Post-9/11 GI Bill Rates & Tiers
Your Post-9/11 GI Bill benefit level, explained: the service-time tiers from 50% to 100%, the current academic year's book stipend and private-school tuition cap, and how the monthly housing allowance is derived from BAH — all from the verified VA rate tables, with VA's comparison tool as the source of record.
Works offline — your inputs never leave this device. How that works
Your tier percentage multiplies every Post-9/11 benefit: tuition, the housing allowance (MHA — based on BAH for an E-5 with dependents at your school's ZIP), and the book stipend.
| Qualifying service | Benefit level |
|---|---|
| At least 36 months (1,095 days or more) | 100% |
| At least 30 continuous days, discharged for a service-connected disability | 100% |
| Purple Heart recipient (service after September 11, 2001) | 100% |
| 30 to 35 months (910 to 1,094 days) | 90% |
| 24 to 29 months (730 to 909 days) | 80% |
| 18 to 23 months (545 to 729 days) | 70% |
| 6 to 17 months (180 to 544 days) | 60% |
| 90 days to 5 months (90 to 179 days) | 50% |
Academic year Aug 1, 2025 – Jul 31, 2026. Compare schools and see your exact housing allowance with VA's official GI Bill Comparison Tool ↗.
Verified 2026-07-30 against VA.gov — Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33) rates (effective 2025-08-01)
Estimate only — not legal, financial, or benefits advice. Only VA can determine your actual benefit.
Official source: VA — GI Bill Comparison Tool ↗
🎓 Understand this tool
What it is
An explainer of Post-9/11 GI Bill benefit levels: the service-time tiers from 50% to 100%, the current book stipend and private-school tuition cap, and how the housing allowance is derived from BAH.
How it works
VA publishes the tier table and dollar caps for each academic year (August 1 boundary); this page reads the verified pack for the current year. The tier percentage scales every benefit component — tuition, the monthly housing allowance (BAH for an E-5 with dependents at the campus ZIP), and books.
Getting the most from it
- Estimate your qualifying active-duty days and check the tier the checker returns.
- Note the two non-time paths to 100%: disability discharge after 30+ continuous days, and the Purple Heart criterion.
- Take your school list to VA's GI Bill Comparison Tool for exact per-school housing figures.
Reading your result
The tier is a multiplier, not a grade: 90% means 90% of tuition coverage, 90% of the housing allowance, and 90% of the book stipend. Rate-of-pursuit (how many credits you take) prorates the housing allowance further.
What it can't tell you
This page cannot verify your qualifying service, apply transfers to dependents, or handle Montgomery GI Bill comparisons. Only VA determines eligibility — the certificate of eligibility is the real answer.
Frequently asked questions
Three paths per VA's rate table: at least 36 months of qualifying active duty after 9/10/2001, at least 30 continuous days followed by a discharge for service-connected disability, or a Purple Heart earned for service after 9/11/2001.
Related calculators
BAH by ZIP
Look up your 2026 Basic Allowance for Housing by duty ZIP code, pay grade, and dependent status. Resolves your ZIP to its Military Housing Area and reads the exact monthly rate from the official DoD files — 338 housing areas, every grade, with and without dependents, verified.
Military Pay 2026
The complete 2026 military basic pay chart, effective January 1, 2026: monthly rates for every enlisted, warrant officer, and officer grade across all years-of-service columns, transcribed from the official DFAS pay tables and verified — including the Executive Schedule caps at the top grades.
COLA Watch — get the new pay tables and rates the week they drop
One email when the numbers change. Double opt-in, no spam, unsubscribe anytime.