4 programs · Comparison table · Transfer rules
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.
Post-9/11 GI Bill
Chapter 33 · The gold standard — tuition, housing, and books
The Post-9/11 GI Bill is the most comprehensive education benefit available to veterans. It covers tuition and fees, provides a monthly housing allowance, and includes a books and supplies stipend. Benefits are tiered based on your length of active-duty service after September 10, 2001.
Duration
36 months of full-time benefits
Housing
Yes
Transferable
Yes
Benefits
- ✓Tuition and fees: paid directly to the school. For public schools, covers full in-state tuition. For private schools, capped at $29,920.95 per academic year (2025-2026 rate)
- ✓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 students receive up to $1,169/month (half the national average BAH)
- ✓Students at foreign institutions receive up to $2,338/month
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: If you have at least 90% eligibility, consider one more activation period to reach 100% — it unlocks the full housing allowance and Yellow Ribbon eligibility.
Montgomery GI Bill — Active Duty
Chapter 30 · The original GI Bill — flat monthly payment
The Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty (MGIB-AD) provides a flat monthly benefit payment to eligible veterans who contributed $100/month for 12 months during service ($1,200 total). It pays a set amount regardless of tuition cost, and the veteran keeps any difference if tuition is less than the benefit. It's generally less generous than the Post-9/11 GI Bill but may be better in specific situations (e.g., low-cost schools where the flat rate exceeds actual costs).
Duration
36 months maximum
Housing
No
Transferable
No
Benefits
- ✓Flat monthly payment for full-time enrollment (rate varies by service length and training type — approximately $2,200/month for full-time institutional training with 3+ years of service as of recent rates)
- ✓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 choosing MGIB-AD, use the VA's GI Bill Comparison Tool to see if the Post-9/11 GI Bill would give you more. The Post-9/11 GI Bill is almost always more generous unless you're at a very cheap school.
DEA (Dependents' Educational Assistance)
Chapter 35 · 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
- →The veteran's P&T status or cause of death must already be established with the VA
Tip: If you're a surviving spouse or child, also check eligibility for the Fry Scholarship — it provides Post-9/11 GI Bill-level benefits (including housing) and may be significantly more generous than Chapter 35.
VR&E (Veteran Readiness & Employment)
Chapter 31 · Tuition, training, and job placement for disabled veterans
Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E, formerly Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment) helps veterans with service-connected disabilities prepare for, find, and maintain suitable employment. It covers tuition, fees, books, supplies, and tools, plus provides a monthly subsistence allowance. It also offers job placement services and can fund self-employment programs. VR&E is separate from the GI Bill and is often the better choice for disabled veterans.
Duration
Up to 48 months of training
Housing
Yes
Transferable
No
Benefits
- ✓Full tuition and fees coverage for approved training programs (no annual cap like the GI Bill)
- ✓Books, supplies, tools, and equipment needed for training or employment
- ✓Monthly subsistence allowance (similar to housing allowance — amount depends on training type, enrollment status, and number of dependents)
- ✓Job placement services and resume/interview coaching
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
- →After applying, you'll meet with a VR&E counselor who will evaluate your employment barriers
Tip: If you have a service-connected disability and need education or job training, apply for VR&E before using your GI Bill. VR&E has no tuition cap, covers more expenses, and doesn't use your GI Bill months. You may even use both at different times.
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 active duty after 9/10/2001, honorable discharge | Active duty after 6/30/1985, $1,200 buy-in, 2-3 years service, honorable discharge | Spouse or child of veteran with permanent/total disability or who died from service-connected causes | 10% or higher service-connected disability with an employment barrier |
| Tuition Coverage | Full in-state public tuition; private schools capped at $29,920.95/year. Yellow Ribbon may cover the rest. | No direct tuition payment — flat monthly rate paid to you (~$2,200/month full-time with 3+ years service) | Monthly stipend paid to dependent (rate set annually by VA) | Full tuition and fees — no annual cap. Covers any VA-approved program. |
| 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 | 36 months (up to 48 months with multiple programs) | 36 months (up to 48 months with multiple programs) | 36 months (programs started on/after 8/1/2018) or 45 months (before that date) | Up to 48 months (extensions for Serious Employment Handicap; no limit for Independent Living) |
| Transferable? | Yes — to spouse or children with 6+ years service and 4-year obligation (must transfer 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. | 10 years from discharge | Children: no expiration if eligible on/after 8/1/2023, otherwise before age 26. Spouses: 10-20 years. | 12 years from separation or first rating (pre-2013). No time limit (post-2013). |
| 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 | Disabled veterans who need career retraining — especially if the GI Bill cap would not cover their program |
Eligibility Tiers
Post-9/11 GI Bill Benefit Tiers
Your benefit level depends on how long you served on active duty after September 10, 2001.
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
VR&E before GI Bill
If you have a service-connected disability, consider applying for VR&E (Chapter 31) before using your GI Bill. VR&E has no tuition cap, provides 48 months of benefits, and does NOT use your GI Bill entitlement. You may be able to use both at different times.
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