The New GI Bill is a new program, which went into effect on August 1, 2009, providing $78 billion in education funding and tuition benefits to veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
TUITION BENEFITS ARE FOR
Military personnel who have served a minimum of 90 days in the military as active duty on or following September 11, 2001.
TUITION BENEFITS ARE TO BE USED FOR
The New GI Bill is to be used for graduate and undergraduate degrees and other types of vocational or technical training.
The amount of tuition received is based upon your months of service at war following September 11, 2001. Refer to the table below to determine your elgibility.
TUITION BENEFITS AVAILABLE
The amount of tuition money received is based upon your months of service. Veterans must serve an aggregate period of active duty after September 10, 2001. The following table shows the percentage of tuition benefit available:
| |
|
| Time of Service |
Maximum Benefit (%) |
| 36 months or more |
100% |
| 30 to 36 months |
90% |
| 24 to 30 months |
80% |
| 18 to 24 months |
70% |
| 12 to 18 months |
60% |
| 6 to 12 months |
50% |
| 90 days to 6 months |
40% |
EXAMPLES OF TUITION PAID
Public University Costs (in Massachusetts)
Annual Tuition & Fees: $8,500
Highest In-State Annual Tuition & Fees (Public): $9,000
Books & Supplies: $1,000
Student Example #1 (Public University)
This student served 38 months on active duty and then separated. He is going to school full time. In his situation (using the education costs shown above), he would receive $8,500 for tuition and $500 for books and supplies. His total education benefit can not exceed the cost of the most expensive public university in his state of residence, which is $9,000.
Student Example #2 (Public University)
This student served 17 months in the guard/reserves and is going to school full time. He would receive $5,100 (60% of $8,500) for tuition and $300 (60% of $500) for books and supplies.
Student Example #3 (Private University)
Private University Costs (in Massachusetts)
Annual Tuition & Fees: $30,800
Scholarship Award from Private School: $5,000
Highest In-State Annual Tuition & Fees (Public): $9,000
Books & Supplies: $1,000
This student served 32 months on active duty and then separated. She is going to school full time. In her situation (using the Private education figures above), she would receive $8,100 (90% of $9,000) for tuition and $900 (90% of $1,000) for books and supplies. Plus, she would receive a dollar-for-dollar match equal to another $5,000 for a total of $14,000 in tuition benefits to attend the private university.
(Source: Department of Veterans Affairs, The Post-9/11 Veterans Education Assistance Act of 2008, Tuition Benefits Handbook)