Current VA Education Benefits: Will the VA Pay for College?

College in the United States is expensive, and many students turn to the military to help them pay for school. Students who are currently serving or have served are eligible for certain military education benefits.

Keep reading to learn more about the current VA education benefits and find out if the VA pays for college.

Does the VA Pay for College?

The VA offers multiple programs to help current military members and veterans pay for college.

The United States Department of Veterans Affairs, commonly referred to as the VA, is the federal branch in charge of providing benefits and resources to current and former military members.

This includes education benefits, which students can use to pay for tuition, fees, textbooks and supplies, and housing.

Current VA Education Benefits

There are several VA programs that provide financial aid for military students and help cover the costs of their education.

The specific amount you receive will depend on several factors, including which programs you qualify for and how long you served or have been serving.

We've broken down the current VA education programs below. Please note that program rates and eligibility are subject to change.

Post-9/11 GI Bill

The Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 30) helps those who served on active duty after September 10, 2001, pay for school or job training. It's the most popular VA education program.

To qualify for these benefits, you must meet one of the following requirements:

• have served at least 90 days total of active duty on or after September 11, 2001
• have received a Purple Heart on or after September 11, 2001, and were honorably discharged after any amount of service
• have served at least 30 continuous days on or after September 11, 2001, and were honorably discharged with a service-connected disability

The Post-9/11 GI Bill can pay up to 100% of costs at a public university or up to $27,120.05 to a private university. The amount you qualify for depends on how long you served:

• 36 months or more: 100% of benefits
• 30-35 months: 90% of benefits
• 24-29 months: 80% of benefits
• 18-23 months: 70% of benefits
• 6-17 months: 60% of benefits
• 90 days-5 months: 50% of benefits

Students may also qualify for money for books and supplies and a monthly housing allowance.

Yellow Ribbon Program

The Yellow Ribbon Program is a program offered by some schools to help students pay for the costs not covered by the Post-9/11 GI Bill. This is only for students who qualify for 100% benefits.

Find out what schools offer the Yellow Ribbon Program website.

Transferred Post-9/11 GI Bill

Military members or veterans who qualify for the Post-9/11 GI Bill and meet certain requirements may be able to transfer their education benefits to their military spouse or dependents.

Montgomery GI Bill

The Montgomery GI Bill is another program that helps military students pay for their education. There are a few different versions of this bill depending on your military status.

Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty

The Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty (Chapter 30) is for active-duty military members. There are several tiers to this program depending on how long you've served and when you enlisted.

The amount you qualify for will depend on your category, length of service, and what type of training or education program you choose. You typically have ten years to use your benefits.

Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserve

The Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserve (Chapter 1606) is for Selected Reserve members. To qualify, you must have at least a six-year obligation in the Selected Reserve.

The amount you qualify for will depend on the type of educational training you're getting and how many courses you're taking in that program.

Montgomery GI Bill $600 Buy-Up Program

In the Montgomery GI Bill Buy-Up Program, military members pay up to $600 into the program. They then receive that amount back, plus extra, for their education.

The total amount received depends on how much you pay into the program and how many courses you're taking at one time.

Other VA Education Programs

The Post-9/11 GI Bill and the Montgomery GI Bills are the largest and most commonly used VA education programs, but they aren't the only ones. We've listed a few others below.

Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance

The Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance Program (Chapter 35) is for the children or surviving spouse of a Veteran or service member who has died, is captured or missing, or has a service-connected disability.

The amount you receive depends on the type of program you're studying and whether you're studying full time or part time.

Fry Scholarship

The Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship is another program for the children and spouses of veterans and service members.

To qualify, you must be the child or surviving spouse of someone who:

• died in the line of duty on or after September 11, 2001, or
• while serving in the Armed Forces, or
• was a member of the Selected Reserve who died from a service-connected disability

The rates for this program are the same as the rates for the Post-9/11 GI Bill and you may also qualify for a housing stipend.

Edith Nourse Rogers STEM Scholarship

The Edith Nourse Rogers STEM Scholarship is a scholarship that can be used in addition to the Post-9/11 GI Bill or the Fry Scholarship.

It's for those enrolled in an undergraduate STEM degree program or those who have a STEM degree and are working toward a teaching certification.

Veteran Employment Through Technology Education Courses

The Veteran Employment Through Technology Education Courses (VET TEC) program offers tuition and housing assistance for students training in the following areas:

• computer software
• computer programming
• data processing
• information science
• media applications

To receive aid from this program, you'll need to be training through a VA-approved VET TEC training provider.

Pursue Your Education with VA Education Benefits

The VA pays for college through several education assistance programs. These can significantly reduce or even completely cover your tuition. Check out the programs above to see if you qualify!