Summary of VA Education Benefits

Get the 

Education 

and Training 

You Need to 

Succeed

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You may be eligible for one or more of the 

following VA education benefit programs:

» Post-9/11 GI Bill

» Montgomery GI Bill-Active Duty (MGIB-AD)

» Montgomery GI Bill-Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR)

» Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP)

» Post-Vietnam Era Educational Assistance 

Program (VEAP)

» National Call to Service (NCS)

» Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational 

Assistance (DEA)

You may be eligible to receive funds for:

» School tuition and fees for public, private, or foreign 

schools; flight programs; correspondence training; 

and distance learning

» Books and supplies

» License or certification tests

» National exams, including SATs, ACTs, GMATs, 

and LSATs

» On-the-job and apprenticeship training

» Vocational/technical training

» Relocating from highly rural areas

» A monthly housing allowance

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides education 

benefits to eligible Servicemembers, Veterans, and certain 

dependents and survivors. You may receive financial support

for undergraduate and graduate degrees, vocational and

technical training, licensing and certification tests, 

apprenticeships, on-the-job training, and more.

As you learn about your education benefits, 

keep in mind that each program offers different 

amounts of financial assistance and has different 

eligibility requirements. If you are eligible for 

more than one education benefit, choose the 

benefit that is right for you because you cannot 

receive payment under more than one benefit 

program at a time.

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POST- 9/11 GI BILL

The Post-9/11 GI Bill provides to eligible Servicemembers 

and Veterans up to 36 months of education benefits. 

Your Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits may include financial 

support for school tuition and fees, books and supplies, 

and housing. You may also receive reimbursement for 

license or certification tests (broker, private investigator, 

and CPA), national tests (SAT, CLEP, ACT, GMAT, and 

LSAT), or assistance for apprenticeships/on-the-job 

training. A one-time payment to help you relocate 

from certain rural areas to attend school is also available.

Each type of benefit, such as tuition or books, has 

a maximum rate. Based on the length of your active 

service, you are entitled to a percentage of the 

maximum total benefit.

You may be eligible for Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits if you:

» Have at least 90 aggregate days of qualifying active 

service after September 10, 2001 or

» Were honorably discharged from active duty for a 

service-connected disability after serving at least 

30 continuous days after September 10, 2001

If you are in the Armed Forces, you may be able 

to transfer your Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits to your 

spouse and child(ren). Generally, you must use your 

Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits within 15 years from your 

last period of active service of at least 90 days. 

MONTGOMERY GI BILL-ACTIVE DUTY

Montgomery GI Bill-Active Duty (MGIB-AD) or Chapter 

30 provides up to 36 months of financial assistance 

for educational pursuits, including college, vocational/

technical training, correspondence courses, 

apprenticeships/on-the-job training, flight training, 

high-tech training, licensing and certification tests, 

entrepreneurship training courses, and national 

examinations. Generally, your MGIB-AD benefits 

are paid directly to you on a monthly basis.

You may be eligible for MGIB-AD benefits while you 

are on or after you separate from active duty. At a 

minimum, you must have a high school diploma or 

GED. To receive benefits after separating, you must 

have received an honorable discharge. You generally 

have 10 years from your last date of separation from 

active duty to use your MGIB-AD benefits. 

 Yellow Ribbon Program

If you're eligible at the one hundred percent benefit 

level and you attend a school where tuition and 

fees exceed the maximum Post-9/11 GI Bill benefit 

available by law, additional financial support may be 

available under our Yellow Ribbon program. To see 

if your school participates, go to www.gibill.va.gov 

or call VA toll free at 1-888-442-4551.

“

With the Post-9/11 GI Bill 

I am able to spend more time 

studying and focusing on school and 

doing what I love, like swimming. The 

Post-9/11 GI Bill has eliminated a lot of 

the stress. The funds go straight to the 

school. And I have plenty of money for 

books and a basic housing allowance, 

which is very important to me. ” –Navy Veteran

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MONTGOMERY GI BILL-SELECTED RESERVE

Montgomery GI Bill-Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR) or 

Chapter 1606 provides up to 36 months of financial 

assistance for educational pursuits, including college, 

vocational/technical training, correspondence courses, 

apprenticeships/on-the-job training, flight training, 

high-tech training, licensing and certification tests, and 

national examinations. MGIB-SR benefits are available 

to members of the Selected Reserve of the Army, Navy, 

Air Force, Marine Corps, or Coast Guard, or the Army or 

Air National Guard. Generally, your MGIB-SR benefits are 

paid directly to you on a monthly basis.

You may be eligible for MGIB-SR benefits if you have 

a 6-year obligation to serve in the Selected Reserve, 

complete your Initial Active Duty for Training, serve in 

a drilling unit and remain in good standing, and obtain 

a high school diploma or equivalency. The Guard and 

Reserves decide if you are eligible, while VA makes the 

payments for the program. Generally, your eligibility 

for MGIB-SR benefits ends on the day you leave the 

Selected Reserve. 

