Whether you want to apply your GI Bill benefits to college classes or an on-the-job training program, the GI Bill Comparison Tool will help you make the most of them.

If you have eligibility for the Post-9/11 GI Bill and any other GI Bill program you must make an irrevocable election of the Post-9/11 GI Bill before you can receive any benefits. For more information see our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ).

The Post-9/11 GI Bill has a few specific components that are unavailable in other GI Bill programs:

• Yellow Ribbon Program
• Transfer of Entitlement Option

For information on the Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship (Fry Scholarshp) for dependents of Servicemembers who died in the line of duty after Sept. 10, 2001 click here.

Types of Training and Assistance

The following is approved under the Post-9/11 GI Bill:

• Correspondence training
• Cooperative training
• Entrepreneurship training
• Flight training
• Independent and distance learning
• Institutions of higher learning undergraduate and graduate degrees
• Licensing and certification reimbursement
• Vocational/technical training, non-college degree programs
• National testing reimbursement
• On-the-job training
• Tuition Assistance top-up
• Tutorial assistance
• Vocational/technical training

Benefits and Eligibility

For approved programs, the Post-9/11 GI Bill provides up to 36 months of education benefits.

If your release from active duty was before January 1, 2013, there is a 15-year time limitation for use of benefits. For individuals whose last discharge date is on or after January 1, 2013, the time limitation has been removed.

Institutions of higher learning participating in the Yellow Ribbon Program may make additional funds available for your education program without an additional charge to your GI Bill entitlement. The following payments may also be available:

• Monthly housing allowance
• Annual books and supplies stipend
• One-time rural benefit payment

To see the current payment rates for the Post-9/11 GI Bill click here.

Some Servicemembers may also transfer unused GI Bill benefits to their dependents.

Other Factors to Consider

• Full tuition and fees are paid directly to the school for all public school in-state students.
• For those attending private or foreign schools, tuition and fees are capped at the national maximum rate. Learn more here.
• If you're attending a private or a public institution of higher learning (either private or public) as a nonresident, out-of-state student you may be eligible for the Yellow Ribbon Program and entitled to additional education-related costs not covered by VA. Not everyone is eligible for this assistance.