GI Bill housing allowance calculator
Estimate your Post-9/11 GI Bill monthly housing allowance for the 2026-27 school year, for in-person, online-only, or foreign schools, including part-time enrollment.
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How the Post-9/11 GI Bill housing allowance works
For in-person classes in the U.S., the monthly housing allowance (MHA) is based on the military Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) for an E-5 with dependents at the ZIP code where you attend most of your classes. For August 1, 2026 to July 31, 2027, VA uses the 2026 BAH rates.
base rate = E-5 with-dependents BAH at school ZIP (in person) | $1,198 (online only) | $2,396 (foreign school)
rate of pursuit = credits ÷ full-time credits, rounded to the nearest tenth; must be more than 50%
VA's own example: 9 credits where 12 is full time is a 75% load, which rounds to 80%. Online-only students at 100% eligibility would get 80% of $1,198, or $958.40 a month.
- No MHA if you are on active duty, attend half time or less, or are in flight or correspondence training.
- If you take at least one class in person, you may qualify for the higher resident rate.
- MHA is paid only for days you are enrolled, so months that include breaks are prorated.
- Books and supplies: up to $41.67 per credit, up to 24 credits ($1,000) a year, times your benefit level.
Why you enter the BAH yourself: the BAH table covers thousands of ZIP codes and is published by the Defense Travel Management Office. Rather than copy it and risk going stale, we link to the official lookup. VA's GI Bill Comparison Tool also shows the exact housing rate for each school.
Sources and data year
- VA.gov: Post-9/11 GI Bill rates (Aug 1, 2026 – Jul 31, 2027) — online $1,198, foreign $2,396, tiers, rate of pursuit
- DTMO: BAH rate lookup — 2026 BAH by ZIP
- VA.gov: GI Bill Comparison Tool — housing rate by school
Frequently asked questions
How much is the GI Bill housing allowance for online classes in 2026-27?
Up to $1,198 a month (half the national average), times your benefit level and rate of pursuit, for August 1, 2026 through July 31, 2027.
Which BAH rate does the GI Bill use?
The BAH for an E-5 with dependents at the ZIP code of the campus where you attend most of your classes, using 2026 rates for the 2026-27 school year.
Do I get MHA if I go to school part time?
Only if your rate of pursuit is more than 50%. At half time or less there is no housing allowance.