Education Benefits Comparison
See the total dollar value of Post-9/11 GI Bill, VR&E, Tuition Assistance, and Montgomery GI Bill side by side — and find out which benefit is worth the most for your specific school, location, and situation.
Your Situation
Service status
Determines Post-9/11 GI Bill eligibility tier (40%–100%)
10%+ may qualify for VR&E (requires employment barrier determination)
School Details
School type
San Diego, CA — E-5 w/dep BAH: $3,975/mo
GI Bill MHA = E-5 with-dependents BAH at your school's ZIP code
Public in-state: ~$10,000–12,000/yr · Private: ~$35,000–40,000/yr
Side-by-Side Comparison4-year program · Full-time
Ch. 33
Post-9/11 GI Bill
Total program value
$195,100
$48,775/year
Ch. 31
VR&E
Requires 10%+ VA disability rating and employment barrier determination by VR&E counselor
TA
Tuition Assistance
Tuition Assistance is available to active duty service members only
Ch. 30
Montgomery GI Bill
Total program value
$78,660
$19,665/year
· Fixed monthly stipend — tuition is paid from this amount
· After paying tuition: ~$852/month remaining for living expenses
· Requires $1,200 buy-in and service before Jan 1, 2018
What This Means for You
Post-9/11 GI Bill covers 100% of your in-state tuition plus $3,975/month housing allowance for 9 months each academic year. Total 4-year estimated value: $195,100.
Related Tools & Guides
BAH Calculator
Look up E-5 BAH for any school ZIP — the GI Bill MHA is this rate
VA Disability Calculator
Calculate your combined VA rating — 10%+ may open VR&E eligibility
GI Bill vs. Tuition Assistance
Why active duty members should usually use TA first and save GI Bill
VR&E vs. GI Bill
The benefit most veterans overlook — especially at expensive schools
GI Bill Housing Allowance Guide
Why your school's ZIP code matters more than tuition
Post-9/11 GI Bill Explained
Complete 2026 breakdown — tiers, MHA, books, transfer rules
Important disclaimer
This tool compares education benefits for planning purposes only. Actual benefit amounts depend on VA eligibility determinations, school certifying official verification, and current VA payment rates. VR&E eligibility requires counselor evaluation — a disability rating alone does not guarantee approval. Tuition Assistance policies vary by branch. Montgomery GI Bill eligibility requires the $1,200 buy-in and applicable service requirements. MHA shown using 2026 BAH data; academic year rates effective August 1, 2026. Verify all benefits with VA.gov and your installation education office. This is not financial or legal advice.
How the Comparison Works
This calculator estimates the total financial value of each education benefit over your full program, combining tuition coverage, monthly housing allowance, and books/supplies. Not all benefits are available to everyone — the calculator shows only the benefits you qualify for based on your service history and VA rating.
Post-9/11 GI Bill (Ch. 33)
The most widely used benefit. Covers in-state public tuition at 100% (or up to $30,908.34/year at private schools), plus a monthly housing allowance equal to E-5 with-dependents BAH at your school's ZIP code. Value varies enormously by location.
VR&E — Vocational Rehab (Ch. 31)
Often overlooked but potentially the most valuable: covers full tuition with no dollar cap, all required books and supplies, and the same housing allowance as GI Bill. Requires 10%+ VA rating and an employment barrier determination by a VR&E counselor.
Tuition Assistance (Active Duty)
Available to active duty members only. Covers $250/credit hour up to $4,500/year — less total value than GI Bill, but doesn't consume GI Bill months. The right strategy for most active duty members is TA now, GI Bill after separation.
Montgomery GI Bill (Ch. 30)
A fixed monthly payment ($2,185/month full-time) paid directly to you — you cover tuition from that amount. Better than Post-9/11 for online programs with low tuition, but usually less total value for in-person students where housing allowance adds up.
Why the ZIP Code Matters So Much
The GI Bill monthly housing allowance (MHA) is set equal to the E-5 with-dependents BAH at the school's ZIP code. This means two veterans attending the same program at different schools can receive vastly different MHA amounts — a school in San Diego might pay $3,900+/month while the same degree program in a rural area might pay $1,200/month. Over 36 months of enrollment, that gap is worth $96,000+ in housing allowance alone.
If you're choosing between comparable schools, enter both ZIP codes separately and compare the resulting MHA. The housing allowance difference often exceeds the tuition difference.
The Active Duty Strategy
For service members still on active duty, the optimal sequencing is almost always: use Tuition Assistance while serving, save GI Bill for after separation. Here's why:
- TA covers $4,500/year and resets annually — use it or lose it each fiscal year.
- GI Bill's main financial value is the housing allowance, which is not paid to active duty members (you already receive BAH).
- Every GI Bill month used on active duty is a month of MHA you'll never collect post-separation.
- A TA-first strategy can be worth $30,000–$60,000+ in GI Bill months preserved.
Data Sources
- · Post-9/11 GI Bill rates: VA.gov, 2026–2027 academic year (effective Aug 1, 2026)
- · VR&E policies: VA.gov Chapter 31 program guidance
- · Tuition Assistance: DoD Voluntary Education policy (DoDI 1322.25)
- · Montgomery GI Bill: VA.gov Chapter 30, 2025–2026 rates
- · MHA/BAH rates: DTMO 2026 BAH data (all 40,959 U.S. ZIP codes)