HIGHER EDUCATION VETERANS PROGRAM
POST-9/11 GI BILL (CHAPTER 33) CONSIDERATIONS
Note: The following information is subject to change. For up-to-date information on the GI Bill or to contact
a Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs (MDVA) Higher E ducation Veterans Program Regional
Coordinator in your region, call 1.888.546.5838.
The Post-9/11 GI Bill is an excellent resource to finance higher education goals. However, it may not necessarily be the
best choice for everyone. Participants in the Post-9/11 GI Bill must make an irreversible decision to select this
program over other possible VA educational benefits. Therefore, it is important to fully understand all aspects of the
program to ensure the best available option is used. The following information provides an overview of some of the items
to consider when deciding which VA benefit is the right choice for you.
The Post-9/11 GI Bill consists of three main components: a payment for tuition and fees that is made directly to the
institution, a housing stipend paid to the student, and a book & supply stipend also paid to the student.
Tuition and Fees Payment:
• Payment is based on total active duty service after September 10, 2001, not every eligible veteran will receive
the full amount. This includes Active Service performed by National Guard members under title 32 U.S.C. for the
purpose of organizing, administering, recruiting, instructing, or training the National Guard; or under section
502(f) for the purpose of responding to a national emergency. See chart on reverse for percentages.
• Pays all public school in-state tuition and fees at the eligible level; Private and foreign school costs are capped at
$19,198.31 annually.
• The Yellow Ribbon Program may be available for tuition and fees above the cap for private colleges.
• College Fund (Kicker) does transfer and will be paid on a monthly basis.
• $600 Buy Up does not transfer and no refund is authorized.
• It may be possible to transfer a partial or full amount of your benefit to dependents; however you must meet the
eligibility requirements set by Department of Defense.
Housing Stipend:
• Payment is based on total active duty service after September 10, 2001, not every eligible veteran will receive
the full amount. See chart on reverse for percentages.
• Housing allowance is prorated by the student’s rate of pursuit (rounded to the nearest tenth). For example, a
student training at a rate of pursuit of 75% would receive 80% of the eligible BAH rate.
• You must have a course load considered to be greater than ½-time to qualify for the housing stipend. Students
with a credit load of ½-time or less are not eligible for the housing stipend.
• Of your courses, at least one must be an on-campus course to receive the local BAH rate.
• 100% online learners are eligible for a housing rate that is equal to ½ the national average BAH for an E-5 with
dependents. The full-time rate for an individual eligible at the 100% eligibility tier would be $714.50 for 2013.
• If eligible for both Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (Chapter 31) benefits and Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter
33) benefits you may choose the Post-9/11 GI Bill’s monthly housing allowance instead of the Chapter 31
subsistence allowance.
Other Considerations:
• You may combine the Post-9/11 GI Bill with other military benefits that you are entitled to, however the tuition
and fee payments may not exceed 100% of your bill. For example, if Federal Tuition Assistance (FTA) has
already paid your bill for a term, VA will cover only the remaining balance, not the full bill.
• Only active duty time served after September 10, 2001 counts as eligible service, not all active duty time.
• Break or interval pay is no longer payable under any VA education benefit program unless under an Executive
Order of the President or due to an emergency, such as a natural disaster or strike.
Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs ▪ Higher Education Veterans Programs
MyMilitaryEducation.org
Revised 01/14
Tuition/Fees
Book Stipend
Housing
(BAH)
College Fund
(Kicker)
$600 Buy Up
Time Limit
Service
Requirement
Chapter 33
(Post 9/11)
Chapter 30
(Active Duty)
Chapter 1607
(REAP)
Chapter 1606
(Reserve)
Actual tuition and fees are paid directly
to the school based on percentage of
eligibility and rate of pursuit.
Private schools have a current annual
cap of $19,198 per year
A standard rate is paid
directly to recipient
regardless of actual
tuition costs
A standard rate is paid
directly to recipient
regardless of actual
tuition costs
A standard rate is
paid directly to
recipient regardless
of actual tuition costs
Paid at the E-5 with dependents BAH
rate;
Not available for active duty recipients,
those training at ½-time or less; For
100%-online learners, BAH is based on
½ National Average
Not Available
Not Available
Not Available
Not Available
Not Available
Not Available
Added to monthly rate
Added to monthly rate
Added to monthly rate
Depending on
situation, benefit may
end once you leave
service. In some cases,
10 years from the date
of separation.
Eligibility normally
ends once you leave
the service
Yearly – up to $1,000
Added to monthly housing stipend
Not Available
15 years from date of separation
Must have served at least 90 days on
active duty after September 10, 2001 or
30 continuous days on active duty after
September 10, 2001 if discharged due to
a service-connected disability.
Paid at applicable rate
10 years from date of
separation
Must have served at least
24 months continuous
active duty and paid the
enrollment fees. Must
have served at least 36
months of continuous
service for full benefit.
