Cumulative Active Duty since 9/11/01

Active Duty service that does NOT count toward eligibility include initial enlistment requirements for ROTC scholarship recipients(4 yrs), Service Academies graduates (5 yrs) and SLRP recipients (3 yrs). National Guard and reserve training and state call-ups for non-federal emergencies also do not qualify. However, starting October 2011 AGR and national emergency call ups of the National Guard and reserves DO count toward eligibility retroactive back to 9/11.

Select a school/employer

If you are having trouble finding your school do not be alarmed. Since we are using the VA's list of schools and they are generally sloppy in the way they abbreviate school names you may have to modify the search for your school. For example the VA abbreviates the University of Wisconsin as "Univ of Wisc-Madison." Instead of typing the whole name, try searching for just one part of the name. In this case a search for just "Madison" and will find the school.

If you still cannot find your school, check the "not listed" box to enter details of your school.

ZIP code

Benefits are based on where your school/employer is located, regardless of where you live. If you are attending a school with satellite campuses use the zip code of where your school's certifying officials are located. If you are attending an international school please enter “00000” for the zip code.

On-Job-Training or Apprenticeship program

The GI Bill will supplement the income of veterans participating in an apprenticeship / On-Job-Training program. Employers must be approved by the VA and the Department of Labor.

Public or Private School

Tuition benefits vary on whether you are attending a private or a public college. If you do not know if you school is a public or private college check out the Department of Education's College Navigator.

Degree programs

Both degree and non-degree granting programs are covered under the Post-9/11 GI Bill. However public non-degree granting school receive the same benefits as private schools. To see if your school is degree granting or not check out the VA's School Search, find your school and click on the "Programs tab."

Flight school program

Are you enrolled in a non-degree granting flight school program? Non-degree granting flight programs are now covered under the Post-9/11 GI Bill, however students do not qualify for a living allowance and tuitions benefits are lower than other college programs.

Online courses

Students taking ALL of their classes online (or through distance learning) receive a lower monthly living allowance. However, if students take just one course in an actual classroom they will qualify for the full monthly living allowance.

Enrolled before Jan 2011?

Students who were enrolled (or even registered) in an expensive private school prior to January 2011 in the following seven states (AZ, MI, NH, NY, PA, SC, TX) will be able to keep their higher tuition benefits till they graduate or July 2014.

Types of Terms

Semesters traditionally last 4.5 months and happen twice an academic year. Quarters last 3 months and happen three times a year. If your school is "year round", on trimesters or on some other type of system please select "Non-Traditional"

Summer courses

Summer terms are traditionally shorter and have different requirements for being considered full-time.

Summer term length

In order to calculate your benefits we need to know how long you will be attending school this coming year.

Length of Apprenticeship/OJT

Apprenticeship and OJT participants must work at least 120 hours/month (~30 hours/week) to qualify for the full monthly benefit. Participants working less than 120 hours will receive a reduced monthly living allowance.

Length of Apprenticeship/OJT

Apprenticeship and OJT participants must work at least 120 hours/month (~30 hours/week) to qualify for the full monthly benefit. Participants working less than 120 hours will receive a reduced monthly living allowance.

Number of credits enrolled per term

The monthly living allowance and the annual book stipend are prorated for part-time students. Students who are exactly half-time do not qualify for a monthly living allowance and the closer you are to being a full-time student the higher your benefits will be.

Full Time

How many units/credits do you need to be enrolled in to be considered full-time by your school? This may vary depending on your program. For example most undergraduate programs use 12 credits as full-time, while for graduate programs that rate might be much lower. Schools that use clock hours (vs. credit hours) usually have an average full-time rate of 18 clock hours.

Full time during the summer

How many units/credits do you need to be enrolled in the SUMMER to be considered full-time by your school? This may vary depending on your program. For example summer students may only be required to be enrolled in 6 credits to be considered full-time students because summer terms are more condensed then the normal school year.

