The Post-9/11 GI Bill pays tuition, a monthly housing allowance and certain education costs, but the amount depends on your eligibility tier, school type, course format and enrollment level.
The figures below are the official Department of Veterans Affairs rates for August 1, 2026 through July 31, 2027. A payment can be lower when you qualify for less than 100% of the benefit or attend less than full time.
2026–27 Post-9/11 GI Bill rates
VA’s official 2026–27 rate page lists these maximums for someone eligible for the full benefit:
| Benefit | 2026–27 maximum |
|---|---|
| Public college or university | Net in-state tuition and mandatory fees |
| Private college or university | $30,908.34 per academic year |
| Foreign college or university | $30,908.34 per academic year |
| Non-college degree program | $30,908.34 per academic year |
| Non-degree flight training | $17,661.89 per academic year |
| Correspondence training | $15,012.59 per academic year |
| Online-only monthly housing allowance | Up to $1,261 per month |
| Foreign-school monthly housing allowance | Up to $2,522 per month |
| Books and supplies | Up to $1,000 per academic year |
| Qualifying rural relocation grant | One-time $500 payment |
Tuition and fee payments go directly to the school or training provider. Housing and book payments generally go to the student.
Your eligibility percentage
The published maximums assume 100% eligibility. VA uses qualifying active-duty service and certain other circumstances to assign a tier:
| Qualifying active-duty service | Benefit percentage |
|---|---|
| At least 36 months | 100% |
| 30–35 months | 90% |
| 24–29 months | 80% |
| 18–23 months | 70% |
| 6–17 months | 60% |
| 90 days–5 months | 50% |
Purple Heart recipients and some members discharged for a service-connected disability after at least 30 continuous days can qualify for the 100% tier under VA rules.
To estimate a capped benefit, multiply the maximum by your eligibility percentage. For example, 80% eligibility applied to the $30,908.34 private-school cap produces a maximum of $24,726.67 before other eligibility and enrollment adjustments.
Tuition at public versus private schools
For an eligible student at a public institution of higher learning, VA pays net in-state tuition and mandatory fees. “Net” means certain scholarships, waivers or assistance designated for tuition and fees can reduce the amount VA pays.
Private and foreign schools use the annual cap instead. If tuition exceeds the cap, the Yellow Ribbon Program may help when the student and school qualify.
Do not assume the GI Bill automatically covers every charge on a school account. Optional fees, housing, meal plans, insurance and other expenses can be treated differently from mandatory tuition and fees.
Monthly housing allowance
For in-person study in the United States, resident monthly housing allowance is based on the 2026 Basic Allowance for Housing rate for an E-5 with dependents at the school’s location.
The amount is not simply “the local BAH rate.” VA can prorate MHA using:
- your Post-9/11 GI Bill eligibility percentage;
- your rate of pursuit or scheduled clock hours;
- the number of payable days in the month; and
- whether the coursework is resident, online-only or another training type.
Online-only students can receive up to $1,261 monthly for this rate year. Taking at least one qualifying in-person course alongside online courses may make a student eligible for the resident MHA calculation.
VA states that correspondence and non-degree flight training do not receive MHA. Active-duty status and transferred-benefit rules can also affect housing eligibility, so verify the award rather than treating the table as a guarantee.
Books and supplies
The books and supplies stipend is capped at $1,000 per academic year at the 100% eligibility tier.
For college programs, VA can pay up to $41.67 per credit hour for as many as 24 credits in the academic year. For non-college-degree programs, VA can pay up to $83 per month. These amounts are also subject to your eligibility percentage.
Flight training and correspondence training do not qualify for the books and supplies payment under the published 2026–27 rules.
Rate of pursuit matters
Enrollment status affects housing even when tuition is covered. VA determines rate of pursuit from the school’s full-time standard and your enrolled credits or clock hours.
A student enrolled exactly half time generally does not receive MHA. A student above half time can receive a prorated housing payment, and VA rounds the rate of pursuit according to its rules. Short terms, withdrawals and course changes can alter both entitlement usage and payments.
When payments arrive
VA normally sends tuition and fees to the school after enrollment certification is processed. Housing is paid at the end of the month, while books and supplies are commonly paid near the beginning of the term.
The first and last month of a term are usually partial because payment covers only the days you are enrolled. Processing time also depends on when the school certifying official sends the enrollment and whether VA needs additional information.
How to estimate your benefit
Use this order:
- Confirm your Post-9/11 GI Bill eligibility tier on your Certificate of Eligibility.
- Identify the school and program type.
- Confirm whether the courses are in person, online-only or mixed.
- Ask the school certifying official for its full-time standard and certifiable tuition and mandatory fees.
- Use VA’s rate page for the correct academic year.
- Treat the estimate as provisional until VA issues the award notice.
The GI Bill Comparison Tool can help compare approved schools and programs. For an account-specific answer, contact VA or your school certifying official.
Bottom line
For August 1, 2026 through July 31, 2027, the Post-9/11 GI Bill can cover full net in-state tuition at a public school or up to $30,908.34 at a private, foreign or qualifying non-college program. Housing and books are separate benefits, and the actual payment depends on eligibility percentage, enrollment, course format and program rules.
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