The Post-9/11 GI Bill® helps Veterans pay for school, job training, housing and other education expenses. You may be eligible if you meet at least one of the requirements listed below.

At least one of these must be true:

• You served at least 90 days on active duty (either all at once or with breaks in service) on or after September 11, 2001, or
• You received a Purple Heart on or after September 11, 2001, and were honorably discharged after any amount of service, or
• You served for at least 30 continuous days (all at once, without a break in service) on or after September 11, 2001, and were honorably discharged with a service-connected disability, or
• You’re a dependent child using benefits transferred by a qualifying Veteran or service member

You can receive up to 36 months of benefits, including:

• Tuition and fees. If you qualify for the maximum benefit, the VA will cover the full cost of public, in-state tuition and fees. Rates for private and foreign schools are capped and those rates are updated each year.
• Money for housing (if you’re in school more than half time)
• Money for books and supplies
• Money to help you move from a rural area to go to school

GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government Web site at https://www.va.gov/education/about-gi-bill-benefits/.

Learn more: Federal VA – Post-9/11 GI Bill®

The Montgomery GI Bill® (MGIB) can help qualified Veterans and active duty members of the military reduce the cost of education and training programs. This benefit can be used to pay for up to 36 months of costs for various educational programs including:

• College degrees (undergraduate and graduate)
• Technical or Vocational Training
• Distance/Online Courses
• Apprenticeships/Job Training
• Flight Training
• Licensing and Certification Tests
• Entrepreneurship Training
• Entrance Examinations

Veterans and current service members may be eligible for education benefits through this program if they were honorably discharged and meet the requirements of one of the four categories outlined by the VA.

Learn more: Federal VA – Montgomery GI Bill® (MGIB)

Veterans with a service-connected disability that limits their ability to work or prevents them from working, Veteran Readiness and Employment (formerly called Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment) can help. This program helps qualified Veterans explore employment options and address education or training needs. In some cases, your family members may also qualify for certain benefits.

Learn more: Federal VA – Veteran Readiness and Employment

A dependent spouse or child—or a surviving spouse or child—of a Veteran may be eligible for education or job training benefits through a GI Bill program. If you’re the child or spouse of a service member and one of the descriptions listed below is true of the service member.

• The service member died in the line of duty after September 10, 2001, or
• The service member is missing in action or was captured in the line of duty by a hostile force, or
• The service member was detained (held) by force while in the line of duty by a foreign government or power, or
• The service member is in the hospital or getting outpatient treatment for a service-connected permanent and total disability, and is likely to be discharged for that disability. A service-connected permanent and total disability is a disability resulting from your service that doesn’t go away.

You may be eligible for VA education benefits (Chapter 35 benefits) if you’re the child or spouse of a Veteran and one of the descriptions listed below is true of the Veteran.

• The Veteran is permanently and totally disabled due to a service-connected disability, or
• The Veteran died while on active duty or as a result of a service-connected disability

If you’re a dependent who doesn’t meet the above criteria, you may still qualify for VA education benefits if the Veteran or service member transferred some or all of their Post-9/11 GI Bill entitlement to you while they were on active duty.

Learn more: Federal VA – Education Benefits for Survivors and Dependents

The Tuition Assistance Top-Up program helps Veterans and service members cover tuition costs that exceed what is covered by Montgomery GI Bill or Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits. 

Learn more: Federal VA – Tuition Assistance Top-Up

Federal Student Aid for Military Students where you can apply to receive financial support to pay for tuition and apply for grants and scholarships.

Learn more: Federal Student Aid – Military