Gi Bill Housing Allowance Calculator

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GI Bill Monthly Housing Allowance (MAH) Calculator

At Least One In-Person Class 100% Online Classes
Look up the BAH rate for your school's zip code using the DoD website.
100% (36+ months service) 90% (30-36 months) 80% (24-30 months) 70% (18-24 months) 60% (6-18 months) 50% (90 days – 6 months)

Estimated Monthly Housing Allowance:

function toggleOnlineRate() { var type = document.getElementById('learningType').value; var bahGroup = document.getElementById('bah-input-group'); if (type === 'online') { bahGroup.style.display = 'none'; } else { bahGroup.style.display = 'block'; } } function calculateMAH() { var learningType = document.getElementById('learningType').value; var eligibility = parseFloat(document.getElementById('eligibility').value) / 100; var enrolled = parseFloat(document.getElementById('creditsEnrolled').value); var fullTime = parseFloat(document.getElementById('creditsFullTime').value); var baseBAH = 0; var resultDiv = document.getElementById('mahResult'); var displayTotal = document.getElementById('totalMAH'); var displayExpl = document.getElementById('rateExplanation'); if (isNaN(enrolled) || isNaN(fullTime) || fullTime <= 0) { alert("Please enter valid credit hour values."); return; } // Determine Base Rate if (learningType === 'online') { // National Average MAH Rate for 2024-2025 academic year is approx $1,177.50 baseBAH = 1177.50; } else { baseBAH = parseFloat(document.getElementById('bahRate').value); if (isNaN(baseBAH)) { alert("Please enter the BAH rate for your school zip code."); return; } } // Rate of Pursuit var rateOfPursuit = enrolled / fullTime; // VA Rule: Rate of pursuit must be GREATER than 50% to receive MAH if (rateOfPursuit <= 0.5) { displayTotal.innerHTML = "$0.00"; displayExpl.innerHTML = "Your Rate of Pursuit is " + (rateOfPursuit * 100).toFixed(0) + "%. You must be enrolled at more than 50% (e.g., at least 7 credits for a 12-credit full-time load) to qualify for the housing allowance."; } else { // Round rate of pursuit to nearest 10% for calculation var roundedPursuit = Math.round(rateOfPursuit * 10) / 10; // Final Calculation var finalMAH = baseBAH * eligibility * rateOfPursuit; // Post-9/11 specific rounding: The MAH is rounded to the nearest dollar var finalRounded = Math.round(finalMAH); displayTotal.innerHTML = "$" + finalRounded.toLocaleString() + " per month"; displayExpl.innerHTML = "Based on " + (eligibility * 100) + "% eligibility and a " + (rateOfPursuit * 100).toFixed(1) + "% rate of pursuit."; } resultDiv.style.display = 'block'; }

Understanding the GI Bill Monthly Housing Allowance (MAH)

The Monthly Housing Allowance (MAH) is one of the most valuable benefits of the Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33). Unlike the Montgomery GI Bill, which provides a flat monthly payment, the Post-9/11 GI Bill tailors your housing stipend to the local cost of living where your school is located.

How the MAH is Calculated

The VA uses a specific formula to determine how much money you receive each month for housing. The calculation is based on three primary factors:

  • BAH Rates: The VA uses the Department of Defense's Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) rate for an E-5 with dependents. This rate is tied to the zip code of the campus where you attend the majority of your classes.
  • Rate of Pursuit: This is your "training time." To qualify for any housing allowance, you must be enrolled at more than 50% capacity. For example, if 12 credits is full-time, you must take at least 7 credits to receive a prorated MAH.
  • Eligibility Tier: Depending on your length of active-duty service after September 10, 2001, you are eligible for between 50% and 100% of the benefit.

In-Person vs. Online Enrollment

The format of your classes significantly impacts your monthly check. As of 2024, if you take at least one class "in-person" or via "hybrid" learning that meets VA requirements, you qualify for the full resident BAH rate for that zip code. However, if you are enrolled in 100% distance learning (online only), your MAH is capped at half of the national average BAH rate.

Important Rules to Remember

There are several nuances that can change your monthly payment:

  1. Active Duty Status: If you or your spouse (using transferred benefits) are currently on active duty, you are generally not eligible for the MAH.
  2. The 50% Rule: If your rate of pursuit is exactly 50% or less, you will receive $0 in housing allowance. The benefit only "kicks in" once you cross that 50% threshold.
  3. Rounding: The VA rounds the rate of pursuit to the nearest 10th. If your calculation results in a 0.84 rate of pursuit, you are typically paid at the 80% rate.
  4. Break Pay: The VA does not pay for breaks between semesters. Your MAH is prorated for the number of days you were actually in class during that month.

2024-2025 Academic Year Example

Suppose your school's zip code has an E-5 with dependents BAH rate of $2,000. If you are 100% eligible and taking 9 credits (where 12 is full-time), your rate of pursuit is 75%. Your estimated payment would be $1,500 ($2,000 x 1.0 x 0.75).

Note: This calculator provides an estimate based on current VA logic. Always check with your school's Certifying Official or the VA's GI Bill Comparison Tool for official figures.

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