A practical guide to Post-9/11 and Montgomery GI Bill benefits, eligibility, approved programs, payments, and application steps.
VA education benefits may help eligible Veterans, service members, members of the National Guard or Selected Reserve, and qualified family members pay for an approved college, career school, apprenticeship, or other training program. The amount and type of support vary based on the benefit program, qualifying service, remaining entitlement, benefit percentage, enrollment level, and the exact school and program.
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) or Department of Defense (DoD) makes the final eligibility and coverage decision. A school cannot guarantee approval, a payment amount, or that benefits will cover every education-related cost.
Important: VA approval is program-specific. A school may participate in Veterans education benefits while a particular program, location, or training option is not approved. Check the exact program in the GI Bill Comparison Tool and confirm it with the school certifying official before enrolling.
What Is the GI Bill®?
The term GI Bill® refers to several federal education benefit programs administered by VA. Three of the most common are:
- Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33). For people with qualifying active-duty service after September 10, 2001, and certain eligible family members.
- Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty, or MGIB-AD (Chapter 30). For eligible Veterans and service members who meet one of VA’s qualifying service and participation categories.
- Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserve, or MGIB-SR (Chapter 1606). For eligible members of the Selected Reserve and National Guard whose service component establishes eligibility.
Qualified spouses and children may also use transferred Post-9/11 benefits or related VA education programs, such as the Fry Scholarship or Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance. These programs have different eligibility, payment, and time-limit rules.
VA education, training, and subsistence payments are generally excluded from federal taxable income. Tax-free education assistance may affect which expenses can be used for an education tax credit, so students should review current IRS guidance or consult a qualified tax professional.
Types of GI Bill® Programs
There are several types of programs under the GI Bill banner.
Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33)
The Post-9/11 GI Bill may provide up to 36 months of education benefits based on qualifying active-duty service. A person’s benefit percentage can depend on total qualifying service, with special rules for Purple Heart recipients and certain service-connected disability discharges. The benefit can be used only at schools and programs approved for VA education benefits.
Current entitlement note: Some Veterans with two or more qualifying periods of active duty who are eligible for both the Post-9/11 GI Bill and MGIB-AD may qualify for up to 48 months of combined entitlement under the Rudisill decision. VA determines whether the additional entitlement applies.
What Does the Post-9/11 GI Bill Pay For?
- Tuition and mandatory fees. At the 100% benefit level, VA pays the net in-state tuition and mandatory fees at a public institution. Private, foreign, and certain non-college-degree programs are subject to annual caps that VA updates each year. Tuition and fee payments are generally sent directly to the school and are prorated when the student qualifies for less than the full benefit.
- Monthly housing allowance. Eligible students whose rate of pursuit is more than half time may receive a housing payment. Resident training is generally based on the school’s location, while online-only training uses a rate based on one-half of the national average. The payment can be prorated, and some students - including many people on active duty - are not eligible for a housing allowance.
- Books and supplies. Under current rules, an eligible student may receive up to $1,000 per academic year, prorated by the benefit percentage and type of training. This payment is generally made to the student.
- Other approved support. Depending on the circumstances, benefits may also support tutorial assistance, national tests, certain licensing or certification tests and preparatory courses, VA work-study, on-the-job training, apprenticeships, or a qualifying rural relocation payment.
When Do Your Post-9/11 GI Bill Benefits Expire?
If the qualifying service ended before January 1, 2013, unused Post-9/11 benefits generally expire 15 years after the last separation from active service. If the qualifying service ended on or after January 1, 2013, the benefits generally do not expire under the Forever GI Bill. Different rules may apply to transferred benefits and other VA education programs.
How Do You Become Eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill?
A person may qualify when at least one of these descriptions applies:
- The person served at least 90 aggregate days on qualifying active duty on or after September 11, 2001.
- The person received a Purple Heart on or after September 11, 2001, and was honorably discharged after any amount of service.
- The person served at least 30 continuous days on or after September 11, 2001, and was honorably discharged with a service-connected disability.
- The person is a dependent child using benefits transferred by a qualifying Veteran or service member.
Some periods of service do not count toward eligibility. VA reviews the service record and makes the final determination.
Are Post-9/11 GI Bill Benefits Transferable?
