Veterans Benefits

Benefits vary due to a host of factors but include time and type of service and residency. You may also be eligible for multiple benefits.

If you need additional information you may contact us or review the Department of Veterans Affairs GI Bill® Web Site. They also provide a GI Bill® Comparison Tool that calculates your benefits and helps you research approved programs.

Explore Your Benefits

 

Post-9/11 GI Bill®

The Post-9/11 GI Bill® provides financial support for education and housing to individuals with at least 90 days of aggregate service after September 10, 2001, or individuals discharged with a service-connected disability after 30 days. You must have received an honorable discharge to be eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill®.

Approved training under the Post-9/11 GI Bill® includes graduate and undergraduate degrees, vocational/technical training, on-the-job training, flight training, correspondence training, licensing and national testing programs, entrepreneurship training, and tutorial assistance. All training programs must be approved for GI Bill® benefits.

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The Post-9/11 GI Bill® will pay eligible individuals:

  • Your full tuition & fees directly to the school for all public school in-state students.
  • For those attending classes at the greater than ½ time rate, a monthly housing allowance (MHA) based on the
  • Basic Allowance for Housing for an E-5 with dependents at the location of the school.
  • For those enrolled solely in distance learning (online courses) the housing allowance payable is equal to ½ the national average BAH for an E-5 with dependents ($684.00 for the 2012 academic year). MHA rate is fixed at $1,368.00 for the 2012 academic year.
  • An annual books & supplies stipend of $1,000 paid proportionately based on enrollment.
  • A one-time rural benefit payment for eligible individuals.


This benefit provides up to 36 months of education benefits, and generally benefits are payable for 15 years following your release from active duty. See more information about Post-9/11 GI Bill®.

The Post-9/11 GI Bill® also offers some service members the opportunity to transfer their GI Bill® to dependents. See more information about transferring Post-9/11 GI Bill® benefits.

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Yellow Ribbon Program

The Yellow Ribbon GI Education Enhancement Program (Yellow Ribbon Program) is a provision of the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008. This program allows institutions of higher learning (degree granting institutions) in the United States to voluntarily enter into an agreement with VA to fund tuition expenses that exceed the highest public in-state undergraduate tuition rate. The institution can contribute up to 50% of those expenses and VA will match the same amount as the institution for 100% eligible Post 9/11 GI Bill® veterans’.

The Post-9/11 GI Bill® pays up to the highest public in-state undergraduate tuition and fees. You may have tuition and fees that exceed that amount if you are attending a private institution, graduate school or attending in an out-of-state status. If you are enrolled at a Yellow Ribbon participating institution and the tuition and fees exceed the highest public in-state undergraduate tuition or fees, additional funds may be available for your education program without an additional charge to your entitlement.

See more information about the Yellow Ribbon program.

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Montgomery GI Bill® — Active Duty (MGIB)

The Montgomery GI Bill® — Active Duty program provides up to 36 months of education benefits. These benefits may be used for degree and certificate programs, apprenticeship/on-the-job training and correspondence courses. Vocational flight training is approved from September 30, 1990. Remedial, deficiency, and refresher courses may be approved under certain circumstances. Generally, benefits are payable for 10 years following your release from active duty.

See more information about Active Duty Benefits.

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Montgomery GI Bill® — Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR)

The Montgomery GI Bill® — Selected Reserve program may be available to you if you are a member of the Selected Reserve. The Selected Reserve includes the Army Reserve, Navy Reserve, Air Force Reserve, Marine Corps Reserve and Coast Guard Reserve, and the Army National Guard and the Air National Guard. You may use this education assistance program for degree programs, certificate or correspondence courses, cooperative training, independent study programs, apprenticeship/on-the-job training, and vocational flight training programs. Remedial, refresher and deficiency training are available under certain circumstances.

Eligibility for this program is determined by the Selected Reserve components. VA makes the payments for this program.You may be entitled to receive up to 36 months of education benefits. Your benefit entitlement ends 10 years from the date of your eligibility for the program, or on the day you leave the Selected Reserve.

See more information about the Montgomery GI Bill® Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR).

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Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP)

REAP provides educational assistance to members of the Reserve components called or ordered to active duty in response to a war or national emergency declared by the president or Congress.

The National Defense Authorization Act of 2016 ended REAP on November 25, 2015. If you’re a member of the Reserves who lost education benefits when the Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP) ended in November 2015, you may qualify to receive restored benefits under the Post-9/11 GI Bill®.

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Survivors’ and Dependents’ Assistance

There are two main GI Bill® programs offering education assistance to survivors and dependents of Veterans. See more information about Survivors’ and Dependents’ Assistance.

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Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Service (Voc Rehab)

The Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Service Program provides a comprehensive program of vocational rehabilitation assessment and services for veterans who have incurred or aggravated a physical or mental disability while in the armed forces of the United States. Veterans who have the potential to become employed are assisted in making viable occupational choices, and if necessary, are provided the skills needed to qualify for suitable employment. When the veteran reaches the point where he or she is “job-ready”, VR&E staff assists that person in the employment search process.

For those persons who do not have the option of employment by virtue of the severity of disabling conditions, VR&E may be able to provide independent living services designed to assist the individual to live in the community as independently as possible. Whether the rehabilitation plan calls for a vocational goal or independent living, the VR&E staff work very closely with the veteran and his/her family to assure progress in the program and success in the goals.

The Department of Veterans Affairs administers a number of educational benefit programs for eligible service members, veterans, and dependents. As an integral part of these benefits, educational and vocational counseling is available to help the individual to choose a vocational direction or area of study and select a school or other facility which the person might attend to achieve the chosen goal. Counseling is provided by qualified counselors and is offered at no charge.

See more information about Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment.

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Veterans’ Retraining Assistance Program (VRAP)

Congress passed, and the President signed into law, the VOW to Hire Heroes Act of 2011. Included in this new law is the Veterans Retraining Assistance Program (VRAP). VRAP offers up to 12 months of training assistance to unemployed Veterans.

The VRAP offers 12 months of training assistance to Veterans who:

  • Are at least 35 but no more than 60 years old
  • Are unemployed on the date of application
  • Received an other than dishonorable discharge
  • Are not eligible for any other VA education benefit program (e.g.: the Post-9/11 GI Bill®, Montgomery GI Bill®, Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Assistance)
  • Are not in receipt of VA compensation due to unemployability
  • Are not enrolled in a federal or state job training program

The program is limited to 45,000 participants from July 1, 2012, through September 30, 2012, and 54,000 participants from October 1, 2012, through March 31, 2014. Participants must attend full-time in order to receive up to 12 months of assistance equal to the monthly full-time payment rate under the Montgomery GI Bill® Active Duty program ($1,564 effective October 1, 2012). DOL will offer employment assistance to every Veteran who participates upon completion of the program.

Participants must be enrolled in a VA approved program of education offered by a community college or technical school. The program must lead to an Associate Degree, Non-College Degree, or a Certificate, and train the Veteran for a high demand occupation.

Other opportunities such as scholarships and/or grants may be available to you as well. Please contact your school’s financial aid office directly for more information.

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