A Comprehensive Guide to VA Education Benefits for Veterans in 2026

Higher Education for Veterans: 2026 VA Education Benefits Guide

You can get VA education benefits for college, graduate school, vocational training, apprenticeships, and online programs through the GI Bill and other VA programs. The Post-9/11 GI Bill pays full in-state tuition and fees at public schools, up to $28,937 per year at private schools, plus a Monthly Housing Allowance and $1,000 annual books stipend. Apply online at VA.gov using VA Form 22-1990 for Veterans or VA Form 22-5490 for dependents.

Quick Facts

What Is the GI Bill?

The GI Bill provides education benefits to help Veterans, service members, and their families pay for college, career training, and other educational programs . Since 1944, the GI Bill has supported qualifying Veterans and their families in covering education and training costs .

Why this matters: The GI Bill can cover most or all of your education costs, including tuition, housing, books, and supplies. For many Veterans, it’s the difference between being able to attend college or not.

What you should do next: Determine your eligibility and apply online at VA.gov. Even if you think you might not qualify, apply anyway — many Veterans are eligible but never apply.

Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33)

The Post-9/11 GI Bill is the most comprehensive education benefit available to Veterans and provides funding for tuition, housing allowance, and other educational expenses .

Who Qualifies

You qualify for the Post-9/11 GI Bill if you meet one of these requirements :

• Served at least 90 days on active duty after September 10, 2001

• Received a Purple Heart on or after September 10, 2001

• Served 30 continuous days and were discharged for a service-connected disability

• Received an honorable discharge

What Benefits You Get

Benefit Level by Service Time

Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA)

Your housing allowance is based on the ZIP code of your school’s main campus. For 2025, MHA rates increased by an average of 5.4%, with new rates effective August 1, 2025 .

• In-person students: Receive the full E-5 with dependents rate for your school’s location

• Online-only students: Receive half the national average

• Hybrid programs: May qualify for the full rate if you have some in-person attendance

Montgomery GI Bill

Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty (MGIB-AD)

This program provides monthly education benefits for up to 36 months .

Who qualifies:

• At least 2 years of active duty service

• Honorable discharge

• High school diploma or equivalent

• Enrolled in the program during active duty

• $100/month contribution for first 12 months of active duty

Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR)

Available to members of the Selected Reserve, including Army and Air National Guard <span class=””>.

Who qualifies:

• 6-year service obligation

• Completed initial active duty for training

• Benefits available while serving in the Selected Reserve

Yellow Ribbon Program

The Yellow Ribbon Program can help you pay for higher out-of-state, private school, foreign school, or graduate school tuition that the Post-9/11 GI Bill doesn’t cover .

Who Qualifies

You must be eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill at the 100% benefit level and meet one of these requirements :

• Served at least 36 months on active duty

• Received a Purple Heart on or after September 11, 2001

• Served at least 30 continuous days and discharged for service-connected disability

• Are a Fry Scholar

• Are a spouse or dependent using transferred benefits

How the Yellow Ribbon Program Works

Participating schools contribute funds toward tuition costs, and the VA matches that contribution dollar-for-dollar . Schools determine:

• How many students can participate

• How much they will contribute per student

What this means: If you’re 100% GI Bill eligible and attend a participating Yellow Ribbon school, the program can cover your full tuition and fees .

How to Apply

1. Apply for Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits and receive your Certificate of Eligibility

2. Bring your COE to your school’s certifying official or financial aid office

3. Request to apply for the school’s Yellow Ribbon Program

4. The school will notify you of acceptance and funding amount 

Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance (DEA)

What Is DEA (Chapter 35)?

DEA provides education and training benefits to the spouses and children of Veterans who have died, are missing, or have a permanent and total service-connected disability .