They may be transferable, but a transfer is not something a Veteran can normally initiate after leaving service. The service member must request the transfer through DoD while still on active duty or in the Selected Reserve. DoD - not VA or the school - approves the request.
- The service member generally must have completed at least 6 years of service and agree to 4 more years.
- The spouse or child must be enrolled in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS).
- The service member may transfer up to a total of 36 months of remaining entitlement among eligible dependents.
- Purple Heart recipients and certain other circumstances may be subject to special rules or exceptions.
After DoD approves the transfer, the family member must separately apply to VA to use the benefits. Rules governing when a spouse or child may use transferred benefits differ.
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Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty (MGIB-AD)
MGIB-AD may provide up to 36 months of payments for approved education or training. VA generally pays the beneficiary directly each month. The amount can depend on the person’s eligibility category, length of service, type of program, enrollment level, and any applicable college fund, kicker, or $600 Buy-Up contribution.
When Do MGIB-AD Benefits Expire?
A Veteran usually has 10 years after leaving active duty to use MGIB-AD benefits. The deadline may be extended or calculated differently in some situations, so the individual should confirm the remaining eligibility period with VA.
Who Is Eligible for MGIB-AD?
MGIB-AD eligibility is organized into four VA categories and cannot be reduced to one checklist. An applicant generally must have an honorable discharge and meet the service, education, and participation requirements of at least one category. For example, many Category I applicants entered active duty after June 30, 1985, had military pay reduced during their first year of service, completed a qualifying period of service, and hold a high school diploma, equivalent credential, or qualifying college credit. Other categories address earlier service and certain separation programs.
Can You Use More Than One GI Bill Benefit?
The answer depends on the number and timing of qualifying periods of active duty. A person with one qualifying period that began on or after August 1, 2011, generally must choose one education benefit and may give up the right to use another. A Veteran with two or more qualifying periods may be eligible for up to 48 months of combined Post-9/11 and MGIB-AD entitlement under the Rudisill decision. Because a benefit election can have long-term consequences, compare the options with VA before making a choice.
Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR)
MGIB-SR offers up to 36 months of payments for approved education and training. The person’s Selected Reserve component establishes basic eligibility, and VA generally pays the beneficiary directly each month based on the type and amount of training.
When Do MGIB-SR Benefits Expire?
Eligibility usually ends when the member leaves the Selected Reserve or uses all available entitlement, whichever happens first. Exceptions may apply after a qualifying disability discharge, certain unit deactivations or involuntary separations, or mobilization to active duty. A mobilization may extend the eligibility period. Members should confirm their status with their unit and VA.
Who Is Eligible for MGIB-SR?
One of these service-obligation requirements generally must be met:
- The member agreed to a 6-year obligation in the Selected Reserve, or
- The member is a Selected Reserve officer who agreed to serve 6 years in addition to the initial service obligation.
The member also generally must complete initial active duty for training, obtain a high school diploma or equivalent before finishing that training, and remain in good standing in an active Selected Reserve unit. A disability discharge not caused by misconduct may be treated differently.
The Yellow Ribbon Program
The Yellow Ribbon Program may help with tuition and fees that exceed the Post-9/11 GI Bill payment for a private school, foreign school, or out-of-state public school. It is available only to people who qualify for the Post-9/11 GI Bill at the 100% benefit level and meet VA’s other eligibility rules.
- The school must participate in Yellow Ribbon and certify the student’s enrollment.
- The school contributes an agreed amount toward eligible tuition and fees, and VA matches that contribution.
- The school may limit the number of participating students and may use a first-come, first-served process.
- Participation and award amounts vary by school and are not automatic.
The $600 Buy-Up Program
The $600 Buy-Up applies only to MGIB-AD. A service member who participated could contribute up to $600 and later receive a larger monthly MGIB-AD payment. A full $600 contribution can add up to $5,400 in total benefits over the period of use. It does not add $5,400 each month, it is not a $600 monthly contribution, and it cannot be used with the Post-9/11 GI Bill.
What Education and Training Can GI Bill Benefits Cover?
Coverage depends on the benefit chapter and whether VA has approved the exact school, employer, course, test, or program. Depending on eligibility, GI Bill benefits may be used for:
- Undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Approved public, private, and foreign institutions may qualify under different payment rules.
- Online and part-time education. Approved distance-learning and part-time programs may qualify, but enrollment level and online-only study can change the payment amount, especially the housing allowance.
