The Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB) is a benefit for military members and Veterans that helps cover the costs of education or work training courses. It is one of two main education benefits currently available for servicemembers and Veterans, the other being the Post-9/11 GI Bill.
The MGIB is divided into two benefit packages: the Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty (MGIB-AD) and the Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR).
Below, you can see the charts showing the amount of benefits recipients can receive in the 2025-2026 school year.
The main difference between the MGIB and the Post-9/11 GI Bill is who receives payment from the VA. Individuals enrolled in the MGIB receive monthly payments from the VA, whereas the Post-9/11 GI Bill program pays the educational institution directly.
Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty (MGIB-AD) Eligibility
The VA has established several categories that indicate your eligibility for the Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB-AD). One of the following categories:
Category I
- You have a high school diploma, GED, or 12 hours of college credit, and
- You entered active duty for the first time after June 30, 1985, and
- You paid $100 a month for the first 12 months of service
And you’ve served continuously (without a break) for at least one of these periods:
- 3 years, or
- 2 years if that was your agreement when you enlisted, or
- 4 years if you entered the Selected Reserve within a year of leaving active duty, “2 by 4 program”
Category II
- You have a high school diploma, GED, or 12 hours of college credit, and
- You began active duty before January 1, 1977 (or before January 2, 1978, under a delayed enlistment program contracted before January 1, 1977), and
- You served at least one day between October 19, 1984, and June 30, 1985, and stayed on active duty through June 30, 1988 (or through June 30, 1987, if you entered the Selected Reserve within 1 year of leaving active duty and served 4 years), and
- You had at least 1 day of entitlement left under the Vietnam Era GI Bill (Chapter 34) as of December 31, 1989
Category III
- You have a high school diploma, GED, or 12 hours of college credit, and
- You don’t qualify for MGIB under categories I or II, and
- You had your military pay reduced by $1,200 before separation
And one of these is true:
- You were on active duty on September 30, 1990, and involuntarily separated (not by your choice) after February 2, 1991, or
- You were involuntarily separated on or after November 30, 1993, or
- You chose to voluntarily separate under either the Voluntary Separation Incentive (VSI) program or the Special Separation Benefit (SSB) program
Category IV
Both are true:
- You have a high school diploma, GED, or 12 hours of college credit, and
- You had military pay reduced by $100 a month for 12 months or made a $1,200 lump-sum contribution (meaning you paid it all at once)
And one of these is true:
- You were on active duty on October 9, 1996, had money left in a VEAP account on that date, and chose MGIB before October 9, 1997, or
- You entered full-time National Guard duty under title 32, USC, between July 1, 1985, and November 28, 1989, and chose MGIB between October 9, 1996, and July 9, 1997
Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty (MGIB-AD) Payment Rates
The VA determines the rates of your MGIB-AD payment each year. Starting on October 1 of every year, the VA updates rates. The VA considers your time of service, which education program you choose, the course load you decide to enroll in, your eligibility for a kicker, and if you’ve paid into the $600 Buy-Up program.
You receive 36 months (9 months for four years) of GI Bill benefits. You may qualify for 48 months of benefits, but we’ll discuss this and other payment amplifiers later.
Below are the MGIB-AD charts for the period from October 1, 2025, to September 30, 2026.
2025-2026 Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty Pay Charts (3 Continuous Years of Service)
When the VA pays out MGIB-AD benefits, it does not pay the school or institution you’re attending. As mentioned above, it pays you directly. You are then responsible for paying for the college courses yourself.
Note: The benefits also do not include additional housing benefits like the Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH), so be mindful that the amount you receive is also aimed at helping you cover housing costs.
Rates for Colleges and Universities
If you’re attending a college or university, you must consider the VA’s determination that a full-time course load is at least 12 credit hours a semester. Payments are also prorated for the time you’re enrolled in the class.
