Guam GI Bill Tuition and Residency Requirements

Guam GI Bill Tuition Rates

Using the GI Bill in Guam can be confusing. As a U.S. territory, public schools in Guam are treated like U.S. schools when it comes to the Post-9/11 GI Bill. However, military personnel living on the island receive a housing allowance at the foreign rate. Here's what you need to know to get the most out of your Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits in Guam.

Post-9/11 GI Bill Tuition in Guam

Military personnel who want to use the Post-9/11 GI Bill in Guam can receive the same reimbursement rates as students in the U.S.--actual tuition and eligible fees at the resident student rate at public schools and up to $17,500 at private schools.

There are two public schools on Guam: Guam Community College and the University of Guam. If you attend either school as a non-resident, you'll be charged higher tuition than resident students. Under 2011 changes to the Post-9/11 GI Bill, you have to make up the difference between resident and non-resident fees, so you should understand how Guam schools determine residency.

Establishing Residency in Guam

As a student, your tuition rate is determined by your residency status. Active-duty military personnel and their dependents can receive resident tuition while stationed on Guam. For all others, the registrar at your school determines residency based on evidence you have made Guam your permanent home for at least 12 months prior to the beginning of the term. Proof of residency may include Guam home ownership, employment or income taxes.

Additionally, residents of the Freely Associated States, which include the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Marshall Islands and the Republic of Palau, can receive resident tuition in Guam.

You may be exempt from the 12-month requirement if you can show proof you attended elementary and middle school on Guam or attended a Guam high school for three or more years and graduated.

Post-9/11 GI Bill Housing Allowance in Guam

Currently, full-time students in Guam using the Post 9/11 GI Bill qualify for the foreign housing allowance rate of $1,347 per month. However that rate is anticipated to increase to $2,450 per month in August 2012, according to the Pacific News Center. If the VA does make the change, the new rate will more accurately reflect the BAH (basic allowance for housing) rate of an active duty E-5 with dependents stationed on Guam. The BAH is updated every year to reflect changes in the cost of living.

If you are not a full-time student, your housing allowance is adjusted according to the number of credits you take. Online students receive $673.50 per month, just as they do in the U.S.

Students using the Post-9/11 GI Bill in Guam can also receive a book stipend of $41.67 per credit, up to the $1,000 per year annual cap, provided they meet eligibility requirements.

GIBill.com has done its best to ensure that the above information is accurate. However, GIBill.com cannot guarantee its accuracy and encourages you to check with your school for its residency requirements to qualify for in-state tuition.