RESERVE EDUCATIONAL 

ASSISTANCE PROGRAM 

The Reserve Educational Assistance Program

(REAP) or Chapter 1607 is an education 

benefit that provides up to 36 months of 

educational assistance to obtain graduate 

and undergraduate degrees, vocational/

technical training, apprenticeships/on-thejob training, correspondence training, and 

flight training. REAP benefits are available 

to members of a reserve component called 

or ordered to active duty or full-time 

National Guard duty in response to a war 

or national emergency, as declared by the 

President or Congress. Eligible reserve 

components include: the Army, Navy, Air 

Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard 

Reserve; the Army National Guard and 

Air National Guard; and Army, Air Force, 

Navy, and Marine Corps Individual Ready 

Reserves (IRR).

You may be eligible for REAP benefits if you are a member

of a reserve component and served on active duty after

September 10, 2001, for at least 90 consecutive days

under a contingency operation. “Contingency operation”

includes the current Iraq and Afghanistan operations and

may include other operations. The educational assistance

allowance payable under REAP is a percentage of the 

Montgomery GI Bill-Active Duty rate based on the 

number of continuous days you served on active duty. 

Generally, you have 10 years from the day you leave the 

Selected Reserve or the day you leave the IRR to use 

your REAP benefits.

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POST-VIETNAM ERA VETERANS 

EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

The Post-Vietnam Era Veterans Educational 

Assistance Program (VEAP) or Chapter 

32 is an education benefit available 

to you if you made contributions from your military pay

before April 1, 1987, to participate in this program. Your 

contributions are matched on a $2 for $1 basis by the 

Government. You may use these benefits for degree, 

certificate, correspondence, apprenticeships/on-thejob training, and vocational flight training programs. 

Benefit entitlement is 1 to 36 months depending 

on the number of contributions you made to VEAP.

You have 10 years from your release from active duty

to use your VEAP benefits. If you have not completely

used your entitlement after 10 years, your remaining 

contributions will be automatically refunded.

NATIONAL CALL TO SERVICE

The National Call to Service Program is a Department 

of Defense program that is administered by VA. It offers

certain education benefits to those who serve in a military

occupational specialty designated by the Secretary of 

Defense. To be eligible, you must serve on active duty 

for 15 months after completing initial entry training. 

After this, and without a break in service, you must serve 

either an additional period of active duty or a period of 

24 months in an active status in the Selected Reserve. 

Again, without a break in service, you must serve the 

remaining period of obligated service: 

» On active duty in the Armed Forces 

» In the Selected Reserve 

» In the Individual Ready Reserve 

» In Americorps, or another domestic national 

service program jointly designated by the Secretary

of Defense and the head of such a program 

If you meet the service requirements, you may 

select one of the following benefits:

» A cash bonus of $5,000

» Repayment of a qualifying student loan not to 

exceed $18,000

» Entitlement to an allowance equal to the 3-year 

monthly MGIB-AD rate for 12 months

» Entitlement to an allowance equal to 50% of the lessthan-3-year monthly MGIB-AD rate for 36 months 

VA only administers the education options. VA does 

not issue the cash bonus or repay student loans. 

SURVIVORS’ AND DEPENDENTS’ 

EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE

Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance 

(DEA) or Chapter 35 provides assistance for degree 

and certificate programs, apprenticeships/on-the-job 

training, correspondence courses, and other programs. 

You must be the son, daughter, or spouse of:

» A Veteran who died or is permanently and totally 

disabled as the result of a service-connected 

disability. The disability must arise from active 

service in the Armed Forces. 

» A Veteran who died from any cause while 

such permanent and total service-connected

disability existed. 

» A Servicemember who died during active 

military service.

» A Servicemember missing in action or captured 

in the line of duty by a hostile force. 

» A Servicemember forcibly detained or interned 

in the line of duty by a foreign government or power.

» A Servicemember who is hospitalized or receiving 

outpatient treatment for a service-connected 

permanent and total disability and is likely to 

be discharged for that disability.

The program offers up to 45 months of education 

benefits. If you are the child, you generally must use 

your benefits between the ages of 18 and 26. If you 

are the spouse, your benefits end 10 years from the 

date VA finds you eligible or from the date of death 

of your spouse. 

A surviving spouse who meets the criteria below may be 

eligible for benefits for 20 years from the date of death:

» VA rated the Veteran permanently and totally disabled

with an effective date within three years from 

discharge, or

» The Veteran died on active duty

Some education 

benefits may be 

transferred to 

your spouse and 

child(ren). Go to 

www.gibill.va.gov 

to learn more.

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1. The amount of time varies according to when you enlisted and entered active duty.