For example, if you’re enrolled in 12 credit hours but your classes begin on the 15th of the month, your payment will be the full-time enrollment allowance but reduced by half since your classes started halfway through the month.
| Enrollment | Monthly Allowance |
|---|---|
| Full-time enrollment | $2,518.00 |
| 3/4-time enrollment | $1,888.50 |
| 1/2-time enrollment | $1,259.00 |
Let’s say you’re enrolled at less than ½-time. You’ll still get allowances paid out, but it will be at either the rate of ½-time enrollment or the cost of tuition and fees, whichever is less.
| Enrollment | Monthly Allowance |
|---|---|
| Less than 1/2-time but more than 1/4-time enrollment | $1,259.00 each month or the tuition and fees cost, whichever option is less |
| 1/4-time enrollment or less | $1,259.00 each month or the tuition and fees cost, whichever is less |
If your tuition payments are less than the monthly rates listed above, the VA will send you a one-time lump sum payment at the start of each term.
Example: If you want to attend a 60-day education program and are enrolled more than ¼-time but less than ½-time, you’d be eligible for $2,518 ($1,219 x 2 months). But let’s say the total cost of tuition and fees for the program is actually $2,100. You would receive a 1-time lump-sum payment at the start of the term for that amount.
Note: Check for in-state tuition options for Veterans. Many schools will offer this option, especially public or state universities. If you find that the school you’re hoping to attend doesn’t offer in-state tuition options for you, it may be worth considering moving to the state where the university is and establishing a residence to help stretch GI Bill payment benefits further in your budget.
Non-College Degree Programs
These programs are often trade schools or vocational education programs. These payments are prorated, so if you start a program on the 15th of the month, you’d receive half the total monthly payment you’re eligible to receive.
| Enrollment | Monthly Allowance |
|---|---|
| Full-time enrollment | $2,518.00 |
| 3/4-time enrollment | $1,888.50 |
| 1/2-time enrollment | $1,259.00 |
Let’s say you’re enrolled at less than ½-time. You’ll still get allowances paid out, but it will be at either the rate of ½-time enrollment or the cost of tuition and fees, whichever is less.
| Enrollment | Monthly Allowance |
|---|---|
| Less than 1/2-time but more than 1/4-time enrollment | $1,259 each month or the tuition and fees cost, whichever is less |
| 1/4-time enrollment or less | $629.50 each month or the tuition and fees cost, whichever is less |
Similar to a college or university program, if your tuition and fees are less than the total you’d be eligible to receive for the duration of your class, the VA may pay you a one-time lump-sum payment.
On-the-Job Training and Apprenticeships
These programs are paid out a little differently than the previous options. These benefits are paid out in monthly installments that decrease over time.
| Enrollment | Monthly Allowance |
|---|---|
| Months 1 to 6 | $1,888.50 per full month |
| Months 7 to 12 | $1,384.90 per full month |
| After the first year | $881.30 per full month |
You receive the full amount listed in the tables above as long as you work at least 120 hours each month. As the amount of your allowances goes down, so does the charge against your entitlement.
Correspondence Training
The VA will pay you 55% of the cost for the number of lessons you complete either online, by mail, or in some other way. Once you complete those lessons, you will receive the payments.
Flight Training
The VA will pay you 60% of any approved charges.
For flight training, the MGIB will assist with your training if:
- You have a private pilot’s license, and
- You have a valid second-class medical certificate (comes with second-class privilege), or a first-class medical certificate if you’re planning on getting an Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) certificate.
Note: 1 month of entitlement will be used for every $2,518 in fees paid for flight training.
2025-2026 Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty Pay Charts (2-3 Years of Active Duty Service)
If you fall under this category of service, then you’ll receive what’s known as “2-year” rates for monthly MGIB-AD payments. The following payment rates follow the same procedures listed above, but just contain a different amount paid out.
Rates for Colleges or Universities
| Enrollment | Monthly Allowance |
|---|---|
| Full-time enrollment | $2,043.00 |
| 3/4-time enrollment | $1,532.25 |
| 1/2-time enrollment | $1,021.50 |
Let’s say you’re enrolled at less than ½-time. You’ll still get allowances paid out, but it will be at either the rate of ½-time enrollment or the cost of tuition and fees, whichever is less.
| Enrollment | Monthly Allowance |
|---|---|
| Less than 1/2-time but more than 1/4-time enrollment | $1,021.50 each month or the tuition and fees cost, whichever is less |
| 1/4-time enrollment or less | $510.75 each month or the tuition and fees cost, whichever is less |
Non-College Degree Programs
| Enrollment | Monthly Allowance |
|---|---|
| Full-time enrollment | $2,043.00 |
| 3/4-time enrollment | $1,532.25 |
| 1/2-time enrollment | $1,021.50 |
Let’s say you’re enrolled at less than ½-time. You’ll still get allowances paid out, but it will be at either the rate of ½-time enrollment or the cost of tuition and fees, whichever is less.