Paid at applicable rate
Must have served at
least 90 consecutive
days on active duty
Post-9/11 Service
Percentage of Maximum Amount Payable
At least 36 cumulative months (includes BASIC):
100%
At least 30 cumulative months (includes BASIC):
90%
At least 24 cumulative months (includes BASIC):
80%
At least 18 cumulative months (excludes BASIC):
70%
At least 12 cumulative months (excludes BASIC):
60%
At least 6 cumulative months (excludes BASIC):
50%
At least 90 aggregate days (excludes BASIC):
40%
At least 30 continuous days on active duty
and discharged due to service-connected disability: 100%
Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs ▪ Higher Education Veterans
Programs MyMilitaryEducation.org
Revised 01/14
Not Available
Must have completed
basic training and
training school and
have a 6 year
enlistment
COMPARISON WORKSHEET:
Please complete the following worksheet to compare what you may expect to receive from your current educational
benefits in comparison to the Post-9/11 GI Bill. Please click on the hyperlinks to determine your payment rate or
percentage you will receive from the Post 9/11 GI Bill. For further information please contact the Higher Education
Veterans Program Regional Coordinator at a campus near you.
Current GI Bill
Current GI Bill (Ch1606, 1607, 30) payment rate
$
GI Bill Buy-Up Option (only available with Ch 1607 & 30)
$
GI Bill Kicker
Total
Post 9/11GI Bill
$
$
The percentages of each of the following are based on active duty time after 9/10/2001 and are the same for each category.
For example, if you have served a total of 20 months on active duty since 9/10/2001 and are attending a public institution,
the VA will pay 70% of your tuition and fees, 70% of the housing stipend rate, and 70% of the book stipend.
Percentage of tuition and fees (cumulative count of Active Duty time post 9/11)
%
$
Percentage of Books and Supply Stipend
%
$
Percentage of Base Housing Allowance (based on the zip code of the school you attend)
Total
Other Potential Education Benefits
%
$
$
If you are eligible for any of the following benefits, enter the anticipated award amount per term.
Federal Tuition Assistance
$
Minnesota GI Bill
$
State Tuition Reimbursement
$
Application to your College/University
Tuition and Fees
Actual Costs
Total Benefits Under
Current GI Bill/Term
Total Benefits Under
Post-9/11GI Bill/Term
Housing Expenses
Books and Supplies
Total
Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs ▪ Higher Education Veterans Programs
MyMilitaryEducation.org
Revised 01/14
Out of Pocket Balance
Higher Education Veterans Program
Brad Lindsay, Senior Program Director
[email protected]
Office: 651-757-1582
Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs
20 W 12th Street, 2nd Floor
St Paul, MN 55155
Dave Bellefeuille, Program Supervisor
[email protected]
Office: 651-757-1564
Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs
20 W 12th Street, 2nd Floor
St Paul, MN 55155
Erica Holmes, Program Administrative
Assistant
[email protected]
Office: 651-201-8227
Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs
20 W 12th Street, 2nd Floor
St Paul, MN 55155
Northwest Region:
Tony Schnellbach, Coordinator
[email protected]
[email protected]
Office: 218-683-8550
Northland Community & Technical College
1101 Hwy One East
Thief River Falls, MN 56701
Eric Abell, Coordinator
[email protected]
[email protected]
Office: 218-299-6881
Minnesota State Community & Technical College
900 Minnesota 34
Detroit Lakes, MN 56501
Northwest Region Cont.:
Joe Butler, Coordinator
[email protected]
[email protected]
Office: 218-477-2080
Minnesota State University, Moorhead
1104 7th Ave South – Box 27
Moorhead, MN 56563
Northeast Region:
David Martin, Coordinator
[email protected]
[email protected]
Office: 218-733-7604
Lake Superior College
2101 Trinity Road
Duluth, MN 55811
Aaron Jensen, Coordinator
[email protected]
[email protected]
Office: 218-262-6739
Hibbing Community College
1515 East 25th Street
Hibbing, MN 55746
Central Region:
Laura Boden, Coordinator
[email protected]
[email protected]
Office: 320-308-2185
St. Cloud State University
Administrative Services
100-B 720 4th Ave South
St. Cloud, MN 56301
Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs ▪ Higher Education
Veterans Programs MyMilitaryEducation.org
Revised 01/14
Central Region Cont.:
Southwest Region
Josh Brummond, Coordinator
[email protected]
[email protected]
Office: 320-762-4467
Alexandria Tech & Community College
1601 Jefferson Street
Alexandria, MN 56308
Metro Region:
Katherine Bachman, Coordinator
[email protected]
[email protected]
Office: 651-423-8274
Dakota County Technical College
Student Life Area
1300 145th Street East
Rosemount, MN 55068
Duane Bauer II, Coordinator
[email protected]
Direct: 612-238-4568
St Mary’s University
LaSalle Hall
2500 Park Ave S
Minneapolis, MN 55404
Justin Guggisberg, Coordinator
[email protected]
[email protected]
Office: 507-537-7213
Southwest Minnesota State University, Marshall
1501 State Street – Room SS132
Marshall, MN 56258
Southeast Region:
David Schrader, Coordinator
[email protected]
[email protected]
Office: 507-389-5726
Minnesota State University, Mankato
168 Centennial Student Union
Mankato, MN 56001
Tony Tengwall, Coordinator
[email protected]
[email protected]
Office: 507-529-6142
Rochester Community & Technical College
851 30th Ave. S.E. Box 47
Rochester, MN 55904
Charles Egerstrom, Coordinator
[email protected]
[email protected]
Office: 763-433-1113
Anoka Ramsey Community College
11200 Mississippi Blvd NW
Coon Rapids, MN 55433
Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs ▪ Higher Education Veterans
Programs MyMilitaryEducation.org
Revised 01/14