The GI Bill isn't one program, it's a few, and the two you'll most often have to choose between are the Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33) and the Montgomery GI Bill (Chapter 30). They pay in completely different ways, and picking the wrong one can cost you thousands of dollars and a place to live while you study. Here's a clear, side-by-side comparison so you can choose with confidence.
Quick answer: for most veterans, the Post-9/11 GI Bill wins. It pays tuition and fees straight to your school, adds a monthly housing allowance and a book stipend, is transferable to family, and doesn't expire for those who left service after January 1, 2013. The Montgomery GI Bill pays a flat monthly amount to you (about $2,518 full-time for 2025-2026) and only makes sense in narrow cases, like a very low-cost school where you don't need housing support.
Two Different Programs
The core difference is how the money reaches you. Per the VA's education benefit comparison:
- The Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33) splits your benefit into three parts: tuition paid to the school, a housing allowance paid to you, and a book stipend.
- The Montgomery GI Bill (Chapter 30) pays you one flat monthly check that you use however you want, for tuition, rent, food, whatever.
That single design difference is what makes Post-9/11 more valuable for most people, because the housing allowance is often worth more than the flat Montgomery rate on top of covered tuition.
What the Post-9/11 GI Bill Pays
At the full (100%) benefit level, the Post-9/11 GI Bill provides three things:
- Tuition and fees. The net cost of in-state tuition and fees is paid directly to a public school. (Private and out-of-state schools are covered up to a national cap, with the Yellow Ribbon Program bridging the gap at participating schools.)
- Monthly housing allowance (MHA). Paid to you while enrolled, based on the Basic Allowance for Housing for an E-5 with dependents at your school's ZIP code. Fully online students receive a national rate (about $1,169 a month for 2025-2026).
- Books and supplies stipend of up to $1,000 a year.
Because the housing allowance is tied to your school's location, it can be substantial in higher-cost areas. Our GI Bill housing calculator estimates what you'd receive at a given school.
What the Montgomery GI Bill Pays
The Montgomery GI Bill is simpler: a flat monthly payment sent to you. For 2025-2026, the full-time rate is about $2,518 a month for members with at least three continuous years of active duty, and about $2,043 a month for two to three years of service.
Two things to know: Montgomery required a $1,200 buy-in (usually taken out of your pay during your first year of service), and there is no separate housing or book money. The flat rate is the whole benefit, and you decide how to split it between tuition and living costs.
Side by Side
| Feature | Post-9/11 (Ch 33) | Montgomery (Ch 30) |
|---|---|---|
| How it pays | Tuition to school + housing + books | One flat monthly check to you |
| Tuition coverage | Up to full in-state public cost | Comes out of your flat rate |
| Housing allowance | Yes, location-based (E-5 with dependents) | None |
| Book stipend | Up to $1,000/year | None |
| Typical full-time value | Tuition + roughly $1,000 to $2,500+/mo housing | About $2,518/mo (3+ years) |
| Buy-in required | No | Yes ($1,200) |
| Transfer to family | Yes, if you qualify | No |
| Expiration | None if you left service after Jan 1, 2013 | 10 years after separation |
Which Is Better for You?
For most veterans, the Post-9/11 GI Bill is the clear winner. If you're attending in person, the combination of covered tuition plus a housing allowance usually beats the flat Montgomery rate by a wide margin, and the benefit doesn't expire or require a buy-in.
The Montgomery GI Bill can still be competitive in a few specific cases:
- You're attending a very low-cost school (or one that's already paid for), so you don't need the tuition coverage and want the cash instead.
- Your housing is already covered (you live at home, for example), so the Post-9/11 housing allowance matters less to you.
Even then, run the numbers before deciding. The best way is to compare your actual tuition plus the housing allowance for your school against the flat Montgomery rate.
Switching Between Them
If you're already enrolled in the Montgomery GI Bill, you can often elect to switch to the Post-9/11 GI Bill. Because Post-9/11 is more valuable for most students, this is frequently the right move, but there's a catch worth taking seriously.
The switch to Post-9/11 is irrevocable. Once you elect Chapter 33, you cannot go back to Chapter 30. Make the decision deliberately, and confirm the details for your specific situation with the VA before you commit. There can also be a refund of remaining Montgomery contributions in some cases, so ask.
Bottom Line
The Post-9/11 and Montgomery GI Bills solve the same problem, paying for school, in opposite ways: one splits your benefit into tuition, housing, and books, the other hands you a flat check. For the large majority of veterans, the Post-9/11 GI Bill delivers more total value, more flexibility, and no expiration date. Reserve the Montgomery GI Bill for the narrow cases where a low-cost school and covered housing tip the math the other way.
The most useful next step: estimate the Post-9/11 housing allowance for the school you're considering, then compare your full package to the flat Montgomery rate before you choose.
Recommended Tools & Resources
-
GI Bill Housing Allowance Calculator
Estimate the monthly housing stipend the Post-9/11 GI Bill would pay at your school.
Try the calculator → -
GI Bill Remaining Benefits Calculator
See how many months of entitlement you have left to use or transfer.
Try the calculator → -
The GI Bill Explained
The full picture of how your education benefit works.
Read the guide → -
Transfer the GI Bill to Dependents
Pass unused Post-9/11 benefits to a spouse or child.
Read the guide →