- Career, trade, and non-college-degree programs. Examples can include approved training in fields such as HVAC, truck driving, emergency medical services, barbering, or cosmetology.
- On-the-job training and apprenticeships. Eligible participants may receive a living-expense payment while learning through an approved employer or sponsor.
- Licensing, certification, and national tests. VA may reimburse certain approved test fees and preparatory courses. Approval of a test does not guarantee that the applicant will pass or receive a license or certification.
- Entrepreneurship and other specialized training. Certain approved Small Business Administration entrepreneurship courses, flight training, correspondence training, co-op programs, and Tuition Assistance Top-Up may qualify under specific rules.
- Do not rely on accreditation alone: Use VA’s GI Bill Comparison Tool to confirm the school and program. Then ask the school certifying official whether the exact program, location, and delivery format are currently approved for the benefit you plan to use.
How to Apply for GI Bill® Benefits
The application path depends on whether the applicant is a Veteran, service member, Reservist, survivor, or dependent. These steps provide a general starting point:
1. Compare benefit options and verify program approval. Review eligibility on VA.gov, compare available benefits, and confirm the exact school or training program in the GI Bill Comparison Tool. Active-duty service members should speak with their Educational Service Officer before enrolling or using Tuition Assistance.
2. Gather the required information. VA generally asks for a Social Security number, bank direct-deposit information, education and military history, and basic information about the school or training facility. Additional documents may be requested based on the claim.
3. Submit the correct application. Veterans and service members commonly apply online or use VA Form 22-1990 for the Post-9/11 GI Bill, MGIB-AD, or MGIB-SR. Dependents and survivors use different applications, and a transferred-benefit applicant must first have an approved DoD transfer. Processing times vary, so apply before the planned start date.
4. Review the VA decision and provide it to the school. If VA approves the claim, the applicant will receive an education benefit decision or Certificate of Eligibility. Provide it to the school certifying official. The school must certify enrollment before VA can process school-related payments.
5. Verify enrollment and report changes. VA education beneficiaries generally must verify enrollment each month. Promptly report withdrawals, enrollment changes, program changes, leaves, or attendance changes to the school and VA. Delayed reporting can interrupt payments or create an overpayment.
For help, contact VA through Ask VA or call the GI Bill hotline at 888-GIBILL-1 (888-442-4551; TTY: 711).
Campus: Helping Military-Connected Students Navigate Education Benefits
Campus is approved by the California State Approving Agency for Veterans Education to offer specific educational programs to students using VA education benefits. Approval applies only to programs that have been specifically approved, and the approved-program list may change.
Veterans, service members, and eligible dependents should contact the Campus Veterans Affairs Office and School Certifying Official at veterans@campus.edu before enrolling to confirm current program approval, required documentation, enrollment certification, and reporting responsibilities. Campus can assist with school certification and institutional procedures, but VA or DoD determines benefit eligibility and coverage.
Active-duty service members should also consult their Educational Service Officer before enrolling. Campus does not guarantee that military education benefits will be approved or that they will cover all tuition, fees, housing, books, or other costs.
Disclaimer
This article is for general informational purposes only and reflects information reviewed in July 2026. VA and DoD rules, rates, entitlement calculations, approved programs, and application procedures may change. Students should confirm current information with VA or DoD and the school certifying official before making enrollment or financial decisions.
GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Military education benefits are administered by VA or the Department of Defense. Eligibility and coverage are determined by the respective agencies. More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government website at www.benefits.va.gov/gibill. Campus does not guarantee benefit approval or eligibility.
Sources
• U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, “About GI Bill Benefits.”
• U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, “Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33).”
• U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, “Transfer Your Post-9/11 GI Bill Benefits.”
• U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, “Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty (MGIB-AD).”
• U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, “Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR).”
• U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, “Yellow Ribbon Program.”
• U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, “$600 Montgomery GI Bill Buy-Up Program.”
• U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, “How to Apply for the GI Bill and Related Benefits.”
• U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, “Verify Your School Enrollment.”
• U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, “GI Bill Comparison Tool.”
• Internal Revenue Service, Publication 970, “Tax Benefits for Education,” Veterans’ Benefits section.
• Campus, College Catalog 2026-27, “Military Education Benefits,” pp. 45-48.