GI Bill®

The US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides education benefits to eligible servicemembers, 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 Vets.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 (other than for training) after 9/10/2001. Servicemembers must serve at least 36 months on active duty to receive 100% of this benefit. Those with between 90 days to 35 months of active duty receive a prorated benefit based on active duty time.

What does the benefit pay?

  • Up to 100% of tuition and fees.
  • 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 Federal GI Bill®, including information about the Forever GI Bill® - Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act and how that may affect your benefits.

Chapter 1606 Selected Reserve

Eligibility

Members currently serving in the National Guard and Reserve branches of the US Military may be eligible for this benefit. All initial entry training must be completed before you are eligible.

What does the benefit pay?

A monthly rate 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 certain Veterans. Dependents are eligible for this benefit if the servicemember has 100% disability rating with the VA.

What does the benefit pay?

A monthly rate based on full-time or part-time enrollment status.

Chapter 30 Montgomery GI Bill® Active Duty

Eligibility

This benefit provides education benefits to veterans and active duty servicemembers who have at least two years of active duty.

What does the benefit pay?

A monthly rate based on full-time or part-time enrollment status.

Chapter 31 Veteran Readiness and Employment

Eligibility

Veterans may be eligible 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 eligibility, 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, the new beneficiaries can apply for VA benefits.

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.