Highest BAH Rates for US Colleges & Cities
Colleges and Cities with the Highest BAH Rates
Which cities have the highest GI Bill BAH rates in the US? If you want to go to school, you’ll want to know which colleges and universities have the highest BAH in the US.
As a part of your Post-9/11 GI Bill benefit, you will receive a Monthly Housing Allowance. The Monthly Housing Allowance is equal to the Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) for an E-5 with dependents.
Your BAH (or MHA) depends on a lot of different factors, including the area of the country where the school is located and the average BAH rates, which are crucial in determining the overall compensation package for military personnel. Additionally, when your dependency status changes, such as no longer having a dependent child, your BAH rate may decrease accordingly.
That’s why we’ve compiled a list of cities, colleges, and universities with the highest BAH in the US.
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Cities with the Highest BAH Rates
You may know that San Francisco has the highest BAH in the country due to geographic market conditions. Different rental markets across the country influence BAH rates, ensuring they reflect the actual housing costs experienced by service members in those areas. But what other cities make the list?
Here is a partial list of the cities with the highest GI Bill BAH rates in the country. The figures show the BAH for an E-5 with dependents for these cities based on 2022/2023 school year rates, which is a good baseline for anticipating your budget for the next academic year.
- San Francisco, CA BAH = $4,644
- Santa Clara County, CA BAH = $4,362
- Boston, MA BAH = $4,188
- Westchester County, NY BAH = $3,792
- San Diego, CA BAH = $3,792
- Nantucket, MA BAH = $3,741
- Long Island, NY BAH = $3,708
- New York, NY BAH = $3,666
- Oakland, CA BAH = $3,585
- Los Angeles, CA BAH = $3,531
- Florida Keys, FL BAH = $3,489
- Camp Pendleton, CA BAH = $3,408
- Hanscom AFB, BAH = $3,348
- Honolulu, HI BAH = $3,303
- Fort Monmouth, NJ BAH = $3,165
- Marin/Sonoma, CA BAH = $3,132
BAH Calculator
Do You Get Full BAH If You Attend Online Classes Exclusively?
You will receive BAH as a veteran attending online college, schools, or distance learning programs as a full-time student.
The current MHA or Post 9/11 GI Bill BAH rate for online schools is $1,054.50 for the 2024-2025 academic year.
This is determined by taking half of the national BAH average.
RELATED: Online Colleges for the Military
Now that we know which cities have the highest BAH, here’s the list of the schools with the highest BAH.
The Colleges and Universities with the Highest BAH Rates
Below each military housing area is a partial list of schools in that area.
San Francisco, CA – BAH is $4,644
- Golden Gate University – San Francisco
- San Francisco State University
- University of San Francisco
- College of San Mateo
- City College of San Francisco
- San Francisco Conservatory of Music
- Skyline College
- San Francisco Art Institute
Please go here for more detailed housing allowance info for San Francisco
Santa Clara County, CA – BAH is $4,362
- Santa Clara University
- San Jose State University
- Mission College
- West Valley College
- Evergreen Valley College
Boston, MA – BAH is $4,188
Westchester County, NY – BAH is $3,792
San Diego, CA – $3,792
The housing rate setting process determines BAH rates for San Diego by using diverse data sources to establish accurate housing costs across military housing areas.
Please go here for more detailed housing allowance info for San Diego
Nantucket, MA – BAH is $3,741
Long Island, NY – $3,708
New York, NY – BAH is $3,666
- City College of New York
- Metropolitan College of New York
- Columbia University
- Manhattan College
- Brooklyn College
Oakland, CA – BAH is $3,585
Please go here for more detailed housing allowance info for Oakland, CA
Los Angeles, CA – BAH is $3,531
- Biola University
- University of Southern California (USC)
- University of California Los Angeles (UCLA)
- California State University – Los Angeles
- Loyola Marymount University
Florida Keys, FL – $3,489
Camp Pendleton, CA – BAH is $3,408
Hanscom AFB – $3,348
Honolulu, HI – $2,913
Fort Monmouth, NJ – $2,853
Marin/Sonoma, CA – BAH is $3,234
Monterey, CA – BAH is $3,039
New Haven, CT – $2,901
Seattle, WA – $2,910
Juneau, AK – $2,550
How Is BAH Determined for the Post-9/11 GI Bill?
The calculation for BAH depends on a few factors including:
- zip code of the school (military housing area)
- your GI Bill eligibility
- if you are a full-time or part-time student
- equal to pay grade of E-5 with dependents
- rental housing cost data: The Department of Defense collects rental housing cost data annually for military housing areas in the United States. This data is utilized to establish the Basic Allowance for Housing rates, which vary based on geographical market conditions and include assessments of median market rents and average utilities, thus reflecting the total housing costs for service members.
- housing profiles: Total housing costs are determined for different housing profiles, which are categorized based on dwelling type and the number of bedrooms in military housing areas. These profiles impact the BAH rates assigned to service members.
As BAH is partially determined where the school is located, it is important to know the city that the school is in.
RELATED:
- Yellow Ribbon Schools List
- GI Bill Payment Dates and Rates
- Post-9/11 GI Bill Overview
- Transferring Your GI Bill to Spouse and Dependents
- Beyond the Post 911 GI Bill: Additional Money for Veterans