Choosing and using your benefit
Which GI Bill chapter should I use?
Most full-time students do best with Chapter 33, but Chapter 30 or 1606 can win in some cases. You can only use one chapter per term.
For most full-time college students, the Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33) pays the most, because it pays tuition to your school and adds a housing allowance and a books stipend. But it is not automatic. When a student is eligible for more than one chapter, I always run the comparison with them, because the wrong pick can cost thousands over a degree.
The main options
- Chapter 33 (Post-9/11 GI Bill): pays tuition and fees to the school, plus a monthly housing allowance and a books stipend. Only Chapter 33 can be transferred to family and used with Yellow Ribbon.
- Chapter 30 (Montgomery GI Bill, Active Duty): pays you one fixed monthly amount, and you pay the school. It can come out ahead at low-cost programs in low-cost areas.
- Chapter 1606 (Montgomery GI Bill, Selected Reserve): a smaller fixed monthly payment for drilling Guard and Reserve members. It ends when you leave the Selected Reserve.
- Chapter 31 (VR&E) and Chapter 35 (DEA) have their own rules. See the related articles.
You pick one chapter per term
The VA pays only one education chapter at a time. If you qualify for several, you elect which one to use. Some choices are permanent.
Rates and caps change every year, so compare using the current figures on VA.gov. If your situation is complicated, bring your COE to your certifying official, and call the VA for anything about your eligibility itself.