The Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB) is one of the most valuable benefits available to military members and veterans. It is often worth thousands of dollars to help pay for college or other educational training programs. Veterans receive MGIB benefits in monthly payments from the Department of Veterans Affairs. To see how much you could receive through the Montgomery GI Bill, look at the rate table below that corresponds with the GI Bill program or the educational program you are attending.
Each situation is unique, and these charts should only be used for reference. Contact the VA and your educational institution to determine your eligibility and the status of your benefits.
Table of Contents
- Montgomery GI Bill Benefits
- 2023-2024 Montgomery GI Bill Monthly Rates
- Montgomery GI Bill Training Rates (Three or More Years of Service)
- Montgomery GI Bill Training Rates (Fewer Than Three Years of Service)
- Montgomery GI Buy-Up Program: Add Up to $150 Per Month to Your GI Bill Payment
- How Does the VA Charge Your Training Against Your GI Bill Benefits?
- GI Bill Refunds
- Transfer GI Bill Benefits
Montgomery GI Bill Benefits
The Montgomery GI Bill is split into two GI Bill programs available for active-duty servicemembers and veterans: one for active-duty and the other for the National Guard and Reserves.
- Montgomery GI Bill – Active Duty (MGIB-AD): Active-duty members of the armed forces with requirements to pay $100 monthly for 12 months are eligible for the MGIB-AD monthly education benefits once they have completed a minimum service obligation.
- Montgomery GI Bill – Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR): Drilling reservists who have a six-year obligation to the armed forces are eligible for the MGIB-SR.
There is another GI Bill available, called the Post-9/11 GI Bill, sometimes called the Forever GI Bill.
Montgomery GI Bill – Active Duty (MGIB-AD)
Veterans must enroll in an institute of higher learning (IHL) to use the MGIB. Veterans send their enrollment certificates to the VA, which then pays them according to their benefit rate. The student’s course load (full-time, ¾-time, ½-time, etc.) determines the rate. Students are responsible for paying the school tuition and fees unless they receive full tuition assistance through another program.
Military members can use the MGIB while they’re on active duty. However, active-duty service members could also be eligible for tuition-assistance benefits, which may be a better option.
Active-duty military members who bought into the MGIB are eligible for education benefits once they complete a minimum service obligation. . Their eligibility expires within 10 years of leaving military service.
Note: The MGIB is a voluntary program, however MGIB refunds are available. They’re only to service members who are also eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill.
Montgomery GI Bill – Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR)
The MGIB-SR also offers 36 months of benefits to eligible reservists and Guardsmen. As with the MGIB-AD, the student’s course load determines the rate.
In general, the rule for eligible recipients is that they must use their benefits within 14 years, and their benefits expire when they leave the selected reserve.
There are extensions in limited situations. When reservists are called to active duty, the VA extends their eligibility for the length of their mobilization plus four months – even if they leave the selected reserve. In addition, reservists who leave the service in certain situations may qualify for benefits for 14 years from the date of their first six-year obligation. They would qualify if they separated due to a disability, were part of a unit that was deactivated between Oct. 1, 2007, and Sept. 30, 2014, or were involuntarily separated during that time.
2023-2024 Montgomery GI Bill Monthly Rates
Eligible Montgomery GI Bill recipients receive monthly stipends while they are attending classes at a qualified training institution. The checks are payable to the student and not to the school. If you are using corporate education benefits to pay for your tuition, you may be able to save your MGIB payments or use them for other expenses.
Students who are on active-duty status will only be reimbursed for the actual costs of tuition and fees. Service members using military tuition assistance will receive MGIB payments only for the difference between the tuition assistance and the remaining tuition and fees.
The following payment rates for the Montgomery GI Bill are effective for fiscal year 2023, or from Oct. 1, 2023, through Sept. 30, 2024.
Montgomery GI Bill Training Rates (Three or More Years of Service)
MGIB Institutional Training Rates
These are the MGIB rates for service members who served three years or more on active duty, according to the VA.
| Institutional Training Time | Monthly GI Bill Rate |
|---|---|
| Full time | $2,358 |
| ¾ time | $1,768.50 |
| ½ time | $1,179 |
| Less than ½ time more than ¼ time | $1,179** |
| ¼ time or less | $589.50** |
** Tuition and fees only. Payment cannot exceed the listed amount.
MGIB Rates for Apprenticeships and OJT
You can also use the MGIB for apprenticeships and on-the-job training. The following rates cover these types of training for veterans with three or more years of service.
