Gi Bill Calculator

Estimate your Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits with rates for the 2026-27 academic year (effective August 1, 2026). Enter your months of service, school type and tuition to get your eligibility tier, tuition covered, monthly housing allowance and book stipend.

Worked example, checked against this exact tool

A veteran with 36 months of service (100% tier) attending a private school full time, tuition $40,000, housing base $2,522: tuition is capped at the 2026-27 private limit of $30,908.34, so tuition covered = $30,908.34; MHA = $2,522 × 100% × 1 = $2,522/month; books = $1,000. Estimated annual benefit = $30,908.34 + ($2,522 × 9) + $1,000 = $54,606.34.

2026-27 Post-9/11 GI Bill rates

VA rates reset every August 1. For the year starting August 1, 2026: public in-state tuition is covered in full; private and foreign schools are capped at $30,908.34 a year; exclusively online students get $1,261 a month in housing; foreign-school students get $2,522 a month; in-person students get the BAH rate for an E-5 with dependents at their school’s ZIP code (national average about $2,522 a month); the book stipend is up to $1,000 a year.

Eligibility tiers by service length

Your percentage is set by total post-9/11 active-duty service: 36+ months (or 30+ days with a service-connected discharge, or a Purple Heart) = 100%; 30-35 months = 90%; 24-29 = 80%; 18-23 = 70%; 6-17 = 60%; 90 days to 5 months = 50%. Everything, tuition, housing and books, is multiplied by your tier.

The half-time housing rule

You must be enrolled above half-time to receive any monthly housing allowance. At exactly half-time or less, MHA is $0, even though tuition and books are still paid at your enrollment rate. This is the most common surprise in benefit estimates, and this calculator applies it automatically.

What competing calculators miss

Most GI Bill tools still show the old $26,381 private-school cap and a flat made-up housing number. This calculator uses the current 2026-27 figures, separates online-only and foreign-school housing rules, applies the half-time MHA cutoff, and lets you paste your school’s actual ZIP-based BAH instead of guessing.

Frequently asked questions

How much tuition does the GI Bill cover?

Full in-state tuition at public schools. Private and foreign schools are capped at $30,908.34 a year for 2026-27, multiplied by your eligibility tier.

How much is the GI Bill housing allowance in 2026?

In-person students get the BAH rate for an E-5 with dependents at their school’s ZIP (national average about $2,522/month). Exclusively online students get $1,261/month. Foreign schools get $2,522/month.

Do I get housing allowance at half-time enrollment?

No. The VA pays no MHA at half-time or less. You must be above half-time (usually 7+ credits) to receive it.

How is my eligibility percentage determined?

By total post-9/11 active-duty service months: 36+ = 100%, scaling down to 50% for 90 days to 5 months. A Purple Heart or service-connected discharge also grants 100%.

Does the GI Bill pay during summer break?

No. MHA is paid only while you are enrolled and attending classes.

What is the book stipend?

Up to $1,000 a year (about $41.67 per credit hour), multiplied by your eligibility tier and enrollment level.

Can Yellow Ribbon cover tuition above the cap?

Yes, at participating schools, but only if you qualify at the 100% benefit level.

When do GI Bill rates change?

Post-9/11 rates reset every August 1. This calculator uses the rates effective August 1, 2026 through July 31, 2027.

Should I use Post-9/11 or Montgomery GI Bill?

Post-9/11 is usually better for expensive schools or high-cost areas since it covers actual tuition plus location-based housing. MGIB’s flat monthly rate can win at very cheap schools.

Is this an official VA benefit determination?

No. It is an estimate. Confirm your exact benefit with the VA’s GI Bill Comparison Tool or a VA education counselor.