in an approved individualized rehabilitation plan |
| Housing / Subsistence | Monthly Housing Allowance based on E-5 BAH at school location (must be enrolled more than half-time) | No separate housing allowance — covered by flat monthly payment | No separate housing allowance — covered by monthly stipend | Monthly subsistence allowance based on training type, enrollment, and dependents |
| Books & Supplies | Up to $1,000/year | No separate stipend — covered by flat monthly payment | No separate stipend — covered by monthly stipend | All required books, supplies, tools, and equipment covered |
| Duration | Generally up to 36 months; combined-program rules are record-specific | Generally up to 36 months; combined-program rules are record-specific | 36 months (programs started on/after 8/1/2018) or 45 months (before that date) | Determined under the approved rehabilitation plan and current entitlement rules |
| Transferable? | Yes — DoD generally requires 6+ years of service plus 4 additional years; Purple Heart recipients have no service requirement. Request and approval must occur while serving. | No | No (this IS the dependent benefit) | No |
| Time Limit to Use | No expiration if discharged on/after 1/1/2013. 15 years if before that date. | Usually 10 years from discharge; exceptions may change the period | Children: milestone dates determine the limit; qualifying milestones on or after 8/1/2023 generally have no time limit. Spouses: qualifying events on or after 8/1/2023 generally have no time limit; earlier cases usually have 10- or 20-year windows. | Pre-2013 discharge: basic 12-year period from the later of separation notice or first VA rating, with a possible serious-employment-handicap extension. On/after 1/1/2013: no basic time limit. |
| Best For | Most post-9/11 veterans — especially those attending 4-year universities or higher-cost schools | Veterans at very low-cost schools where the flat monthly rate exceeds tuition, or who need payment flexibility | Spouses and children of P&T disabled or deceased veterans who need education assistance | Eligible applicants whose counselor finds entitlement to employment or independent-living services |
Eligibility Tiers
Post-9/11 GI Bill Benefit Tiers
Your benefit level usually depends on qualifying active-duty time after September 10, 2001. Purple Heart recipients and people discharged for a service-connected disability after at least 30 continuous days may qualify at 100% under separate rules.
- Purple Heart on or after September 11, 2001, plus honorable discharge (any service length)100%
- At least 30 continuous days, plus honorable discharge for a service-connected disability100%
- 36+ months (1,095+ days)100%
- 430-35 months (910-1,094 days)90%
- 524-29 months (730-909 days)80%
- 618-23 months (545-729 days)70%
- 76-17 months (180-544 days)60%
- 890-179 days50%
Useful Tools
GI Bill Comparison Tool → (opens in new tab) — Compare schools and estimate your benefits
Yellow Ribbon Program → (opens in new tab) — Find schools that cover costs above the GI Bill cap
Current and upcoming Post-9/11 GI Bill rates → (opens in new tab) — Check the rate period that covers your term
Compare VR&E before making an election
A service-connected rating may make you eligible to apply for a VR&E evaluation. A counselor separately decides entitlement and any approved plan. Ask VA how prior benefit use, service periods, and an education-benefit election affect your individual record before choosing.
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