The GI Bill
The G.I. Bill, formally the Servicemen’s Readjustment Act of 1944, is a U.S. law that provides education and training benefits to eligible veterans, service members, and their dependents. It covers tuition and fees, a monthly housing allowance, and money for books and supplies. The G.I. Bill also includes other benefits like tutorial assistance, and the Yellow Ribbon Program, which can help with tuition costs not covered by the G.I. Bill.
The Department of Veterans Affairs administers the G.I. Bill and provides detailed information on eligibility and benefits.
There are three key programs to the GI Bill being administered presently.
-Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty (MGIB-AD) – 36-48 months coverage
-Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR) -36 months coverage
-The Post-9/11 GI Bill -48 months coverage
Note: If you have only 1 period of service that begins on or after August 1, 2011, and you qualify for other VA education benefits, you can use only 1 education benefit. You’ll have to choose the Post 9/11 GI benefit or the Montgomery GI benefit. Once you choose one you cannot switch at a later date.
The $600 Montgomery GI Bill Buy-Up program
If you contributed to (paid into) the $600 Montgomery GI Bill Buy-Up program, you can receive more in monthly GI Bill payments.
Transfer of Benefits
You may be able to transfer your Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits to a dependent family member if you’re on active duty or in the Selected Reserve and you meet all of these requirements.
All of these must be true:
1. You’ve completed at least 6 years of service on the date your request is approved, and
2. You agree to add 4 more years of service, and
3. The person getting benefits is enrolled in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS)
Note: If you received a Purple Heart, you don’t need to meet a service requirement. But you’ll need to request to transfer your benefits while you’re still on active duty.
Initiate Transfer
Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty (MGIB-AD)
[36-48 Months Coverage]
It pays for College Degree programs; Non-College Degree programs; On-The-Job Training and Apprenticeships; Correspondence Training; Flight Training; Licensing and Certification Test Fees; and National Test Fees.
Generally, if you served at least 2 years on active duty and you meet the requirements listed here, you may be eligible for benefits through MGIB-AD.
All of these must be true:
1. You were honorably discharged, and
2. You have a high school diploma, GED, or 12 hours of college credit, and
3. You didn’t decline enrollment in MGIB-AD when you started active duty. This required a payment of $1,200 into the program, and
4. You fall into one of the four categories
Cost Coverage
This GI Bill pays based on whether or not you’ve served more than 3 continuous years on active duty; going to school full-time; in an apprentice program; or on-the-job training.
See Rates
Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR)
[36 Months Coverage]
It pays for College Degree programs; Non-College Degree programs; On-The-Job Training and Apprenticeships; Correspondence Training; Flight Training; Licensing and Certification Test Fees; and National Test Fees.
To qualify for the MGIB-SR you must serve in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps or Coast Guard Reserves, Army National Guard, or Air National Guard and meet one of the requirements below.
One of these must be true:
1. You’re an officer in the Selected Reserve who agreed to serve 6 years in addition to your initial service obligation
2. You have a 6-year service obligation (you agreed to serve 6 years) in the Selected Reserve, or
And all of these must be true:
1. You stay in good standing while serving in an active Selected Reserve unit
2. You complete your initial active duty for training (IADT), and
3. You get a high school diploma or certificate of equal value, like a High School Equivalency Diploma or GED, before finishing IADT, and
4. You stay in good standing while serving in an active Selected Reserve unit.
Cost Coverage
This GI Bill pays based on whether or not you are going to school full-time; in an apprentice program; or doing on-the-job training.
See Rates
The Post-9/11 GI Bill
[48 Months Coverage]
You will receive payment to cover Tuition Assistance, Housing, Books, Move from Rural Areas, On-the-job Training, tests, etc.
To qualify for the Post-9/11 GI Bill you must meet one of these requirements:
1. You served on active duty for at least 90 days after September 10, 2001, whether continuous (all at once) or interrupted (for shorter periods over time), or
2. You served for at least 30 continuous days after September 10, 2001 and were discharged because of a service-connected disability, or
3. You received a Purple Heart after September 10, 2001
Cost Coverage:
The Post-9/11 GI Bill will cover 100% of the cost if you serve at least 36 months on active duty. If you serve less than 36 months on active duty the covered cost will be 50%, 60%, 70%, 80% or 90% depending on how long you served on active duty.
See Rates
Track your Post-9/11 GI Bill Benefits