Military Education Benefits, Tuition Assistance, and Veteran Funding Options

The Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act, also known as the “Forever GI Bill^®,” was signed into law on August 17, 2017, and brings significant changes to veterans’ education benefits over the next few years. Most enhance or expand education benefits for veterans, servicemembers, families, and survivors. Sections noted with ** denote changes to the existing Post 9/11 GI Bill^®.

Eligibility

You may be eligible if you served at least 90 aggregate days on active duty after September 10, 2001, and you are still on active duty or were honorably discharged from active duty, or were discharged with a service-connected disability after 30 days.

**Effective August 1, 2018, servicemembers and honorably discharged veterans who were awarded the Purple Heart on or after September 11, 2001, will be entitled to Post 9/11 GI Bill^® benefits at the 100% benefit level for up to 36 months.

**Effective August 1, 2018, VA began paying benefits to members of the Armed Forces called or ordered to active duty from a reserve component under Section 12301(h), 12304A, and 12304B of Title 10. Benefits CANNOT be paid retroactively with this service.

The amount of benefit you can receive is based on your level of service as shown below.

Under the traditional Post 9/11 GI Bill^®, members have 15 years to use their benefit from the time they leave service. The benefits are paid for 36 months.

**Effective immediately, the law removes the 15-year time limit for the use of Post-9/11 GI Bill^® benefits for those whose last discharge or release from active duty was on or after January 1, 2013, children of deceased servicemembers who became entitled to Post-9/11 GI Bill^® benefits on or after January 1, 2013, and all spouses using Fry Scholarship.

Active Duty Service / Maximum Benefit

• At least 36 months / 100%
• At least 30 months < 36 months / 90%
• At least 24 months < 30 months / 80%
• At least 18 months < 24 months / 70%
• At least 6 months < 18 months / 60%
• At least 90 days < 6 months / 50%

For additional information, please visit https://benefits.va.gov/gibill/. You should also contact the VA to determine your eligibility and benefit level.

At the 100% benefit level, the Post-9/11 GI Bill^® covers all tuition and fees at any in-state public institution. If a student wishes to attend a private or foreign institution, the Post-9/11 GI Bill^® will provide up to $28,937.09 in tuition and fees for the VA 2024 Academic Year from August 1, 2024, to July 31, 2025.

You can visit www.va.gov/education/benefit-rates/post-9-11-gi-bill-rates/ for current rates.

Purdue Global's tuition and fees for all undergraduate programs fall within this limit, as do the majority of our master's degree programs. For veterans who have less than the 100% entitlement, the Post-9/11 GI Bill^® will pay the percentage of tuition and fees outlined in the section above. Tuition and fees are paid directly to the institution of higher learning.

Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA) is generally the same as the military Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) for an E-5 with dependents. MHA is calculated based on the zip code of the campus where the student physically attends the majority of classes, rather than the location of the institution of higher learning where the student is enrolled. This is applied to the first enrollment in an educational program on or after August 1, 2019. MHA rate increases based on BAH increases are effective August 1 (the beginning date of the academic year).

For more detailed information on monthly housing allowance benefits, students should contact the VA Education Call Center at 1-888-442-4551.

Students may receive up to $1,000 per year, paid proportionately based on their level of entitlement and course load.

U.S. military servicemembers receiving reduced military tuition rates and fees are not eligible for Purdue Global scholarships, tuition vouchers, or reductions. Purdue Global participates in the Yellow Ribbon Program, which assists eligible students utilizing Post-9/11 GI Bill^® Chapter 33 benefits with tuition and fees that exceed the annual VA benefit cap.

The Post-9/11 GI Bill^® may allow the transfer of all or a portion of educational benefits to a spouse or dependent. This is available to members with at least 6 years of service and a commitment of an additional 4 years of service, or members with 10 years of service who are precluded by either standard policy (by service branch or DoD) or statute from committing to 4 additional years and agree to serve for the maximum amount of time allowed by such policy or statute.

**Effective July 20, 2019, eligibility to transfer benefits will be limited to sevicemembers with less than 16 years of active duty or selected reserve service.

While in the armed forces, transferors use the Transfer of Education Benefits (TEB) website to designate, modify, and revoke a Transfer of Entitlement (TOE) request: https://milconnect.dmdc.osd.mil/milconnect/

Effective October 1, 2024, the Montgomery GI Bill^® Chapter 30 (Active-Duty Benefits) provides up to $2,438 per month for 36 months for eligible members. In some cases, such as those who participated in the $600 buy-up program, an additional $5,400 may be available in total full-time benefits.

The amount received each month is determined by your rate of pursuit, or course load. For example, a veteran eligible for Montgomery GI Bill^® benefits taking 6 credits per term (half time) would receive 50% of the monthly GI Bill^® benefit ($1,219).

For servicemembers who served 3 years or more, the current benefits are as follows: 

Training Time / Monthly Rate

• Full-Time / $2,438
• Three-Quarter Time / $1,828.50
• Half-Time / $1,219
• Less Than Half-Time, More Than One-Quarter Time / $1,219*
• One-Quarter Time or Less / $609.50*

*Tuition and fees ONLY. Payment cannot exceed the listed amount.

For servicemembers who served less than 3 years, the full-time monthly rate is $1,978.

Those who served on or after September 11, 2001, who qualify for more than one VA benefit will have to pick the one they want to use. This is an irrevocable decision, meaning you can’t change your mind.

If you entered active duty after June 30, 1985, you typically have 10 years to use your MGIB benefits. If you entered active duty before July 1, 1985, different rules apply. Visit https://benefits.va.gov/gibill/ for the current rate or call 888-442-4551 (888-GI BILL 1) for more information.

The Montgomery GI Bill^®* Selected Reserve program may be available to you if you are a member of the Selected Reserve. The Selected Reserve includes the Army Reserve, Navy Reserve, Air Force Reserve, Marine Corps Reserve, Coast Guard Reserve, Army National Guard, and Air National Guard.

You may use this education assistance program for Purdue Global degree and certificate programs. Eligibility for this program is determined by the Selected Reserve components. VA makes the payments for this program. You may be entitled to receive up to 36 months of education benefits. Your eligibility for the program typically ends on the day you leave the Selected Reserve.

If you are mobilized (or recalled to active duty from your reserve status), however, your eligibility may be extended for the amount of time you are mobilized plus 4 months. For example, if you are mobilized for 12 months, your eligibility period is extended for 16 months (12 months active duty plus 4 months). So, even if you leave the reserves after mobilization, you may have additional eligibility under the Montgomery GI Bill^® Selected Reserve.

If your unit was deactivated during the period beginning on October 1, 2007, through September 30, 2014, or you are involuntarily separated for reasons other than misconduct, you will retain your original period of eligibility, which is 14 years from the date of your first 6-year obligation with the Selected Reserves.

View basic monthly rates for the Montgomery GI Bill^®-SR (Chapter 1606) increased educational benefit.

Visit the VA website to learn more.

*GI Bill^® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government website at https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill/.