Though the VA website helps you find out how to use the GI Bill for graduate school, it's kind of a pain to find the information you need!
So we collected every little detail you need to know about the GI Bill on your way to graduate school.
Here, we will be showing you:
- How much does the VA pay for tuition, housing, and books?
- How to maximize your GI Bill so you won’t end up in debt.
- Steps on how to apply to grad school using the GI Bill.
- The different types of GI Bill to use, depending on your background.
- Plus little known details about the GI Bill that will help you save money and maximize your benefit.
Now, to answer the big question:
Yes, the GI Bill will pay for 100% of graduate school tuition at a public university, or up to $24,476.79 at a private university. Depending on your status, you may also be eligible to receive a monthly housing allowance and a books/supplies stipend. If you have already used your GI Bill for an undergrad degree, you can still use it to go to Grad School, as long as you have enough remaining months of eligibility.
What is Considered “Full Time” for Graduate School?
The VA does not make it easy to determine what is considered Full-Time for for the GI Bill. For graduate and undergraduate school students, the school pre-determines what is considered full-time.
If a university is under a semester or quarter hours system, 12 credit hours are typically considered full-time.
Why does this matter?
According to the VA: Under the Post-9/11 GI Bill, a Veteran enrolled at more than one-half time can qualify for a monthly housing allowance based on the BAH rate for an E-5 with dependents.
Remember, it has to be MORE THAN 50%, as in 50.001%.
For example, if full time is 12 credits, and you are taking 6 credits (50%), you would need 7 credits or more to qualify for the Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA).
However:
Sometimes, online courses, summer courses, and certain graduate programs are under a different system. Make sure that you thoroughly review your options, especially when you choose to use your GI Bill for online classes.
But not to worry...if this is the case, the VA will calculate a “weighted average” of the course load, and this will generally mean less than 12 hours is considered “full time”.
*Note for graduate schools:
Because graduate-level programs vary in the number of credits required for full-time training, the school provides the training time information to VA in addition to the term dates and credit hours of the enrollment.
How Much Does The GI Bill Pay For Graduate School?
Tuition and Fees
Post-9/11 Payment RatesType of School | Amount the VA Pays |
|---|---|
Public school | 100% of Tuition |
Private School | $23,671 per academic year that goes up to $24,476 starting on August 1, 2019 |
If you are planning to go to a private school, make sure that it participates in the Yellow Ribbon Program so it waives the difference that the GI Bill could not pay.
If you are going to a public university, you will still need to make sure you confirm that you are paying in-state and not out-of-state tuition with the GI bill if you meet certain criteria.
However, with the Yellow Ribbon Program, you will likely still need to pay some amount.
Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA) While In Graduate School
Your Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA) depends on the location of your school and generally based on the military Basic Housing Allowance (BHA) for an E-5 with dependents. It is paid every end of each month directly to you.
Here are the rates, depending on which type of school you are going:
Exceptions in MHA: If you are an active duty trainee or a transferee spouse of a veteran, Post-9/11 doesn’t pay for it.
One of the confusing things about the BAH payment schedule is knowing when your GI Bill BAH gets deposited. This happens between your school and the VA- make sure that your school's certifying official has all the documents they need to make sure it does not get delayed.
Are Books & Supplies Paid For?
Under the Post-9/11 GI Bill, it pays an allowance of up to $1,000 per year for books and supplies that are given directly to you at the beginning of the term.
If you are not full-time, then be aware this will be paid proportionally to your enrollment status.
Understanding Post-9/11 GI Bill for Graduate School
Post-9/11 GI Bill is the most common program that provides education benefits to veterans and their dependents. You are qualified if you have served on active duty for 90 days or more after September 2011. It has 36 months of entitlement, which can be used in your lifetime.
Many think that if they served at least 90 days of service after September 2011, they are already entitled to 100% education benefits.
However:
The percentage of benefits depends on the length of your service. The shorter your service is, the lower the percentage you receive.
With the changes brought in through the Forever GI Bill, you can now use your 36-month entitlement anytime you’d like in your lifetime.
Under the old program, you only had 15 years to utilize it. Thankfully, this is no longer the case.
Here’s an overview of how much percentage you are going to receive under the Post-9/11 if you are one of those veterans who served after September 2011:
Duration of Active Duty | Maximum Payable Benefit |
|---|---|
At least 36 months | 100% |
30 consecutive days or more of active duty and discharged due to service-connected disability | 100% |
30-36 months | 90% |
24- 30 months | 80% |
18-24 months | 70% |
12-18 months | 60% |
6-12 months | 50% |
3-6 months | 40% |
Can I Use the GI Bill to go to Grad School While On Active Duty?
