Do I Have to Go to College to Get the GI Bill?

Yes, you can only get the GI Bill educational benefits if you are using them to pay for education. This can be college, certification, national tests, and in some cases apprenticeship and on-the-job training. However, in order to get any of these benefits, you have to provide proof that you are actually taking this education.

Under the old Montgomery GI Bill, in order to be eligible for full benefits, you have to be going to school full-time. Full time status can vary from school to school, but is about 12 credits per term. You get a set amount each month, regardless of how much the tuition is.

The new Post 9/11 GI Bill pays full tuition, directly to your school. There is a set maximum that it will pay, equal to the highest in-state undergraduate tuition in the state where you are going to school. If you are taking graduate courses, your tuition will be higher than the GI Bill pays. The new GI Bill also provides up to $1,000 per year for books and supplies, and if you are going to a traditional school (rather than on-line), you receive a housing stipend equal to the Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) for an E-5 in your location, based on ZIP code where you are taking classes. If all of your courses are online, you get no housing stipend.

As for whether it is best to study on-line or on campus while you are on active duty, that’s a question that you’ll have to decide for yourself. If you study on-line, you can continue your studies even if deployed. However, on-campus courses are often easier to follow for many students. There’s also the question of what courses are offered on campus at your location.

Not that the GI Bill pays differently for active duty soldiers than for veterans. In general, it is used to pay the difference between what Tuition Assistance (TA) pays and the full tuition. Also, active duty soldiers don’t get the housing stipend or book allowance from the new GI Bill. You may find that, if you can get TA, you would be better off waiting until you leave the military to use your GI Bill.