Entitlement
36 months (up to 48 for some)
Tuition at 100%
Full public in-state cost
Housing
Based on your school’s location
Expiration
None if you separated in 2013 or later
The Post-9/11 GI Bill is one of the most valuable things you walk away with when you leave the military. It can cover tuition, pay you a monthly housing allowance, and help with books, certification tests and apprenticeships. But it runs out, and a lot of veterans find that out too late.
This guide covers what the benefit pays for, how to stretch it, and the planning mistakes I see most often as a dean and an Army veteran.
From the dean’s desk
Don’t waste your benefits. Try to maximize them. If you’re going to trade school and you act with a plan, you can get two certifications in four years of benefits pretty easily.
— Lester Burkes, Dean of Automotive & Trades
Know what you have before you start
Most veterans who qualify at the full rate get 36 months of entitlement. Some can get more. Under the Supreme Court’s Rudisill decision, veterans who are eligible for both the Post-9/11 GI Bill and the Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty may qualify for up to 48 months total if they served at least 56 months on active duty or completed two or more qualifying periods of service. The VA says it reviews eligible records automatically.
If your service ended on or after January 1, 2013, your Post-9/11 benefits don’t expire under the Forever GI Bill. If it ended before 2013, you have 15 years from your last separation date.
Before you enroll anywhere, pull your GI Bill Statement of Benefits so you know exactly how many months you have left.
What the Post-9/11 GI Bill pays for
- Tuition and fees. At the 100% level, the VA covers full public in-state tuition and fees. Private and foreign schools are capped at a rate the VA updates each year.
- Monthly housing allowance. Paid if you’re training more than half time, based on the cost of living where your school is located.
- Books and supplies. A stipend up to an annual maximum.
- Licensing and certification tests. The VA can reimburse the cost of certain license and certification exams and prep courses.
- On-the-job training and apprenticeships. A monthly payment for living expenses while you earn a paycheck, plus money for books and supplies.
Why trade school stretches your benefits
A four-year degree can use all 36 months on one credential. Many trade programs are measured in months, not years, which leaves room for a second credential. A diesel or welding certificate followed by a CDL, or an HVAC certificate followed by an electrical program, are the kinds of stacks that make you more valuable to an employer than either one alone.
Apprenticeships are another way to stretch your benefit, because you’re earning a wage while the VA helps with living costs. Read more in Apprenticeships and the GI Bill.
If you’re going for a four-year degree
A bachelor’s degree can be the right call, but choose carefully. The degree should leave you with something employers can’t easily find.
From the dean’s desk
If you’re going after a four-year credential, make sure you’re picking up a skill or certification with a high barrier to entry. Think something like engineering or accounting.
— Lester Burkes, Dean of Automotive & Trades
The biggest mistake: starting without a plan
From the dean’s desk
The biggest mistake I see is starting school before having a plan, spending years using up benefits, and then running out before getting the credential they wanted.
— Lester Burkes, Dean of Automotive & Trades
Every term you spend exploring is a term of entitlement you don’t get back. Here’s how to start with a plan:
1
Pick the career before the school
Decide what job you want and what credential it requires. Our trades directory is a good place to start.
2
Check the program on the GI Bill Comparison Tool
Make sure the school and program are approved for VA benefits and compare what you’ll get for housing and tuition.
3
Map your months
Count how many months each program takes and add them up against your Statement of Benefits. Leave a cushion for retakes or a semester that goes sideways.
4
Meet the school’s certifying official
Every approved school has someone who certifies your enrollment to the VA. Talk to them before your first term, not after.
5
Stay on top of verification
If you’re receiving a housing allowance, you have to verify your enrollment every month to keep getting paid.
Can you use FAFSA with the GI Bill?
Yes. The GI Bill and federal student aid are separate programs, and you should still file the FAFSA. Grants like the Federal Pell Grant can cover costs the GI Bill doesn’t, such as tools, gear or living expenses. See How to Pay for Trade School for more options.
Frequently asked questions
How many months of GI Bill benefits do I get?
Most veterans who qualify get 36 months of Post-9/11 GI Bill entitlement. Veterans eligible for both the Post-9/11 and Montgomery GI Bills may qualify for up to 48 months under the Rudisill decision.
Can I use the GI Bill for trade school?
Yes. The Post-9/11 GI Bill covers approved vocational and technical programs, non-college degree programs, apprenticeships and on-the-job training.
Does the Post-9/11 GI Bill expire?
Not if your service ended on or after January 1, 2013. If it ended earlier, you have 15 years from your last separation date.
Will the GI Bill pay for certification tests?
The VA can reimburse the cost of certain licensing and certification tests and prep courses.
Sources
- VA: Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33)
- VA: On-the-job training and apprenticeships
- VA: GI Bill Comparison Tool
Related: Military to Trade School Transition · Apprenticeships and the GI Bill · All veterans guides
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