| Enrollment | Monthly Allowance |
|---|---|
| Less than 1/2-time but more than 1/4-time enrollment | $1,021.50 each month or the tuition and fees cost, whichever is less |
| 1/4-time enrollment or less | $510.75 each month or the tuition and fees cost, whichever is less |
On-the-Job Training and Apprenticeships
| Enrollment | Monthly Allowance |
|---|---|
| Months 1 to 6 | $1,532.25 per full month |
| Months 7 to 12 | $1,123.65 per full month |
| After the first year | $715.05 per full month |
You receive the full amount listed in the tables above as long as you work at least 120 hours each month. As the amount of your allowances goes down, so does the charge against your entitlement.
Correspondence Training
The VA will pay you 55% of the cost for the number of lessons you complete either online, by mail, or in some other way. Once you complete those lessons, you will receive the payments.
Flight Training
The VA will pay you 60% of any approved charges. One month of entitlement will be charged for every $2,043 in fees paid for flight training.
$600 Montgomery GI Bill Buy-Up Program
As mentioned above, to be eligible for MGIB-AD payments, you must have contributed $100 for 12 months. However, if you pay up to an additional $600 as part of the Buy-Up program, you will be able to receive an additional $5,400 in benefits.
Enrolling in the Buy-Up Program
First, you’ll need to decide how much money you want to contribute to the program. From there, you’ll need to fill out a form known as the DD Form 2366 and submit it to your payroll or personnel office.
Montgomery GI Bill Buy-Up Program Rates
Payments are determined by how much you contributed to the program and how much time you’re enrolled in education programs.
View Montgomery GI Bill Buy-Up Program Pay Charts
Enrolling in the Montgomery GI Bill
When enrolling to receive your Montgomery GI Bill education benefits, you will need to do the following:
- Complete and send in the VA Form 22-1990
- Receive your declaration of eligibility and benefit letter (usually In 4-8 weeks)
- After receiving your benefit checks, complete the VA’s Web Automated Verification of Eligibility process (WAVE) in order to continue receiving your payments.
Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty Benefits for Active Duty Servicemembers
If you are an active duty service member, you will be reimbursed for the actual tuition and expenses. However, once you leave active duty service, the full payment rate will be awarded, regardless of the tuition cost. This is important to note, considering that the VA administers the benefit differently for active duty members versus veterans.
Example: A Veteran will be charged for one month of benefits for every “current payment rate” of educational benefits used. This means that it would be more cost-effective for active-duty service members, especially in circumstances where tuition is high.
Montgomery GI Bill Benefits Expiration
You must use the Montgomery GI Bill benefits within 10 years from your last day of active duty.
Expanding Montgomery GI Bill Benefit Entitlement
There may be a way for you to expand your benefit entitlement from 36 months to 48 months.
Final Takeaway
The Montgomery GI Bill is split into two options: Active Duty (MGIB-AD) or Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR). Depending on your needs, enrolling in this GI Bill program can be more beneficial because it directly pays you, rather than your college. If you can cut costs with college or other educational programs, the money goes straight into your pocket.
A critical difference between the Montgomery GI Bill and the Post-9/11 GI Bill is the expiration date. The Montgomery GI Bill expires after 10 years following your last day in service. The Post-9/11 GI Bill never expires. The other key difference is that the Post-9/11 GI Bill also offers a housing allowance, whereas the Montgomery GI Bill does not provide a stipend. Essentially, the money you get is the money you earn. Period.
Discussing these options with your family, friends, academic advisors, or organizations that support your transition from military to civilian life is important.
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Jon Rehagan is a 2-time Emmy Award-winning journalist who covers financial topics and military news for the veteran community. With 16 years in broadcast media (including roles in radio and television) Jon has spent his career writing, shooting, editing, and producing everything from long-form investigative specials to daily news broadcasts and digital content. His work has been recognized by the Kansas Association of Broadcasters, and he brings that same commitment to accurate, accessible reporting to helping service members, veterans, and military families navigate complex benefits and financial decisions.