What Is the Main Difference Between the Montgomery GI Bill and the Post-911 GI Bill?

If you would have asked this question before August 1^st and the implementation of the GI Bill 2.0, I would have unequivocally said the Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB). But now, the MGIB and the Post 9/11 GI Bill almost mirror each other as far as what they cover for training. Both will pay for an associate’s degree. Both will not only reimburse you up to $2,000 for each certification, but each will also pay for the training leading up to the tests.

The basic difference is the pay structure of each GI Bill. For your associate’s degree under the MGIB, you get a flat $1,473 per month and you have to pay your own tuition and other education expenses.

Under the Post 9/11 GI Bill, if you attend a public school, the VA pays your tuition and you get a monthly housing allowance almost equal to your MGIB payment, plus once each semester you get up to a $500 book stipend for your associate’s degree. If you take your certification training at a technical or vocational school, you would get $83 per month in a book stipend instead of the $500 per semester. And both GI Bills will pay for certification retakes.

So if given the choice, I would select the Post 9/11 GI Bill unless you are at Post 9/11 GI Bill tier of less than 60%. If so, then go with the MGIB.