GI Bill Calculator2026–27 Post-9/11 GI Bill Tuition, Housing Allowance & Book Stipend
The Post-9/11 GI Bill pays full in-state tuition at public schools (up to $30,908.34 at private schools), a monthly housing allowance equal to E-5 with-dependents BAH at your school, and up to $1,000 for books, scaled by your 50% to 100% benefit level. Enter your school, credits and benefit level to see tuition covered, monthly housing and the year’s total.
Rates from the VA Post-9/11 GI Bill rates page for August 1, 2026 to July 31, 2027.
Notes
How the Post-9/11 GI Bill pays in 2026–27
The Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33) pays three things, scaled by your benefit level (50% to 100%): tuition and fees straight to the school (full in-state tuition at public schools, up to $30,908.34 a year at private schools), a monthly housing allowance equal to E-5 with-dependents BAH at the school’s ZIP code, and up to $1,000 a year for books. Rates run from August 1, 2026 to July 31, 2027.
You get 36 months of full-time benefits. Housing is paid only if your rate of pursuit is more than 50%, and it is scaled down for anything less than full time.
2026–27 Post-9/11 GI Bill rates
| Benefit (Aug 1, 2026 – Jul 31, 2027) | What VA pays | Limit at 100% |
|---|---|---|
| Public school, in-state | Full net tuition and mandatory fees | No cap |
| Private or foreign school | Net tuition and fees | Up to $30,908.34 a year |
| Housing (in person) | E-5 with-dependents BAH for the school’s ZIP code | Varies by location |
| Housing (online only) | Half the national average | Up to $1,261 a month |
| Books and supplies | $41.67 per credit hour | Up to $1,000 a year |
Benefit level by length of service
| Active-duty service after September 10, 2001 | Benefit level |
|---|---|
| At least 36 months (or Purple Heart, or 30 days + service-connected discharge) | 100% |
| At least 30 months | 90% |
| At least 24 months | 80% |
| At least 18 months | 70% |
| At least 6 months | 60% |
| At least 90 days | 50% |
The formulas
Rate of pursuit is your credits divided by what your school counts as full time (often 12 for undergraduates). Online-only students get half the national average housing rate; one in-person class qualifies you for the local rate.
Ways to get more from your GI Bill
It switches you from the flat online housing rate to the local BAH rate.
At participating private and out-of-state schools, the school and VA split tuition above the cap.
Drop to half time and housing stops completely.
Benefits are charged by enrollment. Summer terms and breaks change how fast you use them.
How to use this GI Bill calculator
- Choose your benefit levelFrom your Certificate of Eligibility or your months of service.
- Pick school type and tuitionPublic in-state is covered in full; private schools are capped.
- Enter the housing rateE-5 with-dependents BAH for the school’s ZIP, or tick online only.
- Enter credits and full-time loadSee your monthly housing and books for the year.
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Count your post-9/11 active duty to find your benefit level.
GI Bill FAQ
At 100%: full in-state tuition at public schools or up to $30,908.34 a year at private schools, a monthly housing allowance equal to E-5 with-dependents BAH for the school’s ZIP code, and up to $1,000 a year for books, for August 1, 2026 to July 31, 2027.
It equals BAH for an E-5 with dependents at your school’s ZIP code, times your benefit level, times your rate of pursuit rounded to the nearest 10%. Online-only students get up to $1,261 a month.
$30,908.34 a year in net tuition and fees, effective August 1, 2026.
Only if your rate of pursuit is more than 50%. It is then reduced in proportion to your course load.
It depends on active-duty time after September 10, 2001: 36 months for 100%, then 90%, 80%, 70%, 60% and 50% at 30, 24, 18, 6 months and 90 days. Purple Heart recipients get 100%.
$41.67 per credit hour, up to $1,000 a year, scaled by your benefit level.
Housing is paid only for days you are enrolled. If you take summer classes above half time, you are paid for them.
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Manzoor Ahmad
Calculator developer & web designer · 13+ years in web development and SEO
Last reviewed: October 30, 2026I am a pharmacist turned tech geek, and I design, code and test every calculator on DexoCalc myself. I have not served in the military, so this tool does not run on opinion: the tuition cap, online housing rate and book stipend are the VA’s 2026–27 published figures, and the benefit levels and rate-of-pursuit rules follow the VA’s Post-9/11 GI Bill guidance.
Spot a result that does not match an official source? Tell me and I will re-check it.
Sources
- VA: Post-9/11 GI Bill rates
- VA: Transferred Post-9/11 GI Bill rates (Aug 1, 2026 – Jul 31, 2027)
- Military.com: 2026-2027 Post-9/11 GI Bill rates
- DoD BAH rate lookup
Disclaimer: DexoCalc is independent and not affiliated with the Department of Defense (Department of War), the Department of Veterans Affairs or any military branch. Results are educational estimates; official records and your chain of command decide.
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