Yes, you can use your Post 9/11 GI Bill while on active duty status. In fact, this is exactly what I did my last 2 years of active duty to go to business school. I used the GI Bill part-time, and although it was stressful, it allowed me to collect a full paycheck while going to school.
Keep in mind a few important stipulations:
1. You must have already served at least 90 days of active duty (subtracting basic training).
2. You won’t get a stipend for books and supplies, and you won’t get a housing allowance.
3. The tuition payment cannot exceed the amount not paid by military tuition assistance and/or the total amount of tuition and fees.
Montgomery GI Bill: An overview
Like the Post-9/11 GI Bill, the Montgomery GI Bill is an education benefit that was a precursor to the 9/11 Bill.
It can pay up to $71,000 of your tuition throughout its 36-month limit.
It can be applied when pursuing certificates and training, and higher education degrees, like a master's degree.
There are two types of programs under this bill:
Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty (MGIB-AD), and Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR) Benefits:
MGIB Benefits | Rate |
|---|---|
Tuition | Can pay up to $71,000 for 36 months, or at around $1,972 per month. |
Housing Allowance | None |
Books and Supplies | None |
Yellow Ribbon Program | None |
Using The Montgomery GI Bill-Active Duty (MGIB-AD) For Grad School
This is a program that pays education expenses to Service members who want to pursue higher education. Learn more about the Montgomery GI Bill rates here.
Montgomery GI Bill Eligibility
All these facts below must be true to be eligible:
- You contributed $100 each month during your first 12 months in service.
- You have completed at least two years of active duty in service.
- You have a high school diploma, GED or 12 hours credit in college.
- You started active duty for the first time after June 30, 1985.
For more details on the categories of eligibility, click here.
Montgomery GI Bill-Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR)
It is another program under the Montgomery Bill that gives education benefits to personnel who enlisted as reserves to any unit of the Selected Reserves. It covers up to $11,000 throughout your 36-month entitlement. See current rates here.
Eligibility
To be eligible, one of the following must be true:
- You have at least completed 6 year-service in the selected Reserve.
- You are an officer and agreed to add 6 years more in addition to your previous service obligation. Your obligation should have started after June 30, 1985, or after September 30, 1990, for some other types of training.
Additional qualifications are as follows:
- You must have completed your initial active duty for training (IADT).
- You must have a high school diploma or an equivalent like GED, before finishing IADT.
- Have a good standing while serving in an active Selected Reserve unit. You are still eligible if you were discharged because of a disability not caused by misconduct.
Post-9/11 GI Bill vs Montgomery GI Bill for Grad School
Post-9/11 is the most common GI Bill that members use due to its promising benefits. With its no-limit entitlement which is a part of the Forever GI Bill which already took effect, compared to the 10-yr limit of the Montgomery GI-Bill (MGIB-AD), one would choose the Post 9/11.
But then again, the Montgomery GI Bill has also its advantages.
Look at the table below to see more differences between these two bills to help you decide which one suits you better.
$600 Buy-Up Program
Under the Montgomery GI Bill-Active Duty (MGIB-AD), members can contribute an additional $600 (on top of your $1,200 contribution on your first year as active duty) to receive an increased monthly benefit.
It must be made while active on duty, so you can receive another $4,500 in addition to your GI Bill benefits.
Click here for the rates under this program.
GI Bill vs Tuition Assistance for Grad School
There are a few differences between the GI Bill (Post-9/11) and Tuition Assistance (TA):
One significant distinction is that the first is education assistance provided by the VA to veterans, and the latter is for Reserve and those on active duty, and is provided by their respective service branch: Army, Navy, Coast Guard, Marines, Air Force, and National Guard.
You should be on active duty throughout your studies to reap the benefit of Tuition Assistance (TA), and there are some payback periods which could apply.
Below is a simplified table to see the differences between the GI Bill and Tuition Assistance:
Tuition Assistance TOP-UP
This is financial assistance on top of the Tuition Assistance for active-duty personnel. It pays the difference that the TA doesn't.
You are qualified to use this benefit if you are eligible to receive the Montgomery GI Bill-Active Duty (MGIB-AD) or the Post-9/11 and are using tuition assistance.
It is limited to 36 months entitlement only and pays the exact amount of your tuition fee. For more details about this program, click here.
GI Bill or Yellow Ribbon Program for Grad Degree?
The Yellow Ribbon Program is an add-on to the GI Bill, usually, the Post-9/11, if you opt to go to a private school.
For public institutions, the GI Bill is enough to cover 100% of tuition costs; you don't need the Yellow Ribbon Program
There are times when you don't need to spend any money out of pocket for a private school with the Yellow Ribbon assistance.
