Home  »  GI Bill   »   GI Bill Payment Dates and Rates

GI Bill Payment Dates and Rates

GI Bill payment rates are based on the academic school year and may be sent from August 1st of one year to July 31st of the next. GI Bill housing payment dates are typically paid the first week of the month after the month you enrolled. GI Bill housing payments go to the student, unlike GI Bill payments, which are sent directly to the school.

GI Bill housing payments are not made on the same dates each month. Your payment times may vary depending on several factors. New students may experience a delay in payments at first, but should be consistent after the process starts.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) updates most educational benefits annually, with new rates typically taking effect on August 1st to align with the start of the academic year. The rates detailed below are the official maximum amounts for the 2025-2026 academic year through July 31, 2026.

RELATED: GI Bill BAH Rates

Maximum GI Bill Tuition and Fee Reimbursement Rates

The maximum tuition and fee rates are applied based on the type of school attended and are for recipients eligible for the full 100% benefit. If your eligibility is less than 100%, your amounts will be proportionally reduced.

Public School

The Post-9/11 GI Bill covers all net tuition and mandatory fee payments for in-state students attending a public institution. Furthermore, the VA works to ensure that eligible beneficiaries may receive in-state tuition rates regardless of their formal state of residence.

Private or Foreign School

For private institutions and foreign schools, the VA sets a national maximum annual cap. For the 2025-2026 academic year, this maximum is $29,920.95.

If the cost of tuition and fees at a private institution exceeds this amount, you may be eligible to apply for the Yellow Ribbon Program, which allows institutions to fund costs above the annual cap.

Non-College Degree Programs

Programs such as vocational, technical, and trade schools (e.g., HVAC, truck driving, EMT training) are covered up to the same national maximum tuition cap: $29,920.95 per academic year.

Specialized Training Caps

• Vocational Flight Schools: The maximum reimbursement for non-degree flight training is $17,097.67 per academic year.
• Correspondence Schools: Reimbursement for actual net costs cannot exceed $14,533.00 per academic year.

Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA)

Post-9/11 GI Bill Housing Payment Dates

The Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33) issues the Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA) directly to the student. Payments are always made in arrears, meaning you are paid at the beginning of one month for the education pursued during the previous month.

• Standard Payment Schedule: Housing allowances are generally paid on the first business day of the month for the prior month’s enrollment.
• Spring 2026 Term Start: For students whose Spring term starts in January 2026, the payment received in early February will be prorated to cover only the days enrolled in January. The first full monthly payment will be received in early March, covering the full month of February.
• Variability: Note that specific payment dates can vary by a few days depending on the VA’s processing cycle and your personal bank.

If you are a new student, be prepared for a potential initial delay in processing. Once payments begin, they should remain consistent throughout the term.

The Monthly Housing Allowance is calculated based on the Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) rate for an E-5 with dependents. The rate is tied to the physical zip code of the main campus where you attend the majority of your classes.

• Rate Increases: MHA rate increases are effective at the beginning of the academic year, August 1st. If your local MHA rate increases, the adjustment will be reflected in your payment for August’s enrollment (paid in September). Decreases in MHA rates will generally not affect your current enrollment unless you change schools or have a break in training lasting longer than six months.

MHA Rate Exceptions

• Exclusively Online Training: If you are attending all classes through distance learning, your MHA is capped at 50% of the national average BAH rate, which is $1,169.00 for the 2025-2026 academic year.
• Foreign Schools: Students attending a foreign institution receive the U.S. national average MHA, which is up to $2,338.00 for the 2025-2026 academic year.
• Part-Time Attendance: MHA is not paid if you are attending class at half time or less. To receive MHA, your rate of pursuit must be more than 50%.
• Active Duty: Active duty service members or spouses of active duty members receiving a transfer of entitlement are not eligible for MHA.

Books and Supplies Stipend

The stipend for books and supplies is up to $1,000.00 per academic year. This amount is paid to you in proportion to your enrollment.

The full stipend is generally distributed at the start of the school year or term, unlike the MHA which is paid monthly. For a full-time student, this typically results in a payment of around $500 per semester.

Other Payments and Reimbursements

• Apprenticeship and On-the-Job Training: MHA is reduced over time for these programs:
  
  • Months 1–6: 100% of applicable MHA
  • Months 7–12: 80%
  • Months 13–18: 60%
  • Months 19–24: 40%
  • Remaining Training: 20%
• Licensing, Certification, and National Tests: You can be reimbursed up to $2,000 for licensing and certification tests. There is no maximum reimbursement for national testing programs. The cost of these tests is charged against your overall GI Bill entitlement.
• Rural Benefit: A one-time payment of $500 may be available for veterans who relocate from a highly rural area (defined as a county with six or fewer persons per square mile) to attend school. To qualify, the veteran must physically relocate at least 500 miles or travel by air to the institution if land-based transportation is unavailable.

Payment Destination

The school or institution receives tuition and fee payments. The student, or the GI Bill recipient, directly receives the funds for the Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA), the Books and Supplies Stipend, and the one-time Rural Benefit, where applicable.

 

RELATED:

• Post-9/11 GI Bill Overview
• How To Get Your Post-911 GI Bill Benefits
• Transferring Your GI Bill to Spouse and Dependents
• Colleges with the Highest GI Bill BAH Rates
• Reserve Pay Dates (@ MyMilitaryBenefits.com)