Post-9/11 GI Bill BAH Calculator
Estimate your monthly Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) payment under the Post-9/11 GI Bill.
Find your school's E-5 BAH rate here. This is the rate for an E-5 with dependents.
Enter your rate of pursuit (e.g., 100 for full-time, 60 for 3/5 time). The VA may round this percentage.
Total aggregate active service after Sept 10, 2001.
Traditional/Hybrid (In-person)
Online Only
Understanding Your Post-9/11 GI Bill BAH
The Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) is a monthly stipend provided to eligible veterans and service members using their Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits. This allowance helps cover the cost of living while attending school. Unlike traditional military BAH, the GI Bill BAH is specifically designed for students and has its own set of rules and calculations.
How GI Bill BAH is Determined
Your monthly Post-9/11 GI Bill BAH payment is influenced by several key factors:
- School Location (ZIP Code): For students attending traditional or hybrid programs, the BAH rate is based on the E-5 with dependents BAH rate for the ZIP code of your school. This rate is set by the Department of Defense and varies significantly by location to reflect local housing costs.
- Enrollment Rate (Rate of Pursuit): Your BAH is prorated based on your enrollment status. If you're a full-time student (100% rate of pursuit), you receive the full eligible BAH. If you're enrolled at a lower rate (e.g., 60%), your BAH will be a percentage of the full amount. The VA typically rounds your rate of pursuit to the nearest 10% above 50% for payment purposes (e.g., 51-60% is paid at 60%). This calculator uses the direct percentage you enter.
- Length of Service: The Post-9/11 GI Bill offers different benefit tiers based on your aggregate active service after September 10, 2001. The longer you served, the higher percentage of the maximum BAH rate you're eligible for.
- 100% Eligibility: 36+ months of active service, or a Purple Heart recipient.
- 90% Eligibility: 30-35 months of active service.
- 80% Eligibility: 24-29 months of active service.
- 70% Eligibility: 6-23 months of active service.
- 60% Eligibility: 90 days – 5 months (3-5 months) of active service.
- Less than 90 days: Not eligible for BAH under Post-9/11 GI Bill.
- School Enrollment Type (Online vs. In-Person): Students enrolled exclusively in online courses receive a national average BAH rate, which is currently 50% of the national average E-5 BAH rate. This rate is not tied to a specific ZIP code. Students attending at least one in-person class (even if most are online) are considered "traditional/hybrid" and receive the BAH rate for their school's ZIP code.
How to Find Your E-5 BAH Rate
To use this calculator accurately, you'll need to find the current E-5 with dependents BAH rate for your school's ZIP code. You can do this using the official Department of Defense BAH Calculator:
- Visit: Defense Travel Management Office BAH Calculator
- Select the year, enter your school's ZIP code, and choose "E-5" as the pay grade. Ensure "With Dependents" is selected (even if you don't have dependents, the GI Bill BAH is based on this rate).
Important Considerations
- No BAH for Active Duty: If you are an active duty service member, you do not receive GI Bill BAH as you are already receiving military BAH.
- Kicker Programs: Some individuals may be eligible for "kickers" or additional benefits, which are not included in this basic BAH calculation.
- VA Processing: The VA's processing times and specific interpretations of rules can affect actual payments. This calculator provides an estimate.
- Annual Changes: BAH rates are updated annually, typically effective January 1st. Ensure you are using the most current rates.
Examples:
Let's look at a few scenarios:
Example 1: Full-Time, Long Service, Traditional School
- E-5 BAH Rate for School's ZIP Code: $2,800
- Enrollment Rate: 100%
- Length of Service: 36 months
- School Enrollment Type: Traditional/Hybrid
- Calculation: $2,800 (Base BAH) × 1.00 (Enrollment) × 1.00 (Service) = $2,800.00
Example 2: Part-Time, Medium Service, Traditional School
- E-5 BAH Rate for School's ZIP Code: $1,900
- Enrollment Rate: 70%
- Length of Service: 28 months
- School Enrollment Type: Traditional/Hybrid
- Calculation: $1,900 (Base BAH) × 0.70 (Enrollment) × 0.80 (Service) = $1,064.00
Example 3: Full-Time, Long Service, Online Only School
- E-5 BAH Rate for School's ZIP Code: (Not applicable, using national average)
- Enrollment Rate: 100%
- Length of Service: 36 months
- School Enrollment Type: Online Only
- Calculation: $1,118.50 (National Average E-5 BAH) × 0.50 (Online Only) × 1.00 (Enrollment) × 1.00 (Service) = $559.25