But often, some out of pocket cost will be required. It depends on the school.
Currently, the Post-9/11 GI Bill pays up to $23,671.94 for an academic year at a private university.
Yellow Ribbon Program Example:
Your private school charges you $60,000 a year for your tuition, this is where the Yellow Ribbon Program helps.
If your school covers $15,000 with its agreement with the Yellow Ribbon Program, the VA matches the amount.
So, you get $30,000 from this benefit along with your GI Bill assistance. As a result, you only pay less than $7,000 out of your pocket.
Make sure that your choice of the school participates with the Yellow Ribbon Assistance. Click here to see participating schools.
How to Use the GI Bill and Yellow Ribbon Program at the Same Time
The Yellow Ribbon Program is most useful when trying to use the GI Bill to go to a Private University, and the GI Bill won’t cover the whole amount.
To be able to use the GI Bill and the Yellow Ribbon Program at the same time, you must be eligible for the maximum benefit rate of the GI Bill.
Once you are, you can use the Yellow Ribbon Program to help pay the remaining amount, and minimize the amount you have to pay out of pocket.
To qualify for Maximum Benefit Rate for the Post 9/11 GI Bill, one of the following must be true:
- You served for 36 months on active duty, either continuous or with breaks.
- You received a Purple Heart on or before September 11, 2001, and were honorably discharged after any amount of service.
- You received a Fry Scholarship on or before August 1, 2018.
- You served for at least 60 days continuously, without a break, on or before September 11, 2001, and were honorably discharged because of a disability caused by your service.
- You are a dependent child of a veteran or a service member, who has served for at least 36 months on active duty and transferred his/her benefits to you. The member should qualify for the maximum benefits. Find out how to transfer Post-9/11 benefits here.
- You are receiving the Fry Scholarship since August 1, 2018.
Your school must also meet these requirements:
- Offers the Yellow Ribbon Program.
- Your school has not given Yellow Ribbon assistance to more than the maximum number of students in their agreement with the Veterans Affairs.
- Your school certified your enrollment and submitted your Yellow Ribbon information to the VA.
To Get GI Bill Benefits with the Yellow Ribbon Program, Follow These Steps:
- Apply for Post-9/11 online, by mail, or in-person in a regional processing office, or with a trained professional's assistance. Click here to do one of these. You will receive a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) if you qualify for the benefits.
- Bring your COE to your school. Usually to a certifying official, financial aid, military liaison, or any appropriate office. Ask for assistance about the Yellow Ribbon application.
- Wait for your school’s decision. If it will be granted, you will also be informed about how much assistance you will receive.
Find VA-certified schools in your area by clicking here.
Is Using the GI Bill for Graduate School Different than Undergraduate?
The GI Bill can fund both graduate and undergraduate degrees.
In the case of undergraduate studies, VA allows you to have more than one degree as long as you still have remaining entitlement.
So if you already have a degree in business, you can have another in a different field.
It also covers your tuition at another school, while paying for your current school. This is possible as long as your school guarantees that you need the classes at the second school to attain your degree.
Note that the GI Bill won't pay for the same class twice unless you failed it, and need to take it again in order to graduate.
For both graduate and undergraduate, the school decides what is considered full-time.
For grad school, if your school says 2 hours is full time, then the VA pays full time for it.
(The school is the authority on what is considered "full time").
In most cases for undergrad, 12 hours or more is considered full time. So the VA pays for full time.
For 9 to 11 hours, it’s considered ¾ time; 6-8 hours is half time; and for less than six hours, the GI Bill pays at a rate that doesn’t exceed the exact tuition and fees for the course.
The VA pays directly to your school for both graduate and undergrad, while books and supplies financial assistance will be given to you directly at the beginning of the term, as well as your housing allowance every end of each month.
Applying for benefits has the same process, too.
How to Use the GI Bill For a Private or Foreign School
Although private and foreign schools participate in the GI Bill, there's no guarantee that your full tuition and fees are covered, like in-state and public universities.
So before enrolling, make sure your school also participates in the Yellow Ribbon Program, which waives a portion of the difference that your GI Bill cannot pay.
The Housing allowance is still based on BAH rates, and book stipend is the same as in public schools. There is an increase in the Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA) if BAH increases every January each year.
To apply, you still need to follow the standard steps. After receiving your Certificate of Eligibility (COE), bring it to your school’s certifying office.
What is the Forever GI Bill?
Also known as Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act, the Forever GI Bill is expanded financial assistance that brings changes to the educational benefits of veterans, their survivors, beneficiaries and dependents. Most notably, it removes the 15 year timeline to use your GI Bill. You can now use it anytime in your lifetime.
