GI Bill®

The US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides education benefits to eligible service members, Veterans, and their dependents or survivors. Federal GI Bill® benefits can be used to pursue your University of Minnesota degree or, in some cases, transferred to eligible spouse or children.

You can learn more about the Federal GI Bill® benefits and the application process by visiting VA.gov’s Education Benefits page or the VA’s Education and Training page.

If you are a Minnesota resident who has exhausted all of their Federal GI Bill® benefits, you may be eligible for the Veteran Education Assistance grant from the Minnesota Department of Veteran Affairs.

Eligibility and benefits

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Chapter 33 Post 9/11

Eligibility

You may be eligible if you served on active duty after September 10, 2001. Service members must serve at least 36 months on active duty to receive 100% of this benefit. Those with fewer than 36 months of qualifying active duty service can review their benefit eligibility rate on their My VA profile.

What does the benefit pay?

  • Up to 100% of tuition and fees directly to the institution.
  • A monthly housing allowance based on the school’s zip code.
  • Up to $1000 a year for books.

Visit the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs for the most up to date information about the Post-9/11 GI Bill®.

Chapter 1606 Selected Reserve

Eligibility

Service members currently serving a 6-year service obligation in the National Guard and Reserve components of the US Military may be eligible for the Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR). All initial entry training must be completed before you are eligible.

What does the benefit pay?

A monthly rate directly to the service member based on full-time or part-time enrollment status.

Chapter 35 Dependents Educational Assistance

Eligibility

This benefit provides education and training assistance to dependents and survivors of veterans who meet one of VA’s criteria for eligibility.

What does the benefit pay?

monthly rate directly to the benefit recipient based on full-time or part-time enrollment status.

Chapter 30 Montgomery GI Bill® Active Duty

Eligibility

Veterans and active duty service members who have at least two years of active duty may be eligible for the Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty (MGIB-AD).

What does the benefit pay?

monthly rate directly to the benefit user based on full-time or part-time enrollment status.

Chapter 31 Veteran Readiness and Employment

Eligibility

Veterans may be eligible for Veteran Readiness and Employment benefits if they have a service-connected disability rating of at least 10% and a discharge status that is other than dishonorable.

What does the benefit pay?

Payment and coverage for this benefit is determined by each individual’s Vocational Rehabilitation counselor.

Transferring Post 9/11 GI Bill® benefits

If you are eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® and have not exhausted your coverage, you may be able to transfer up to 36 months of benefits to your spouse or dependent children. Once the Department of Defense (DOD) approves the transfer, new beneficiaries can apply for VA benefits and receive their own Certificate of Eligibility.

  1. The service member must apply for the Post-9/11 GI Bill®.
  2. Once approved for the benefit, the service member must transfer up to 36 months of benefit eligibility to a qualifying dependent using the milconnect portal.
  3. Once the benefit transfer request is approved, the qualifying dependent must apply for the benefit themselves in order to receive their own Certificate of Eligibility.
     

Post-9/11 GI Bill® benefits enrollment verification

Students using their Post-9/11 GI Bill® benefits and receiving Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA) and/or kicker payments are required to verify their enrollment at the end of each month during the term to continue receiving payments.

  • If you have not done so already, please call the Education Call Center (ECC) at 1-888-GIBILL-1 (1-888-442-4551) to update your information. This will ensure that you receive the latest email updates on monthly enrollment verification and are able to opt-in to enrollment verification by text message.
  • Please note that your contact information for the GI Bill is separate from their contact information on VA.gov or in other VA systems.

For more information on enrollment verification, including an infographic with step-by-step instructions and FAQs, explore the Department of Veterans Affairs' Enrollment Verification website.

GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government website at www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.