Note: MHA rates are based on the "E-5 with Dependents" rate for your school's zip code. You can find this specific dollar amount using the DoD BAH calculator tool before entering it below.
Enter the full DoD E-5 rate with dependents for the campus location.
Veteran (Not Active Duty)
Active Duty / Active Spouse
Online-only rates are capped at half the national average.
Usually 12 for undergraduate, differs for graduate.
Rate of Pursuit (RoP):0%
Rounded Multiplier:0%
Applicable Base Rate:$0.00
Estimated Monthly Payment:$0.00
function toggleZipInput() {
var format = document.getElementById('classFormat').value;
var zipInput = document.getElementById('zipRate');
if (format === 'online') {
zipInput.disabled = true;
zipInput.style.backgroundColor = '#e9ecef';
zipInput.placeholder = "National Average Applies";
} else {
zipInput.disabled = false;
zipInput.style.backgroundColor = '#fff';
zipInput.placeholder = "e.g. 2400";
}
}
function calculateMHA() {
// 1. Get Inputs
var zipRate = parseFloat(document.getElementById('zipRate').value);
var credits = parseFloat(document.getElementById('creditsTaken').value);
var fullTimeStd = parseFloat(document.getElementById('fullTimeStandard').value);
var format = document.getElementById('classFormat').value;
var status = document.getElementById('studentStatus').value;
// 2. Constants
// 2024-2025 National Average for Online is approx $1,111 (Half of National Average ~2222)
// We will use a representative value for the calculation example.
var ONLINE_RATE_CAP = 1111.00;
// 3. Validation
if (isNaN(credits) || isNaN(fullTimeStd) || fullTimeStd <= 0) {
alert("Please enter valid credit hours.");
return;
}
// If resident, zipRate is required
if (format === 'resident' && (isNaN(zipRate) || zipRate 1) {
rop = 1;
}
// 5. Determine Eligibility & Multiplier
var multiplier = 0;
var payment = 0;
var baseRateUsed = 0;
var isEligible = true;
// Rule: Must be GREATER THAN 50% to receive ANY BAH
if (rop 0.5 but typically rounds to 0.5 (which is ineligible)
// actually logic is: if > 0.5, round to nearest 0.1.
// 0.51 to 0.54 -> 0.5 (0 payment). 0.55 to 0.64 -> 0.6.
// Let's implement standard rounding to 1 decimal place.
multiplier = Math.round(rop * 10) / 10;
// Edge case: if rounding resulted in 0.5 but input was > 0.5, VA rules are tricky.
// Generally, if you are exactly 50% or less, you get 0.
// If you are > 50%, you get proportional.
// We will stick to the standard rounding:
if (multiplier 0.5) { // Must be > 50% rounded
payment = baseRateUsed * multiplier;
} else {
payment = 0;
}
// 8. Display Results
var displayDiv = document.getElementById('results-area');
displayDiv.style.display = 'block';
document.getElementById('displayRoP').innerText = displayRoPRaw + "%";
if (status === 'active') {
document.getElementById('displayMultiplier').innerText = "0% (Active Duty)";
document.getElementById('displayBaseRate').innerText = "N/A";
} else if (rop 50%)";
document.getElementById('displayBaseRate').innerText = "$" + baseRateUsed.toLocaleString(undefined, {minimumFractionDigits: 2, maximumFractionDigits: 2});
} else {
document.getElementById('displayMultiplier').innerText = (multiplier * 100).toFixed(0) + "%";
document.getElementById('displayBaseRate').innerText = "$" + baseRateUsed.toLocaleString(undefined, {minimumFractionDigits: 2, maximumFractionDigits: 2});
}
document.getElementById('displayPayment').innerText = "$" + payment.toLocaleString(undefined, {minimumFractionDigits: 2, maximumFractionDigits: 2});
}
Understanding Your GI Bill MHA Calculation
The Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33) provides a Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA) to eligible veterans pursuing higher education. This payment helps cover living expenses such as rent and utilities while you are in school. However, unlike a flat stipend, the amount you receive fluctuates based on complex variables including location, class load, and study format.
1. The "E-5 with Dependents" Standard
The foundation of the MHA calculation is the Department of Defense's Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) rate for an E-5 with dependents. It does not matter what your actual rank was when you served or whether you actually have dependents. The VA uses this specific pay grade code to standardize payments.
The rate is determined by the zip code of the campus where you attend the majority of your classes, not your home address. This ensures that the allowance matches the cost of living where you are studying.
2. Online vs. In-Person Learning
There is a significant difference in payout depending on how you take your classes:
Resident (In-Person): You receive the full local E-5 rate for the school's zip code, prorated by your rate of pursuit.
100% Online (Distance Learning): If you take zero classes in person, your MHA is capped at half the national average BAH rate. For the 2024-2025 academic year, this national average cap results in a monthly payment of approximately $1,111 (half of the national average).
Pro Tip: Taking just one "hybrid" or in-person class per term can qualify you for the local resident rate, which is often significantly higher than the online rate in major cities.
3. Rate of Pursuit (RoP)
You generally do not receive the full housing allowance unless you are a full-time student. The VA calculates your "Rate of Pursuit" by dividing the number of credits you are taking by the number of credits your school considers full-time (usually 12 for undergraduates).
Enrolled Credits
Standard Full-Time
Calculation
Rounded RoP
Payment %
12
12
100%
100%
100%
9
12
75%
80%
80%
7
12
58%
60%
60%
6
12
50%
N/A
0% (Ineligible)
Critical Rule: You must have a Rate of Pursuit greater than 50% to receive any MHA payment. If you are exactly half-time (e.g., 6 credits out of 12), your payment is $0.
4. Active Duty Limitations
Service members who are currently on active duty (or their spouses using transferred benefits) are not eligible for the Monthly Housing Allowance. The GI Bill pays for tuition and fees in these cases, but since the military is already providing housing (or BAH), the VA does not duplicate this benefit.