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

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. 

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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:

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.

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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:

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.

You are qualified to receive in-state tuition (regardless of home address) instead of out-of-state tuition rates when using the GI Bill and you meet these criteria:

• You were on active duty for at least 90 days after September 9, 2001, and
• You are qualified for the Post 9/11 GI Bill or the Montgomery GI Bill

Or,

• You are a spouse, dependent, or survivor of a qualified GI Bill beneficiary,
• You are a recipient of the Fry Scholarship, or
• You are using transferred GI Bill benefits

You can use this benefit only if you enroll within three years after your discharge from active duty.

Or, if you are the spouse, dependent, or survivor of a military veteran receiving GI Bill benefits, then you have to be enrolled within three years after that person has been discharged.

If you were already enrolled but stopped for whatever reason, or transferred schools, you still qualify for this benefit as long as you resume your studies within the prescribed 3 years.

For the full list of detailed requirements, visit the va.gov website here regarding in-state tuition eligibility requirements.

Want to know the best news yet?

It doesn’t matter how much time you have been living in the state where you are studying. So long as you are currently residing in the same state as your college, even if you just moved there yesterday, then you definitely qualify to receive GI Bill in-state tuition benefits!

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Can Military Spouses or Dependents Get In-State Tuition?

Yes, if you are a dependent of a veteran, whether you are a spouse or child, then you can qualify for in-state tuition in all 50 states as long as its within 3 years of discharge. 

Take note, this benefit currently applies only to veterans, and not for active duty service members looking to use the GI Bill.  

If your military spouse or father/mother is still active duty, you don’t get this out-of-state tuition exemption.

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Also, if you are taking an exclusively online degree program with the GI Bill, or studying at a private school, we are sad to break the news to you: you cannot qualify for in-state tuition in this scenario (although some states may differ).

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But, hold on a minute!

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There is still a way to take advantage of your GI Bill benefits even if you are enrolled at an online program or in a private school. The GI Bill provides up to $24,476.79 as an annual maximum reimbursable amount on tuition fees, depending on your program and the amount of time you have served.

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The Yellow Ribbon Program

You can also use the Yellow Ribbon Program to cover tuition and other school fees that are not covered by the GI Bill. Isn’t that great?

If you’re wondering how this works, then here it is:

Schools volunteer to participate in the program to aid veterans in pursuing their degrees. The Yellow Ribbon Program covers tuition fees that are in excess of what your GI Bill benefits can provide you. You can learn more about it here.

What will the GI Bill pay for?

With the GI Bill, schools are mandated to only charge veterans their in-state rates, and these rates will be paid with the benefits you have in your entitlement.

This is a huge help, as out-of-state tuition can cost  ~$10,000 more than in-state tuition rates.

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Your GI Bill education benefits will cover your tuition and fees, as well as provide monthly housing allowance (BAH) and yearly books and supplies stipend, whether you are studying in or out of state.

This applies to all 50 states nationwide!

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Post 9/11 GI Bill Entitlement Percentage:

The amount of reimbursable payments depends on how much time you were on active duty after September 9, 2001. You can check out the percentage rate below:

As for monthly housing allowance, it only applies if you are enrolled full-time or taking units equivalent to ¾ of the full-time load.

The rates of how much you can use depends on several factors. You can find out how much you can get based on where you are studying and residing here.

Meanwhile, the books and supplies stipend is capped at $1,000, and is provided to you at a prorated amount depending on the status of your enrollment.

GI Bill Benefits For Dependents Out-Of-State

The GI Bill is a great source of help in pursuing higher education and career advancement after your time in the military.

But, if you don’t plan on using these benefits anytime soon, then you might be worried that this opportunity will go to waste.

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Don’t worry! You can transfer your GI Bill benefits to your spouse or your children. 

You might want to consider this especially if you have a child about to go to college.

Here is how it works:

If you have served for a total of 6 years on or after August 1, 2009, and agree to serve 4 more years in the Armed Forces, the Department of Defense can allow you to transfer your unused entitlement to your spouse, provided that you meet their eligibility requirements.

This also works for transferring entitlement benefits to dependents of active personnel of the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration and the Public Health System.

Just remember that transferring benefits only works if you are still serving in the military, and cannot be done after you have been discharged.

You can find out more information about this here.

Exceptions May Apply

Your school may have additional requirements on whether you qualify for an in-state rate, so be sure to find out the complete requirements and criteria from your school administration.

