An Introduction to the GI Bill
Of all veterans' education benefits, the GI Bill is the best known. Under the GI Bill program, Army veterans can receive money for college tuition, which can be used at many different educational programs around the country.
The Old and New GI Bills
The Montgomery GI Bill (also known as the MGIB, the old GI Bill, or Chapter 30) was the primary program providing education benefits for veterans for decades. Under the MGIB, soldiers signed up for the GI Bill during enlistment and paid $1,200 during their first year of service. The MGIB has both an active duty and a selected reserve version, each with different requirements and benefits.
In August 2009, the Post-9/11 GI Bill (also known as the new GI Bill or Chapter 33) came into effect. The new GI Bill is different from the old one in many ways. Notably:
- You don't need to sign up for or pay into this program. All members of the Army who have served at least 90 days of active duty after September 10, 2001 (not including active duty for training purposes) are eligible.
- Both enlisted personnel and officers are eligible for the new GI Bill.
- Reserve and National Guard personnel can also qualify, based on the total time they spent mobilized or deployed.
Veteran Education Benefits Under the Two GI Bills
The benefits of the two programs differ greatly. The old GI Bill pays a set amount of money each month directly to the veteran, for up to ten years after a veteran's last discharge or separation.
The new GI Bill, however, may pay up to 100 percent of your tuition directly to your college or university--including online education programs. If you have served less than 36 months, you may only be eligible to receive a percentage of the benefit. At public schools, the new GI Bill covers the in-state student tuition rate and eligible fees. Students attending out-of-state schools are responsible for the difference between the in-state rate and out-of-state costs. At private and foreign schools, the new GI Bill pays up to $17,500 in tuition and fees. Soldiers remain eligible for the new GI Bill for fifteen years after their last period of active duty.
Transfer of Veteran Education Benefits to Dependents
The new GI Bill has introduced a new benefit long sought after by veterans: the ability to transfer some or all of your education benefits to a child or spouse. In order to be eligible to apply for a transfer of education benefits, you must:
- Have served at least six years in the military and agree to serve at least four more
- Have at least ten years of service and are near retirement or prevented by regulation from serving an additional four years, in which case you may be able to serve a shorter additional term
Additionally, you must register to transfer some or all of your GI Bill benefits to dependents while on active duty, not after you've left the Army.
Who Is Eligible for the GI Bill?
In order to be eligible for veterans education benefits under either GI Bill, you must have served a certain period of time--with the amount of time depending on the version you'd like to use. Both the MGIB and Post 9/11 GI Bill require 36 months of service for full benefits. Additionally, you must either still be in the service or have received an honorable discharge. Some medical separations also allow you to retain your benefits.
To remain eligible for benefits after beginning to receive them, you must access the GI Bill WAVE page on the Veterans Affairs Website and verify that you are still enrolled in courses.
This list does not include all schools that accept GI Bill funding. For a full list of schools by state, click here.
Looking to advance your career or enhance your professional skills? Earn your degree online at Grantham University. Programs include Business Administration, Criminal Justice, Computer Science and more.
Programs: MHA - Master of Healthcare Administration, Certificate of Learning Emergency Operations Management, BS, Information Systems, more...
As the largest private university in North America, University of Phoenix has more than 200 locations, and is available online in most countries around the world. Whether you're seeking a college degree at an associate's, bachelor's, master's, or doctoral level, we can help you reach your academic goal—and sooner than you might think.
Programs: B.S. in Business/Public Sector, M.A. in Education/Curriculum and Instruction - Reading, B.S. in Business/Sustainable Enterprise Management, more...
A graduate degree really can make a difference, especially when it's from DeVry University's Keller Graduate School of Management. Online, evening and weekend classes are available.
Programs: Graduate Certificate-Electronic Commerce Management, Graduate Certificate-Entrepreneurship, Master's-Accounting and Financial Management, more...
Virginia College Online continues the tradition ofgiving lives new direction, fulfilling our mission statement tostudents wherever they live and offering the chance to pursue adegree while maintaining commitments to work and family.
Programs: AS - Paralegal Studies, AS - Medical Office Administration, BS - Business Administration, more...
Learning at Full Sail University has always centered around interaction and the exchange of ideas. Our online curriculum fully embraces this philosophy. We have developed our own online learning environment with the aim of being the most people-focused education experience on the web.
Programs: Game Art, Bachelor of Science (Online), Education Media Design & Technology, Master of Science (Online), Web Design and Development, Bachelor of Science (Online), more...
At Northcentral University, we teach individuals, not just classes. Our unique, proven online educational experience is designed to help you achieve your goals using your own style of learning.
Programs: Public Administration - PhD in Bus. Admin., Special Education - PhD in Education, Electronic Commerce - MBA, more...
American Military University's online programs can prepare you to succeed in a civilian or military career. Choose from more than 70 Associate, Bachelor's and Master's degree programs.
Programs: B.A. in General Studies, A.A. in Accounting, A.S. in Explosive Ordnance Disposal, more...
Start your career with an education from Anna Maria College. We are a private, not-for-profit, regionally accredited university that offers online degree programs as an alternative to our traditional campus courses.
Programs: Master of Public Administration - Justice Administration, RN to BSN, Master of Public Administration - Health Care Administration, more...
We keep our tuition affordable because it is an integral part of the overall mission for our university. The vision of our Chancellor, Jerry Falwell Jr., is to keep Liberty's Distance Learning Program affordable so as many individuals as possible can experience a Christ-centered education and become equipped for excellence, professionally as well as spiritually.
Programs: PhD in Counseling - Pastoral Counseling , BS in Business - Marketing , MA in Worship Studies - Church Planting, more...
Develop your creative potential through The Art Institute of Pittsburgh - Online Division where we give you the freedom to decide when and where to attend class. Because you're always on the go, we offer education to go wherever you connect to the Internet.
Programs: Kitchen and Bath Design , Media Arts & Animation, Photography, more...
Disclaimer: Armystudyguide.com does not guarantee the schools listed above accept GI Bill funding. Please check with the school before enrolling.