| Apprenticeship and on-the-Job Training | Monthly GI Bill Rate |
|---|---|
| First six months of training | $1,768.50 |
| Second six months of training | $1,296.90 |
| Remaining pursuit of training | $825.30 |
Additional Notes About These MGIB Rates:
- Correspondence programs – 55% of the approved charges
- Flight school – 60% of the approved charges
Montgomery GI Bill Training Rates (Fewer Than Three Years of Service)
MGIB Institutional Training Rates
If you served fewer than three years, these MGIB rates apply:
| Institutional Training Time | Monthly GI Bill Rate |
|---|---|
| Full Time | $1,913 |
| ¾ Time | $1,434.75 |
| ½ Time | $956.50 |
| Less than ½ time, more than ¼ time | $956.50** |
| ¼ time or less | $478.25** |
** Tuition and fees only. Payment cannot exceed the listed amount.
MGIB Rates for Apprenticeships and OJT
If you served fewer than three years, these MGIB rates apply:
| Apprenticeship and On-Job Training | Monthly GI Bill Rate |
|---|---|
| First six months of training | $1,434.75 |
| Second six months of training | $1,052.15 |
| Remaining pursuit of training | $669.55 |
Additional Notes About These MGIB Rates
- Correspondence programs – 55% of the approved charges
- Flight school – 60% of the approved charges
Montgomery GI Buy-Up Program: Add Up to $150 Per Month to Your GI Bill Payment
The Montgomery GI Bill buy-up program allows members to “top up” their GI Bill by buying additional benefits in $20 increments, up to a total of $600. MGIB recipients then receive an additional stipend on their monthly GI Bill payment, valued at one-quarter of the amount they paid into the buy-up program for full-time attendance. Part-time students receive prorated rates.
MGIB Buy-up Rate Chart
The table below lists how much your monthly MGIB payments will increase if you participated in the buy-up program, according to the VA.
| If this amount paid | Add this amount to Full Time payment | Add this amount to ¾ time payment | Add this amount to ½ time payment | Add this amount to less than ½ time but more than ¼ time payment | Add this amount to ¼ time payment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $20 | $5 | $3.75 | $2.50 | $2.50 | $1.25 |
| $40 | $10 | $7.50 | $5 | $5 | $2.50 |
| $60 | $15 | $11.25 | $7.50 | $7.50 | $3.75 |
| $80 | $20 | $15 | $10 | $10 | $5 |
| $100 | $25 | $18.75 | $12.50 | $12.50 | $6.25 |
| $120 | $30 | $22.50 | $15 | $15 | $7.50 |
| $140 | $35 | $26.25 | $17.50 | $17.50 | $8.75 |
| $160 | $40 | $30 | $20 | $20 | $10 |
| $180 | $45 | $33.75 | $22.50 | $22.50 | $11.25 |
| $200 | $50 | $37.50 | $25 | $25 | $12.50 |
| $220 | $55 | $41.25 | $27.50 | $27.50 | $13.75 |
| $240 | $60 | $45 | $30 | $30 | $15 |
| $260 | $65 | $48.75 | $32.50 | $32.50 | $16.25 |
| $280 | $70 | $52.50 | $35 | $35 | $17.50 |
| $300 | $75 | $56.25 | $37.50 | $37.50 | $18.75 |
| $320 | $80 | $60 | $40 | $40 | $20 |
| $340 | $85 | $63.75 | $42.50 | $42.50 | $21.25 |
| $360 | $90 | $67.50 | $45 | $45 | $22.50 |
| $380 | $95 | $71.25 | $47.50 | $47.50 | $23.75 |
| $400 | $100 | $75 | $50 | $50 | $25 |
| $420 | $105 | $78.75 | $52.50 | $52.50 | $26.25 |
| $440 | $110 | $82.50 | $55 | $55 | $27.50 |
| $460 | $115 | $86.25 | $57.50 | $57.50 | $28.75 |
| $480 | $120 | $90 | $60 | $60 | $30 |
| $500 | $125 | $93.75 | $62.50 | $62.50 | $31.25 |
| $520 | $130 | $97.50 | $65 | $65 | $32.50 |
| $540 | $135 | $101.25 | $67.50 | $67.50 | $33.75 |
| $560 | $140 | $105 | $70 | $70 | $35 |
| $580 | $145 | $108.75 | $72.50 | $72.50 | $36.25 |
| $600 | $150 | $112.50 | $75 | $75 | $37.50 |
How Does the VA Charge Your Training Against Your GI Bill Benefits?
The VA calculates entitlement in days and months – each month is counted as 30 days – and charges you one full day of entitlement for each day of full-time benefits you receive. If you train part-time, the VA will adjust the entitlement charge according to your training time.
For example, if you receive full-time benefits for 12 months, the charge is 12 months of entitlement. If you receive half-time benefits for 12 months, the charge is six months.
For correspondence, flight training, accelerated payments for high-cost, high-technology courses and tests for licenses or certifications, determine the entitlement charge by dividing the amount you received by your MGIB monthly rate for full-time training.
GI Bill Refunds
You may qualify to get a Montgomery GI Bill refund in limited circumstances. You must be eligible for both the MGIB and the Post-9/11 GI Bill, and you must exhaust your Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits first.
Transfer GI Bill Benefits
Service members who are enrolled in the Montgomery GI Bill are not able to transfer GI Bill benefits to family members.
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Megan Wallace says
I am Active Duty military and I was wondering when do you get the money for the Montgomery GI Bill, I have received the letters in the mail stating the amount that I will receive for the month but I am about a month into class and haven’t relieved the money for the class.