GI Bill & TSP · calculator
Post-9/11 GI Bill calculator for 2026-27
Enter your days of service, the school and the campus ZIP code: the calculator applies the VA rates in force from August 1, 2026 to July 31, 2027.
Post-9/11 GI Bill, 2026-27 school year, at 100%
$32,169
Tuition paid to the school $11,000, housing $2,241 a month for 9 months, books $1,000.
| Eligibility tier | 100% |
| Rate of pursuit | 100% |
| Tuition and fees | $11,000 |
| Housing per month | $2,241 |
| Books (2 terms) | $1,000 |
E-5 with dependents BAH of the campus ZIP code. Rates from August 1, 2026 to July 31, 2027; private cap $30,908.34. Yellow Ribbon is not included. How this is calculated.
The Post-9/11 GI Bill pays three things, each multiplied by your eligibility tier: tuition and fees sent to the school, a monthly housing allowance paid to you, and up to $1,000 a year for books and supplies. For the school year from August 1, 2026 to July 31, 2027, VA pays the full net in-state tuition and fees at a public school, and up to $30,908.34 a year at a private or foreign school. The housing allowance equals the military BAH for an E-5 with dependents at the ZIP code of the campus where you attend most classes, using the 2026 BAH table, prorated by your rate of pursuit and paid only above half time; for online-only students it is $1,261, half the national average. At 100%, a full-time student at a public university in Austin would receive the in-state tuition, $2,241 a month for housing and about $1,000 for books. The tier depends on your days of active duty after September 10, 2001: 1,095 days for 100%, down to 90 days for 50%.
Checked by Radif Partners · Editorial policy · How we calculate
Four students, four totals
| Student | Tuition paid | Housing per month | Books | School year total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public university, Austin, full time, 100% | $11,000 | $2,241 | $1,000 | $32,169 |
| Private university, Boston, full time, 100% | $30,908 | $4,791 | $1,000 | $75,027 |
| Community college, San Antonio, 9 credits, 80% | $2,800 | $1,196 | $600 | $14,165 |
| Public university, San Diego, full time, 60% | $5,400 | $2,385 | $600 | $27,465 |
The Boston example shows the private cap: tuition above $30,908.34 is not covered unless the school is in the Yellow Ribbon Program. The San Antonio example shows the rate of pursuit at work: nine credits out of twelve is 75%, rounded by VA to 80%, so the housing allowance is 80% of the full rate, multiplied again by the 80% tier.
Housing allowance: the campus ZIP code decides
VA uses the ZIP code of the campus where you attend the majority of your classes, not your home. A student at a university with campuses in two cities can therefore receive different allowances depending on where the classes take place. Students who take at least one class in person while the rest are online receive the in-person rate. The amounts follow the DoD BAH table for an E-5 with dependents, which is why the BAH calculator can also be used to check them; the GI Bill housing allowance page lists large college towns.
Other payments under the program
Beyond the three main payments, the Post-9/11 GI Bill can pay a one-time rural benefit of $500 to students who must move from a highly rural area, tutorial assistance of up to $100 a month and $1,200 in total, and licensing and certification test fees up to $2,000 per test, charged against entitlement. The Post-9/11 GI Bill guide explains eligibility, transfer to family members and the use of entitlement.
How entitlement is used up
The Post-9/11 GI Bill gives 36 months of entitlement. A full-time student uses one month of entitlement for each month in school, so four nine-month academic years use the whole benefit; part-time enrollment uses entitlement more slowly, in proportion to the rate of pursuit. Tests and licensing fees are charged against entitlement too, at the rate set on the VA rates page. A veteran who served less than 56 months on active duty can generally use only one education benefit, which matters for those who also paid into the Montgomery GI Bill.
Using the calculator
Enter your days of active duty since September 11, 2001, the type of school and its net tuition after scholarships and aid, the campus ZIP code and your credits per term. The calculator gives the tuition VA pays the school, the monthly housing allowance at your tier and rate of pursuit, and the books stipend for two terms. A school year of nine months is assumed for the housing allowance; summer terms add months at the same rate. For a family member using transferred benefits the rates are the same; a spouse receives no housing allowance while the member is still on active duty, while a child does.