Here are some of the enhanced benefits brought forth with the Forever GI Bill:
Click here to learn more about the Forever GI and to apply.
Related Questions:
Can I Use My GI Bill Again for Grad School If I've Already Used It?
Yes, you can use your GI Bill again, to get two degrees or more, as long as you have the remaining months of eligibility left. The GI Bill allows for 36 months of education, so if you spent 20 months using the GI Bill, you'd have 16 months left remaining for you to get a second degree or additional training.
My GI Bill Allowance: Does my Length of Service Matter?
Yes. Under the Post-9/11 and Montgomery GI Bill, your length of service affects your allowance. Refer above for the rates according to your length of service.
Can I Use My GI Bill for Law School?
Yes. You can use your GI Bill for law school.
Law school can cost you $12,000 to almost $70,000 a year, depending on if it’s a state university or private college.
Columbia University is the most expensive private law school at $69,916 per year, and qualifies for the GI Bill, as well as the Yellow Ribbon Program.
So, before enrolling, make sure that your school participates in these two programs.
You are also required to take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT), which costs around $180. Your GI Bill reimburses it as long as you apply for reimbursement by completing this form.
Then send it to the VA regional processing office that handled your application.
Can I Use my GI Bill for Business School?
Absolutely. I used the GI Bill to pay for 100% of my MBA at the University of North Carolina.
So the first thing you should do is search for a school that participates in the program, along with the Yellow Ribbon program (if looking for private universities).
Find out here how, plus a short story of a veteran who served for 10 years, and was able to maximize his benefits pursuing an MBA degree.
Can I Use my GI Bill for Medical School?
Yes, the GI Bill can be used for medical school.
Just make sure you are eligible by reading the article above, then apply for your GI Bill benefits, even if you've used them once before (you can use it a second time if you have remaining eligibility).
If you are planning to go to a public school, it’s most likely that the GI Bill will pay for all of your tuition, up to 36 months of eligibility.
But if you go to a private university, make sure to apply for the Yellow Ribbon program too, so it waives a portion of the remaining amount that the 9/11 GI Bill can't. Through this, you pay a lesser amount out of your pocket or from student loans.
Before you enter a medical school, you have to take the Medical College Admission Test, or MCAT, which can cost $315.
Luckily, as a veteran, the VA reimburses this cost with a program called National Standard Admission Test.
If you’re eligible for the GI Bill, this will be paid for you.
All you need to do is download the VA Form 22-0810, which is available here. And then mail the completed form to your nearest VA regional processing office. You may need to submit proof, like a receipt.
Read here an inspiring story of a veteran, who used his GI Bill to go to medical school, and at the same time pursuing an MBA.
What are my Next Steps After Using the GI Bill for Grad School?
Grad school takes 2-3 years to graduate, although in some cases, it only requires you a year to finish.
In case you still have entitlement left from your 36 months under the Post-9/11 GI Bill, you can utilize the remaining months to achieve another degree, license, or certification.
Or if you have used other programs, you might have entitlement left.
Check here to check how much benefit you have left.
Below are FAQ’s to shed light on some questions related to your next steps after acquiring your post-grad degree.
Can I get another degree after grad school?
Yes, if you already have a post-graduate degree, like an MBA, you can use the GI Bill to achieve another degree as long as you have enough months of eligibility remaining.
You can go to med school, law school, or another qualified program.
Although tuition assistance (TA) varies based on your length of service, you can have 100% entitlement or even 40%. With the Forever GI Bill, which will become effective on August 1, 2022, the lowest percentage you can get will be 60%. Generally, this all depends on how you use these programs.
Can I use both the Post-9/11 and MGIB to get multiple degrees?
Some veterans use both the MGIB and Post-9/11 programs.
Although each gives you 36-month entitlement, it doesn’t mean you can have 72 months to use both.
Instead, you can maximize your benefits to 48 months for combined bills.
You can consume your 36-month entitlement under your MGIB-AD while on duty for your grad school, then use your remaining 12 months under the Post-9/11 after you are discharged for another degree. Yes, the latter pays more, but it doesn’t work vise versa.
How to use the Post-9/11 GI Bill and Tuition Assistance at the same time?
Some might not know that they can use both of these programs.
In case your Tuition Assistance (TA) cannot pay all of your tuition ($4,500 maximum per year), the Tuition Assistance-Top Up covers for the remaining cost.
Then it will be subtracted to your GI Bill entitlement.
This says that you can also use your TA for grad school and the Post-9/11 covers for whatever is the remaining amount that you have to pay. After this, you can use the remaining entitlement from your GI Bill to gain another degree.