2. You may receive a maximum of 48 months of benefits combined if you are eligible for more than one VA education program.

3. The Individual Ready Reserve (IRR) is a category of the Ready Reserve of the reserve component of the Armed Forces.

4. Spouses are generally eligible to receive benefits for 10 years. However, spouses of individuals rated totally and permanently 

disabled within 3 years of discharge and spouses of individuals who die on active duty are granted a 20-year eligibility period. 

A COMPARISON OF EDUCATION 

BENEFIT PROGRAMS

SUMMARY OF BENEFITS

VA’s education programs have different requirements concerning length of military service, and the benefits 

are paid out differently, as well. The chart below illustrates some of these differences. It also gives an overview 

of some of the main education and training benefits that the programs offer. Please note that the chart provides 

general information about issues such as eligibility, and exceptions may apply. 

Post-9/11 GI Bill MGIB-AD (Chapter 30) MGI

Minimum Length of Service 90 days active aggregate 

service (after 9/10/01) or 30 days 

continuous if discharged for disability

2 year continuous enlistment 

(minimum duty varies by service 

date, branch, etc.)

6 yea

(after 

Maximum Number 

of Months of Benefits2 36 36 

How Payments Are Made Tuition: Paid to school

Housing stipend: Paid to student

Books and Supplies: Paid to student Paid to student 

Duration of Benefits Generally, 15 years from 

last day of active duty

Generally, 10 years from last day 

of active duty

Gene

you l

Rese

Degree Training ✓ ✓ 

Non College Degree Training ✓ ✓ 

On-the-Job and Apprenticeship Training ✓ ✓ 

Flight Training ✓ ✓ 

Correspondence Courses ✓ ✓ 

Licensing and Certification Tests ✓ ✓ 

National Testing Programs ✓ ✓ 

Work-Study Program ✓ ✓ 

Tutorial Assistance ✓ ✓ 

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MGIB-SR (Chapter 1606) REAP (Chapter 1607) VEAP (Chapter 32) DEA (Chapter 35)

nt 

ervice 

6 year commitment 

(after 6/30/85)

90 days active continuous 

service (after 9/10/01)

181 continuous days active 

service (between 12/31/76 

and 7/1/85)1

Not applicable

36 36 36 45

Paid to student Paid to student Paid to student Paid to student 

t day Generally ends the day 

you leave the Selected 

Reserve

Generally, 10 years from 

the day you leave the 

Selected Reserve or the 

day you leave the IRR3

10 years from last day of 

active duty

Spouse: 10/20 years4

Child: Ages 18-26

✓ ✓ ✓ ✓

✓ ✓ ✓ ✓

✓ ✓ ✓ ✓

✓ ✓ ✓ ✓

✓ ✓ ✓ ✓

✓ ✓ ✓ ✓

✓ ✓ ✓ ✓

✓ ✓ ✓ ✓

✓ X ✓ ✓

Additional education benefits for Veterans may be 

offered in your state. Contact your state’s Department 

of Veterans Affairs or similar agency to learn more about 

state-level programs.

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You have sacrificed to keep 

our country—and everything it

represents—safe. We honor and 

serve you by fulfilling President

Lincoln’s promise “to care for him 

who shall have borne the battle, 

and for his widow, and his orphan.”

We strive to provide you with the worldclass benefits and services you have 

earned, and will adhere to the highest 

standards of compassion, commitment, 

excellence, professionalism, integrity, 

accountability, and stewardship.

Thank you for your service. 

Now let us serve you.

Our Mission

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

Veterans Benefits Administration

Washington, DC 20420

T 800-827-1000

www.va.gov/benefits

APPLY TODAY 

Applying is the best way to determine your eligibility—

do so now at www.ebenefits.va.gov. eBenefits is your 

one-stop shop to apply for and learn about your 

benefits. You may also visit the nearest VA regional 

office, go to our Web site at www.gibill.va.gov, or 

call us toll-free at 1-888-442-4551 (1-888-GIBILL-1) 

for more information about our education benefits. 

We understand that education programs can be complex,

and we want to help connect you to your benefits. 

To get the latest updates on VA education benefits 

and related information, visit us on Facebook at

www.facebook.com/GIBillEducation. 

ADDITIONAL VA BENEFITS

Disabilities determined by VA to be related to your 

military service can lead to monthly non-taxable 

compensation, enrollment in the VA health-care system,

a 10-point hiring preference for federal employment, 

and other important benefits. Ask your VA representative

or Veterans Service Organization (VSO) representative 

about Disability Compensation, Pension, Health Care,

Caregiver Program, Vocational Rehabilitation and 

Employment Services, Educational Assistance, Home 

Loan Guaranty, Insurance, and/or Dependents’ 

and Survivors’ Benefits. You can search for a VSO 

representative online at www.ebenefits.va.gov.

VA PAM 22-12-1

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