Also, schools have the option to grant in-state rates and tuition discounts to people with military connections or background, regardless if they are eligible for the GI Bill benefits.

So, if you feel that you don’t qualify for a GI Bill out-of-state benefit, there are still a lot of different options for you!

The Forever GI Bill

Alternatively, if you decide not to use or transfer your GI Bill benefits anytime soon, there is no need to rush because you still have a lifetime to use them!

As mentioned, a medical school will require a lot of things from you. Aside from having the determination and passion to finish the course, you also have to be financially stable to afford attending a medical school. This education doesn’t come cheap – and usually, will require you to break the bank or take out several loans at the same time. If you are qualified for the GI Bill, you’ll be financially assisted with the following:

• Tuition and fees: The GI Bill will pay your full resident tuition once you get to enroll in a public school. On the other side of the coin, if you’re eyeing to attend a medical school which is either private or abroad, the GI bill will cover up to $23,671.97 of your academic school year. Some schools around the world participate in the “Yellow Ribbon” program which can waive a portion of the difference of your tuition. This can result in lower tuition and fees "out-of-pocket" for medical school.
• Housing allowance, BAH, or MHA: As a medical student, you don’t only have to pay for your tuition fees; you also have to think about where you can get money for your housing allowance. This is crucial, especially if the medical school you’re planning to attend to is far from your home. You don’t have to be burdened when you’re a beneficiary of the GI Bill. This bill will actually give you a monthly housing allowance based on the ZIP code of the school you’re attending. The housing allowance given under the GI Bill usually ranges from $1,650.00 to $2,700.00 a month. The GI Bill BAH payments and Deposits schedule is paid directly by your school, so the only thing you need to do is ensure your paperwork is properly submitted to the certifying official at your university. 
• Books and supplies stipend: For you to become an effective medical student, you need to have the necessary tools and equipment. Obviously, you need several school supplies to help you with your endeavor. Stipend for books and other supplies is something which you can enjoy under the GI Bill. With this bill, you’ll be given up to $1,000 every year intended for your books and other school supplies. This stipend is paid based on the number of credits you are enrolled.

So How Can You Use The GI Bill For Medical School?

For you to utilize the GI Bill, you should adhere to the required procedure. This can be time-consuming and daunting for some, but everything will be worth it once you’re able to make the most of it. To give you an idea of where to begin, pay attention to the following points:

• Make sure that you already signed up for the GI Bill benefits. If you haven’t, do your search online and follow the on-screen instructions given by your state’s website. After this process, you’ll be provided with a Certificate of Eligibility. This document is crucial for authorities to easily determine that you’re a beneficiary of the GI Bill. Hold onto this document because this will be required when applying for medical school. 
• Before you can enjoy the financial benefits of the GI Bill, make sure that a certain medical school has already accepted you as a student. This process is also time-consuming, and you should first take a standardized exam, in this case: the MCAT. Taking this exam will cost a fee but as a military veteran, expect that this fee will be waived, as well. This means that you don’t have to pay anything just to enroll yourself in medical school.
• There are a lot of medical schools operating in different parts of the world today. To ensure that the medical school you’ll attend to can actually meet your expectations, take time to scout for options. If possible, have at least three options and inquire about their services and costs. And most importantly, make sure that you’re choosing a medical school which honors the beneficiaries of the GI Bill – after all, you don’t want to be financially burdened just because you’re attending medical school, right? You can double check this with our list of pre-authorized medical schools here.
• Once you’ve narrowed down your search, determine what the requirements of the medical school are and comply as soon as possible. If you don’t want to be stressed in medical school, start by applying early so you won’t be pressed for time. Working on your application early allows you to have time to settle emergencies, too. 
• After choosing a medical school and complying with its requirements, it’s now time for you to enroll. During this process, it’s vital that you submit your Certificate of Eligibility to the school’s financial aid office. Again, this document is essential because it determines what fees are covered in your benefit. 
• If you find yourself paying for other fees not covered by the GI Bill, consider signing up for the Tuition Assistance Top-Up program or Yellow Ribbon program. Being qualified for these programs will help you lessen your financial burden once you attend a medical school.

Know Your VA Benefits, and Use Them To Further Your Career

The GI Bill can do wonders if you want to attend medical school – but only if you know how to use it properly. Use this article as your guide so you’ll know your benefits and how you can make the most out of these benefits, as well.