Can I Still Get the Full Post 9/11 GI Bill Housing Allowance With an Online/On Campus Mix of Classes?
Q: Under the New GI Bill rules, is the one-class-on-campus trick still the key to receiving local BAH rates? Example, if I go to an on-campus class for 3 credit hours, and do another 7 credit hours online, will I receive local BAH per a prorated rate of (3 + 7) 10 credit hours (the local school requires 12 for full time)? Basically, does it work like it did in the old system, except the BAH is prorated for those taking less-than full-time…? Thanks!
A: Yes that is still the “trick” to getting the full Post 9/11 GI Bill monthly housing allowance that you would be authorized based on the zip code of your school where you physically attend class and the total number of credits you are taking including your online credits.
So let’s say as a full-time student your authorized monthly housing allowance amount of $1,500 per month. Because your school requires that you carry at least 12 credits to be considered full-time, but you are only taking 10 credits total, you would get 10/12ths of the full amount or about $1,250 per month.
You can figure exactly how much you would get by using the BAH Calculator. Be sure the Year drop-down menu is set to 2013 and the Pay Grade set to E-5.
Then just enter your school’s zip code and use the “with dependents” resulting figure as your starting point. Multiply that amount by the number of credits you are taking and divide by the number of credits your school considers to be full-time.
Generally speaking, this amount is at least twice what it would be if you were just taking only online classes, so it can be financially advantageous to attend one class per semester on campus, if you have a school located nearby.
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