Who qualifies:

• Spouse or dependent child of a Veteran who has died from a service-connected disability

• Spouse or dependent child of a Veteran who is permanently and totally disabled from a service-connected condition

• Spouse or dependent child of a service member who is captured, missing, or a POW

What you get: Monthly payments to help cover the cost of school or expenses while participating in on-the-job training or an apprenticeship .

How to apply: Complete VA Form 22-5490 (Dependents’ Application for VA Education Benefits) online at VA.gov or by mail .

Fry Scholarship

What Is the Fry Scholarship?

The Fry Scholarship provides education benefits to the children and surviving spouses of service members who died on or after September 11, 2001 .

Who qualifies:

• Child or surviving spouse of a service member who died on active duty on or after September 11, 2001

• Child or surviving spouse of a member of the Selected Reserve who died on or after September 11, 2001

Benefits include:

• Money for tuition and fees

• Monthly Housing Allowance

• Books and supplies stipend

How to apply: Complete VA Form 22-5490 online at VA.gov or by mail .

Edith Nourse Rogers STEM Scholarship

What Is the STEM Scholarship?

The Edith Nourse Rogers STEM Scholarship allows eligible Veterans using the Post-9/11 GI Bill or dependents using the Fry Scholarship to get up to 9 months of additional benefits (or $30,000, whichever comes first) after they’ve used all of their entitlement .

Who qualifies :

• Veterans using Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits

• Dependents using Fry Scholarship benefits

• Enrolled in an undergraduate STEM degree program

• Have a STEM degree and are working toward a teaching certification

VET TEC 2.0 (High-Tech Training)

What Is VET TEC 2.0?

VET TEC 2.0 helps eligible Veterans and active-duty service members develop skills to start or advance their career in a high-tech industry .

Who qualifies: Veterans and active-duty service members

What it covers:

• Tuition and fees

• Housing

• Books and supplies

Important: This program is limited to 4,000 paid participants in a fiscal year <span class=””>.

Illinois Veteran Grant Program (State-Specific Example)

What Is the Illinois Veteran Grant?

The Illinois Veteran Grant program provides free tuition and mandatory fees for eligible Veterans attending State-controlled universities or public community colleges in Illinois .

2026 Updates (SB1353):

• The grant is now based on the length of active duty service (calculated at specified credit hour rates) rather than a fixed 4-year period 

• Grants may be transferred to qualified dependents beginning with the 2026-2027 academic year 

Who qualifies :

• Illinois resident at the time of entering active duty

• Served at least one year of federal active duty

• Received an honorable discharge

• Returned to Illinois within 6 months after leaving service

How to Apply for VA Education Benefits

Step 1: Determine Eligibility

Find out if you’re eligible for VA education benefits .

Step 2: Gather Required Documents

You’ll need :

• Social Security number

• Bank account information (for direct deposit)

• Education and military history

• Basic information about the school you want to attend

Step 3: Apply

Step 4: Get Help if Needed

You can work with an accredited attorney, claims agent, or Veterans Service Organization (VSO) representative to get help applying for education benefits .

Using Benefits at Foreign Schools

Can You Use VA Benefits at Foreign Schools?

You may be able to use VA education benefits at a foreign school if :

• You’re eligible for VA education benefits

• Your program is at an institution of higher learning where you’ll earn a standard associate degree or higher

• The VA has approved your program

Benefits available for foreign schools :

• Post-9/11 GI Bill: Tuition and fees, housing allowance, books and supplies

• MGIB-AD and MGIB-SR: Monthly payments

• DEA: Monthly payments

Important: VA won’t approve independent study, including distance learning at foreign schools .

Study Abroad Programs

Using Benefits for Study Abroad

If you’re using your VA education benefits to study abroad, you’re enrolled at a U.S. school and taking courses abroad that will apply to your degree program .

Difference from foreign programs: With study abroad, the degree-granting school is in the U.S. With foreign programs, you’re directly enrolled in a foreign institution .

