Service members eligible for federal tuition assistance (FTA) may receive up to $250 per semester hour for up to 16 semester hours per fiscal year, or a total of $4,000 per fiscal year. This covers a lifetime limit of 130 undergraduate semester hours and 39 graduate semester hours, as well as up to 21 semester hours toward an academic certificate.
Federal tuition assistance can be used simultaneously with Chapter 1606 or Montgomery G.I. Bill-Select Reserve 1606 for the same course when attending half-time or more.
To be eligible, service members must apply no earlier than six months and no later than seven days before the start of classes.
MONTGOMERY GI BILL-SELECT RESERVE CHAPTER 1606
Service members receiving benefits under Chapter 1606 receive $466 per month for full-time enrollment for up to 36 months from the Department of Veterans Affairs. Service members must verify attendance monthly via phone or text. To be eligible, service members must sign a six-year enlistment contract or officer service agreement, have a high school diploma or equivalent, and complete Initial Active Duty for Training or Basic Officer Leadership Course.
MONTGOMERY GI BILL-'KICKER'
The "kicker" is a tax-free payment of up to $350 paid in addition to the Chapter 1606 benefit. To receive this benefit, service members must be eligible for MGIB Select Reserve and must have a kicker bonus addendum in their contract.
POST-9/11 GI BILL
To be eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill, service members must serve at least 90 days of qualifying service, or 30 continuous days with an honorable discharge from qualifying active duty due to a service-connected disability. Basic Training and AIT can be added to qualifying time if the service member has completed 24 months of other qualifying active duty, or if Basic Training or IADT occurred on or after Sept. 11, 2001. COVID-19 Response (502F) is considered eligible service for the Post-9/11 GI Bill.
Payment Tiers
| Time in Service |
Percentage of Maximum Benefit |
| At least 36 months (Includes Purple Heart Recipients) |
100% |
| 30-35 months |
90% |
| 24-29 months |
80% |
| 18-23 months* |
70% |
| 6-17 months* |
60% |
| 90 days-5 months |
50% |
* Initial Entry Training served on or after Sept. 11, 2001, may be included only after the service member has completed 24 months of other qualifying active duty
Based on the 100% tier, service members receive payments of up to $27,120.05 per year for private or foreign schools and up to 100% of in-state tuition for public school, paid directly to the school, as well as a book and supply stipend of $41.67 per credit hour and a monthly housing allowance equal to the BAH rate for an E-5 with dependents based on the school's ZIP code. Active Guard and Reserve do not qualify for a housing allowance; the allowance for online classes is $1,054.50 per month.
Transfer of Education Benefits
Service members may transfer their benefits if they are eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill, their spouse or dependents are in DEERS, they have 6-15 years time in service and at least four years until their end term of service. Months of benefit can be divided amongst dependents.
- If your last day of qualifying service is before Jan. 1, 2013, your spouse's eligibility ends 15 years from the last day of that qualifying duty.
- If your last day of qualifying service is on or after Jan. 1, 2013, your spouse's eligibility never ends.
- The spouse shares the same delimiting state as the service member.
- The spouse of a sevice member on active duty or AGR is not eligible for the housing stipend, as that is based on the service member's current duty status.
- Children have until age 26 after their sponsor completes 10 years in the Armed Forces to use their benefit.
Beneficiaries share the same percentage tier as their sponsor. Children may start using the benefit on their 18th birthday or upon graduating high school, whichever comes first.
NOTE: If you voluntarily separate from the Army National Guard prior to completing your obligation end date, your transfer of education benefits will be terminated, and any funds repaid to your dependents will be recouped.
Education Benefits can only be transferred while in the Armed Forces. Months can be adjusted after discharge as long as at least one month was awarded to the dependent prior to separation. Service members should transfer all benefits to dependents, because benefits can always be transferred back.
To make changes to your TEB, go to https://www.dmdc.osd.mil/milconnect/.
MONTGOMERY GI BILL-ACTIVE DUTY
To qualify for the MGI Bill, service members must have served under qualifying Title 10 active duty service on or after July 1, 1985, or served under Title 32 AGR service after Nov. 29, 1989. They must complete a mobilization of at least two continuous years or complete 20 months of a two-year mobilization and be discharged at the convenience of the government. Finally, they must have paid in $1,200 and received an honorable discharge. Effective Oct. 1, 2023, the VA pays a stipend of $2,358 per month with 3+ years of active service to full-time service members and $1,913 for 2-3 years.
CREDENTIALING TUITION ASSISTANCE
Service members may receive up to $4,000 per year to pay for a new credential or recertification. Combined use of federal tuition assistance and credentialing assistance cannot exceed $4,000 per fiscal year. Active-duty and AGR service members receive a maximum of $1,000 per year to pay for selected aviation-related credentials. CA pays expenses for course materials and supplies, textbooks, and exam fees. All expenses are paid prior to the course or exam start date.
CA can be used for any credential listed on www.cool.osd.mil/army and does not have to be related to the service member's Military Occupational Specialty or Air Force Specialty. Contact the Education Officer to apply.