Estimate your monthly housing allowance (MHA) based on your eligibility and location.
(Enter 100 for 100%, 90 for 90%, etc.)
(Used to determine MHA rate by location)
(Enter the amount the VA pays directly for tuition/fees, usually $0 for MHA calculation purposes)
Your estimated Monthly Housing Allowance will appear here.
Understanding the Post-9/11 GI Bill Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA)
The Post-9/11 GI Bill is a comprehensive educational benefit for servicemembers and veterans who have served on active duty after September 10, 2001. A significant part of this benefit is the Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA), designed to help offset the cost of living associated with pursuing higher education.
How the MHA is Calculated:
The MHA calculation is based on three primary factors:
Your Rate of Pursuit: This is the percentage of your GI Bill entitlement you are using during a given term (e.g., full-time, 3/4 time, 1/2 time). For the purpose of this calculator, we assume you are pursuing at a rate that qualifies for a full monthly payment (typically full-time enrollment), and the primary variable is your overall Eligibility Percentage.
Your Location: The MHA is tied to the Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) rates for the geographic area where your school is located. The calculator uses the ZIP code you provide to look up the relevant MHA rate.
The Institution's Location: The MHA is calculated based on the ZIP code of the campus you attend.
The general formula for calculating the MHA is:
MHA = (National Average BAH) * (Your Eligibility Percentage)
However, a crucial detail is that the MHA is capped at the rate of a BAH for an E-5 with dependents, residing within your school's geographic location. Furthermore, if you are training at a rate less than full-time, your MHA will be prorated accordingly. This calculator simplifies by focusing on your eligibility percentage and location, assuming full-time pursuit.
Key Considerations:
No MHA for Online Training: Students training exclusively online receive a reduced MHA, which is fixed at 50% of the national average BAH for an E-5 with dependents. This calculator is designed for those attending in-person or hybrid courses.
Tuition & Fees: If the VA pays for tuition and fees directly to the school, those amounts are deducted from your monthly payment. This calculator includes an optional field for this, but it's often $0 for MHA calculation purposes.
Monthly Verification: Recipients of the Post-9/11 GI Bill MHA must verify their school attendance each month to receive payment.
Effective Date: The MHA is paid beginning the month after you start training.
Using This Calculator:
Enter your Post-9/11 GI Bill eligibility percentage, the ZIP code of your primary training institution, and any monthly tuition/fees the VA pays directly. The calculator will provide an estimate of your monthly housing allowance. Please note that this is an estimation and actual amounts may vary based on specific VA processing and enrollment verification.
// Simulated MHA rates based on ZIP code. In a real-world application,
// this data would come from a VA API or a comprehensive database.
// For this example, we'll use a few sample rates for different regions.
// These are illustrative and not actual VA rates.
var mhaRatesByZip = {
"90210": 3500, // Beverly Hills, CA (High Cost Area)
"10001": 3200, // New York, NY (High Cost Area)
"75001": 2200, // Arlington, TX (Mid-Range Cost Area)
"60601": 2500, // Chicago, IL (Mid-Range Cost Area)
"33101": 2400, // Miami, FL (Mid-Range Cost Area)
"80014": 2100, // Aurora, CO (Moderate Cost Area)
"98101": 2800, // Seattle, WA (High Cost Area)
"48201": 1800, // Detroit, MI (Lower Cost Area)
"53703": 1900, // Madison, WI (Moderate Cost Area)
"02108": 2900, // Boston, MA (High Cost Area)
// Add more ZIP codes and corresponding MHA rates as needed for broader coverage
// Fallback rate if ZIP is not found
"fallback": 2000
};
function getMhaRateForZip(zipCode) {
if (!zipCode || typeof zipCode !== 'string' || zipCode.length < 5) {
console.warn("Invalid ZIP code provided. Using fallback rate.");
return mhaRatesByZip["fallback"];
}
// Simple lookup, could be more sophisticated (e.g., regional lookups)
var regionRate = mhaRatesByZip[zipCode.substring(0, 5)]; // Use first 5 digits for potential broader matches
return regionRate ? regionRate : mhaRatesByZip["fallback"];
}
function calculateMHA() {
var eligibilityPercentageInput = document.getElementById("eligibilityPercentage");
var zipCodeInput = document.getElementById("zipCode");
var tuitionFeesInput = document.getElementById("tuitionFees");
var resultDiv = document.getElementById("result");
var eligibilityPercentage = parseFloat(eligibilityPercentageInput.value);
var zipCode = zipCodeInput.value.trim();
var tuitionFees = parseFloat(tuitionFeesInput.value);
// Input validation
if (isNaN(eligibilityPercentage) || eligibilityPercentage 100) {
resultDiv.textContent = "Please enter a valid eligibility percentage (0-100).";
resultDiv.style.borderColor = "#dc3545";
return;
}
if (zipCode.length < 5) { // Basic ZIP code length check
resultDiv.textContent = "Please enter a valid ZIP code (at least 5 digits).";
resultDiv.style.borderColor = "#dc3545";
return;
}
if (isNaN(tuitionFees) || tuitionFees < 0) {
resultDiv.textContent = "Please enter a valid amount for tuition and fees (0 or greater).";
resultDiv.style.borderColor = "#dc3545";
return;
}
var baseMhaRate = getMhaRateForZip(zipCode);
// Calculate the MHA before tuition deduction
var calculatedMHA = baseMhaRate * (eligibilityPercentage / 100);
// Calculate the final MHA after tuition deduction
var finalMHA = calculatedMHA – tuitionFees;
// Ensure MHA doesn't go below zero after tuition deduction
if (finalMHA < 0) {
finalMHA = 0;
}
// Format the result
var formattedMHA = "$" + finalMHA.toFixed(2);
resultDiv.textContent = "Estimated Monthly Housing Allowance: " + formattedMHA;
resultDiv.style.borderColor = "#28a745"; // Success green
}