Tuition/Fee Costs

Does your school charge you by the academic year, by the academic term or do they use a per credit rate?

Eligibility for in-state rates

Are you being charged in-state rates at the public school you are attending? The Post-9/11 GI Bill will cover in-state tuition rates at any undergraduate or graduate program in the country. Out-of-state students will also receive the in-state rate. Some public colleges offer all veterans in-state tuition rates (e.g., Ohio public schools).

Full Year Tuition

What is the total cost for TUITION at your school per year? Since you may qualify for higher tuition reimbursement rates, you must enter your tuition and fees costs separately. Under the old version of the Post-9/11 GI Bill the VA used separate caps for tuition and fees, so check with your school to see what they consider tuition vs. fees.

Full Year Tuition/Fees

What is the total cost for tuition and fees at your school per year? This includes any mandatory fees (e.g., lab fees, mandatory health insurance premiums). To make things easier for you, we were able to find the cost of attendance for some schools on the Department of Education’s college database. However, since these figures are based on a generic degree at each school, please consult the college for the most accurate price for your program. If you do not know how much your school charges, IAVA recommends Googling the name of your school and adding "cost of attendance" (in quotes).

Full Year Fees

What is the total cost for FEES at your school per year? Since you may qualify for higher fees reimbursement rates, you must enter your tuition and fees costs separately. Under the old version of the Post-9/11 GI Bill the VA used separate caps for tuition and fees, so check with your school to see what they consider tuition vs. fees.

In-State Rate for Tuition/Fees

What does your school charge in-state students per year for attending the same program? The Post-9/11 GI Bill will cover in-state tuition rates at any undergraduate or graduate program in the country. Out-of-state students will also receive the in-state rate.

Cost per Credit

What does your school charge per credit to attend?

Fees by Term

What fees does your school charge? This includes any mandatory fees (e.g., lab fees, mandatory health insurance premiums).

In-State Cost per Credit

What does your school charge in-state students per credit to attend? The Post-9/11 GI Bill will cover in-state tuition rates at any undergraduate or graduate program in the country. Out-of-state students will also receive the in-state rate.

In-State Fees by Term

What fees does your school charge in-state students per term for attending the same program? This includes any mandatory fees (e.g., lab fees, mandatory health insurance premiums).The Post-9/11 GI Bill will cover in-state tuition rates at any undergraduate or graduate program in the country. Out-of-state students will also receive the in-state rate.

Term Tuition/Fees

What is the per term cost for tuition and fees at your school? This includes any mandatory fees (e.g., lab fees, mandatory health insurance premiums). If you do not know how much your school charges, IAVA recommends Googling the name of your school and adding "cost of attendance" (in quotes).

Term In-State Rate

What does your school charge in-state students per term for attending the same program? The Post-9/11 GI Bill will cover in-state tuition rates at any undergraduate or graduate program in the country. Out-of-state students will also receive the in-state rate.

Yellow Ribbon school

Students attending more expensive private colleges or being charged out-of-state rates at public colleges may benefit from the Yellow Ribbon Program. To see if your school is participating in the Yellow Ribbon Program check out the VA website.

Yellow Ribbon school contribution

Any Yellow Ribbon contributions made by the school will be matched by the VA until the full cost of your education is paid for.

Receiving financial aid?

The VA is now considered a "payer of last resort," meaning the Post-9/11 GI Bill will only pay for tuition/fees that are actually being charged to the student. They will not pay for tuition/fees being covered by other financial aid resources. However, Federal financial aid (Pell & Student Loans) and scholarships that are NOT tuition specific or made directly to the veteran do NOT affect your Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits.

Military Tuition Assistance/ROTC

Any tuition/fees that were paid for by military tuition assistance (e.g., Federal Tuition Assistance or ROTC scholarships) will NOT also paid by the Post-9/11 GI Bill.

