These are VA’s published figures for the August 1, 2026 – July 31, 2027 academic year. They change on 1 August each year, and this page is dated so you can tell whether it has been updated.
Tuition and fees
Paid straight to the school, never to you.
| School | What VA pays |
|---|---|
| Public, resident rate | Net tuition and mandatory fees, in full |
| Private or foreign | Up to $30,908.34 / year |
The public-school figure is the one people misread. VA covers the in-state charge. If you’re billed the out-of-state rate, the difference is yours — but most public schools are required to charge you the resident rate anyway, so ask before you accept the higher number.
That requirement used to run out three years after discharge. The three-year limit was removed in August 2021, so it no longer matters how long ago you got out. If a school tells you that you missed the window, it is working from the old rule. The rule in full, and who it covers.
Monthly housing allowance
Paid to you, monthly, while classes are in session.
| How you study | Monthly rate |
|---|---|
| In person, in the U.S. | E-5 with dependents BAH at the school’s location |
| Online only | Up to $1,198 |
| Foreign school | Up to $2,396 |
Three things catch people out. You get nothing at half time or less. You get nothing over school breaks, so a nine-month academic year pays nine months, not twelve. And if you’re on active duty, or a spouse using transferred benefits while the veteran is still serving, you get nothing at all.
The online rate is worth sitting with. A fully online program in a city with a $2,400 housing rate pays $1,198 — so the convenience of online study can cost more than $14,000 a year in forgone housing money. One in-person class a term usually changes which rate applies. Ask the school.
Books and supplies
| Program | Rate |
|---|---|
| College or university | $41.67 per credit, up to 24 credits |
| Non-degree program | Up to $83 per month |
| Annual maximum | $1,000 |
Your tier
Everything above is the 100% figure. What you actually receive is that figure multiplied by your tier, which is set by how long you served.
| Qualifying service | Tier |
|---|---|
| 1,095 days (36 months) or more, a Purple Heart after 9/11/2001, or a service-connected discharge after 30+ continuous days | 100% |
| 910 to 1,094 days (30–35 months) | 90% |
| 730 to 909 days (24–29 months) | 80% |
| 545 to 729 days (18–23 months) | 70% |
| 180 to 544 days (6–17 months) | 60% |
| 90 to 179 days (about 3–5 months) | 50% |
Your Certificate of Eligibility states your percentage. If you think it’s wrong, it is worth disputing — the difference between 80% and 100% on a private school bill is thousands of dollars a year.
What this adds up to
Put your own numbers in and see the total, and the gap.
Figures are VA’s published rates for August 1, 2026 – July 31, 2027. Source. Last checked 22 October 2026.
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