How much is the Post 9-11 GI Bill worth to me?

The Post-9/11 GI Bill®  is a generous educational benefit for servicemembers, veterans, and military families.

Members of the military can qualify for up to 36 months of educational benefits for college tuition and fees, housing, books and supplies, as well as money to move if you live in a rural area.

How much GI Bill benefit you qualify for?

The total benefit you qualify for depends on how much active service you’ve had since September 10, 2001, which is then calculated based on the maximum benefit.

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs offers the GI Bill Comparison Tool  to help you find out how much you may be eligible to receive. To see the range of possible benefits, answer a few questions about your military status and service, the type of institution and school you plan to attend, as well as whether you plan to take classes in person or online.

The GI Bill Comparison Tool also provides key information about college affordability. It also includes the number of students receiving VA educational benefits at each school.

Who to contact with questions about your benefits?

The GI Bill and Department of Defense’s tuition assistance program are administered by different branches of the federal government.

For questions about your GI Bill benefits, contact the Department of Veteran Affairs at 1-888-GIBILL-1 (1-888-442-4551). Be advised that this line only accepts calls from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. CT from Monday through Friday, and you may experience long hold times. If your hearing is impaired, call 1-800-829-4833.

For questions about your tuition assistance benefits through the military, please contact your individual service branch. The Department of Defense Voluntary Education Program website  has more information on using tuition assistance and the points of contact for each service branch. Your installation’s education and legal assistance offices are great resources for more personalized assistance.

Learn more about how to navigate the military financial lifecycle