State Tuition Assistance

Any tuition/fees that were paid for by state tuition assistance programs (e.g., Hazelwood Act or the Illinois Veteran Grant) will NOT also paid by the Post-9/11 GI Bill.

Academic/Private Scholarships

Any tuition/fees that were paid for by private or school based scholarships (e.g., academic scholarship or veteran discounts) will NOT also paid by the Post-9/11 GI Bill. This does NOT include yellow ribbon scholarships.

Veteran still on Active Duty

Will the veteran, whose benefits are being used, be serving on active duty while the student is attending college under the Post-9/11 GI Bill? Spouses of active duty veterans who qualify for the Post-9/11 GI Bill due to their own service and are no longer serving on active duty should select "No."

Eligible for a kicker bonus?

Enlistment and reenlistment kickers are offered to servicemembers as incentives to join a particular military specialty, reenlist, etc. It is also commonly referred to as the Army College Fund (or Navy College Fund, Marine College Fund). Whether or not you qualify will be spelled out in your enlistment or reenlistment contract.

Kicker bonus amount

How much does your particular kicker qualify you for in additional education benefits per month. Your enlistment / reenlistment contract should specify a specific amount. If your contract says that you kicker is worth tens of thousands of dollars and does not specify a specific monthly rate it is usually worth around $200/month.

Out of Pocket Tuition and Fees Costs

This is the amount of tuition left to pay after taking your New GI Bill benefits and all financial aid you entered in the section above into account.

Calculate your Old GI Bill Benefits

This calculator can now accurately calculate your education benefits for the old GI Bill, including the Montgomery GI Bill (Ch 30), REAP (Ch 1607) and Select Reserve (Ch 1606).

Longest Consecutive Active Duty Tour

Unlike the Post-9/11 GI Bill, old GI Bill eligibility is NOT based on cumulative service. Only federal active duty counts. For the National Guard/Reserves time spent during BASIC training and MOS schools should not be included.

$1,200 "buy-in" for Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB)

For active duty servicemembers this decision was made during your BASIC training and involved having $100/month withdrawn from your first year's salary.

"Buy-up" program for MGIB?

Servicemembers who opted to participate in the MGIB "buy-up" program would contribute additional money to the GI Bill, in return for higher GI Bill rates when they started school. The maximum a servicemember could contribute is $600.

Buy-up amount

For every $20 contributed to the buy-up program, old GI Bill benefits would increase $5/month.

Currently serving in the Reserves/National Guard

Reserve GI Bill benefits are generally only available to servicemembers who are still serving in the Reserves/National Guard. However, they are some exceptions for servicemembers who had been activated under federal orders.

IRR Service

IRR= Inactive Ready Reserve. When you completed your 8-year service requirement were serving in the IRR on that last day? If so, select "Yes". For example, if you joined the National Guard and served the standard six-years, your last two years in the military were likely spent serving in the IRR. However if you reenlisted after that initial 6-year commitment then the answer is probably "no".

Length of Longest Deployment

In order for us to determine which old GI Bill benefit programs you may qualify for we need to know exactly how many month your longest deployment.

Date of Discharge

When were you last discharged from active duty? GI Bill benefits for reservists may be available to servicemembers after they leave military, but only for a limited period of time after their last deployment on active duty.

Still serving?

Since transferability of GI Bill benefits is meant to serve as an reenlistment tool, only servicemembers currently serving in the military qualify to transfer. If you have already retired from the military it is too late to apply to transfer your remaining GI Bill benefits.

How many years served?

A servicemembers needs at least 6 years of cumulative military service (active and/or reserve) to qualify to transfer their benefits to a spouse or child.

Age of dependant

Dependents have until they are 26 years old to use their transferred Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits.

Caregiver dependant

Children of injured and ill servicemembers who have acted as a primary caregiver may be granted additional time to utilize their education benefits.

Date of last active duty discharge

Veterans and spouses have 15 years after they separate from active duty to use their GI Bill benefits.