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Education and Training

Comparison Chart/Payment Rates

You may be eligible for several types of VA education and training benefits, but there are many things to consider before you apply for a GI Bill program. For most participants, the Post-9/11 GI Bill is the best option. Other students would benefit more from the Montgomery GI Bill. The following comparison tools may make it easier to decide which education and training benefits are best for you:

A Decision with Consequences

Your decision to apply for a certain education benefit could impact your eligibility for other benefits. Here are a few factors to keep in mind:

  • If you’re eligible for more than one education benefit, such as the Post-9/11 GI Bill and the Montgomery GI Bill, you must choose which benefit to receive, a decision that’s final and cannot be changed.  
  • If you’re eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill and two or more additional education benefits, you must give up one of the additional education benefits. However, you may remain eligible for the benefit or benefits you did not give up.

Use the chart below to compare the education benefits available through the following programs:

Comparison Chart

G.I. Bill Benefit  Post-9/11 GI Bill or Chapter 33 MGIB-AD or Chapter 30 MGIB-SR or Chapter 1606 Chapter 35 Dependents Educational Assistance Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E) or Chapter 31

Minimum Length of Service

90 days of Active or Aggregate service (after 9/10/01) or, 30 days continuous Service if discharged for Service-Connected disability

2yrs of continuous service of 3yr service contract, 3yrs of continuous service for a 4yr contract or, separated due to a Service-Connected Disability after 30 days service (interpretation of minimum duty varies by service date, branch, etc.)

6 yr. commitment (after 6/30/85)

Not applicable

Not Applicable; however, character of discharge must have been other than dishonorable.

Maximum # of Months of Benefits 2

*36 months unless the veteran him/herself receives additional entitlements from another veteran family member via the Transfer of Eligibility (ToE). They may receive TOE transferred entitlement + 36 months of earned entitlement based on their own military service.

*36 or less. Not completing the full service contract as a result of special Separation reasons may result in receiving less.

36

45

*48

How Payments Are Made

Tuition & Fees (T&F): Paid to school on behalf of Student – 100% paid for Public Schools. Private schools limited to Academic Year (AY) Cap. Schools can enter Yellow Ribbon contract with VA to pay ½ of the difference in T&F charges that exceed the AY CAP. VA agrees to pay the other half in the form of Yellow Ribbon payments.

Vocational Flt. Schools
CAP $14,881.59
per AY

Correspondence Schools
CAP $12,649.34

Monthly Housing (MHA) Stipend: Paid for greater than (>) ½ time training comparable to the AD Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) pay for an E-5 with Dependents calculated: (MHA Rate x Rate of Pursuit x Benefit %). A maximum of one-half MHA Rate paid if 100% of classes are enrolled online.

Books & Supplies: A flat $41.67 per credit-hr paid upon enrollment into each term.

Statutory Rate: paid directly to student. Rates change each fiscal year. Students must Certify enrollment via Web Automated Verification of Enrollment (W.A.V.E) VBA website each month to activate pay.
Percent of the Statutory Rate of Pay is determined by the student’s <1/4, ¼, ½, ¾ or Full Time Training level.

Statutory Rate: paid directly to student. (Rates change each fiscal year. Students must Certify via Web Automated Verification od Enrollment (W.A.V.E) VBA website each month to activate pay. Percent of the Statutory Rate of Pay is determined by the student’s <1/4, ¼, ½, ¾ or Full Time Training level.

100% flat rate paid directly to Dependent each month.

Certify school attendance via W.A.V.E. VBA website each month to activate pay. Percent of the Statutory Rate of Pay is determined by the student’s <1/4, ¼, ½, ¾ or Full Time Training level.
Tuition & Fees (T&F): Paid to school on behalf of student – 100% paid up to $35,000 per calendar year. Higher cost schools require additional approval prior to enrollment.

Subsistence Allowance Stipend: Paid directly to student. Pay is determined based on ½, ¾, or Full Time enrollment, plus an additional amount for each dependent. Eligible students may be able to select payment at the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill BAH rate.

Books & Supplies: All required books and supplies are 100% covered and may be paid to the school on behalf of the student, purchased on behalf of the student with a government purchase card, reimbursed to the student for expenses paid out-of-pocket, or any combination thereof.
Duration of Benefits
15 years from last release from active duty date if release was before January 1, 2013. If last release from active duty date was on or after January 1, 2013, veteran falls under the Forever GI Bill law that illuminated the time limitation to use benefits (a.k.a The Forever GI Bill).
*In cases of ToE Transferred benefits, beneficiaries may be limited by the date the Veteran chooses to have entitlements terminated.
Generally,10 years, one day from last day of the most recent active duty service period
Ends on the day the Member separated from the Selected Reserve Component or, when VA is notified of any Suspension imposed by the Service Component. The Service Component determine eligibility.
Spouse: 10 - 20 years 3
 
Child: from age 18 and terminates at Age 26.
12 years from the date you received notice of your separation from active duty, or the date you received your first VA service-connected disability rating. However, this basic period of eligibility may be extended if a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor finds that you have a serious employment handicap (SEH).

NOTE: For individuals discharged from active duty on or after January 1, 2013, the 12-year basic period of eligibility does not apply and there is no time limit on your eligibility.
Degree Training
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Non College Degree Training
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
On-the-Job & Apprenticeship Training
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Flight Training
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes*
Correspondence Courses
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Licensing & Certification
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
National Testing Programs
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Work-Study Program
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Tutorial Assistance 5
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes*
  1. Amount of time varies according to when the Veteran enlisted and entered active duty.
  2. You may receive a maximum of 48 months of benefits combined if you are eligible for more than one VA education program.
  3. Spouses are generally eligible to receive benefits for 10 years. However, spouses of individuals rated total and permanent within 3 years of discharge and spouses of individuals who die on active duty are granted a 20 year eligibility period.
  4. The Individual Ready Reserve (IRR) is a category of the Ready Reserve of the Reserve Component of the Armed Forces.
  5. VA can pay the difference between the total cost of tuition and fees and the amount of Tuition Assistance paid by the military.

NOTE: Items identified with an Asterix (*) indicate special circumstances

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