Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance (DEA) program rates for the 2025-2026 year are effective from Oct. 1, 2025, through Sept. 30, 2026.
Your class start date – not the end date – determines which year’s charts you should use. For example, if your class starts in August 2025, you will receive the 2024-2025 rate. Your rates will increase in October once the updated rates take effect.
Every year, these rates increase to offset the rising costs of education due to inflation. The benefits for most survivors and dependents last up to 36 months of schooling. If the dependent first accessed the benefits before Aug. 1, 2018, then they will last up to 45 months.
The DEA program offers educational and training opportunities to eligible dependents and survivors of specific Veterans. Dependents of veterans who died in the line of duty or have a service-connected “permanent and total” VA disability rating are eligible for DEA benefits.
Here are the rates, according to the VA.
Rate Charts for 2025-2026
(Effective Oct. 1, 2025 – Sept. 30, 2026)
Institutional Training
| TRAINING TIME | MONTHLY RATE |
|---|---|
| Full time | $1,574 |
| 3/4 time | $1,244 |
| 1/2 time | $912 |
| Less than 1/2 time and more than 1/4 time | $912 or cost of tuition/fees, whichever is less |
| 1/4 time or less | $393.50 or cost of tuition/fees, whichever is less |
Correspondence programs: Eligible spouses and surviving spouses receive an allowance of 55% of the fee for the number of lessons completed and serviced by the school. This allowance is paid quarterly.
Co-operative training: The entitlement is charged at the rate of one month for each $1,488 paid. This does not apply to farm co-operatives.
** Tuition and fees only. Payment cannot exceed the listed amount.
Apprenticeship and On-the-job Training**
| TRAINING PERIOD | MONTHLY RATE |
|---|---|
| Months 1 to 6 | $999 |
| Months 7 to 12 | $751 |
| Months 13 to 18 | $493 |
| More than 19 months | $251 |
Non-college degree programs**
| TRAINING TIME | MONTHLY RATE |
|---|---|
| Full time | $1,574 |
| 3/4 time | $1,244 |
| 1/2 time | $912 |
| Less than 1/2 time, but more than 1/4 time | $912 or cost of tuition/fees, whichever is less |
| 1/4 time or less | $393.50 or cost of tuition/fees, whichever is less |
Special Restorative Training
| TRAINING PERIOD | MONTHLY RATE |
|---|---|
| Full time | $1,574 |
| Accelerated Charges, tuition/fee costs over... | $415 |
| Entitlement Reduced 1 day for Each | $52.47 (1/30 of the full-time rate) |
-
Jon Rehagan covers financial topics and military news, aimed at helping those who've served our country and everyday civilians