Common Questions

What is the difference between the Post-9/11 GI Bill and Montgomery GI Bill?
The Post-9/11 GI Bill typically provides more comprehensive benefits, including tuition payments directly to the school, a Monthly Housing Allowance, and a books stipend. The Montgomery GI Bill provides a monthly payment directly to you. Use the GI Bill Comparison Tool to compare benefits for your specific situation .

Can I use multiple GI Bill programs?
Due to the Rudisill Supreme Court decision, some Veterans may now be eligible for up to 48 months of combined benefits from multiple programs . Contact the VA to determine your specific eligibility.

What is the Yellow Ribbon Program?
The Yellow Ribbon Program helps cover tuition costs at private colleges and universities that exceed the Post-9/11 GI Bill’s public school tuition cap . Participating schools contribute funds that the VA matches, potentially covering the full cost of tuition .

Can I use GI Bill benefits for online programs?
Yes, but online-only students receive a reduced housing allowance equal to half the national average . Hybrid programs with some in-person attendance may qualify for the full housing allowance.

How long do I have to use my GI Bill benefits?
You have 15 years from your discharge date to use Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits . The Montgomery GI Bill has a 10-year time limit.

What happens if I withdraw from classes?
If you withdraw from classes, you may need to repay a portion of the benefits received. The VA has specific policies regarding course withdrawals and benefit repayment .

Can dependents get VA education benefits?
Yes. Dependents may be eligible for transferred Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits, DEA (Chapter 35), the Fry Scholarship, or state-specific programs .

Do I need to be 100% disabled to transfer benefits to dependents?
No. Active-duty service members can transfer Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits to dependents regardless of disability status. Veterans generally must have a 100% service-connected disability to transfer benefits.

Can I use GI Bill benefits for graduate school?
Yes. The Post-9/11 GI Bill and Yellow Ribbon Program can be used for graduate school, including MBA programs .

What is the 2026 Illinois Veteran Grant update?
Illinois SB1353 updated the Illinois Veteran Grant to base benefits on the length of active duty service rather than a fixed 4-year period. Additionally, grants can be transferred to dependents beginning with the 2026-2027 academic year .

Key Takeaways

• Four main GI Bill programs: Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33), Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty (Chapter 30), Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserve (Chapter 1606), and VR&E (Chapter 31) for Veterans with service-connected disabilities .

• Post-9/11 GI Bill covers: Full in-state tuition, a Monthly Housing Allowance based on school location, and up to $1,000 per year for books and supplies .

• Yellow Ribbon Program: Covers tuition above the public school cap at participating private schools — potentially covering 100% of tuition at fully funded Yellow Ribbon schools .

• Dependents and survivors: DEA (Chapter 35), the Fry Scholarship, and transferred benefits help spouses and children pay for education .

• Apply online: The fastest way to apply for VA education benefits is online at VA.gov .

• Foreign schools: You can use VA benefits at approved foreign schools, but independent study programs are not approved .

• Illinois update: SB1353 (effective July 2025) changes the Illinois Veteran Grant to be based on length of service, with dependents eligible starting 2026-2027 .

• STEM Scholarship: Provides up to 9 months of additional benefits for Veterans and Fry Scholars in STEM programs after they’ve used their full entitlement .

• VET TEC 2.0: Offers high-tech training for up to 4,000 participants per fiscal year .

• Help is available: VSOs and accredited representatives can help you apply for free — you don’t need to navigate the process alone .

Official Resources

• VA Education Benefits: va.gov/education

• Apply for GI Bill Benefits: va.gov/education/how-to-apply

• GI Bill Comparison Tool: va.gov/gi-bill-comparison-tool

• Yellow Ribbon Program: va.gov/education/about-gi-bill-benefits/post-9-11/yellow-ribbon-program

• Find a VSO: va.gov/vso

• Illinois Veteran Grant (SB1353): ilga.gov

• VA Form 22-1990: va.gov/find-forms/about-form-22-1990

• VA Form 22-5490: va.gov/find-forms/about-form-22-5490