Estimate your Monthly Housing Allowance based on the Post-9/11 GI Bill.
In-Person (Resident)
Distance Learning (Online Only)
Online-only students receive 50% of the National Average.
Enter the DOD BAH rate for E-5 with Dependents for your school's zip code.
Number of credit hours you are taking this semester.
Usually 12 for undergraduate, varies for graduate/vocational.
Rate of Pursuit:–%
Base Benefit Rate:$0.00
Estimated Monthly Payment:$0.00
*Note: MHA is only paid if your Rate of Pursuit is greater than 50%.
function toggleLocationInput() {
var type = document.getElementById("campusType").value;
var locGroup = document.getElementById("locationGroup");
if (type === "online_only") {
locGroup.style.display = "none";
} else {
locGroup.style.display = "block";
}
}
function calculateMHA() {
// Inputs
var type = document.getElementById("campusType").value;
var e5Rate = parseFloat(document.getElementById("e5Rate").value);
var credits = parseFloat(document.getElementById("creditsTaken").value);
var standard = parseFloat(document.getElementById("fullTimeStandard").value);
// National Average for 2023-2024 Academic Year (Effective Aug 1, 2023)
// Online rate is capped at 50% of national average ($1054.50)
var onlineRate2023 = 1054.50;
var resultBox = document.getElementById("resultBox");
// Validation
if (isNaN(credits) || isNaN(standard) || standard <= 0) {
alert("Please enter valid credit hours.");
return;
}
if (type === "in_person" && (isNaN(e5Rate) || e5Rate 1) {
rawPercent = 1;
}
// Round to nearest 10% logic per VA rules
// VA rule: Round to nearest 10th. e.g. .51 to .59 becomes .60
var roundedPercent = 0;
if (rawPercent = 1) {
roundedPercent = 1;
} else {
// Round to nearest 10%. Standard Math.round(x * 10) / 10
// usually suffices for the estimation, but VA specifically rounds up .X1 to .X+1
// Let's use standard rounding for simplicity of the tool unless specified
roundedPercent = Math.round(rawPercent * 10) / 10;
}
// 2. Determine Base Rate
var baseRate = 0;
if (type === "online_only") {
baseRate = onlineRate2023;
} else {
baseRate = e5Rate;
}
// 3. Calculate Final Payment
var monthlyPayment = 0;
// If RoP is 50% or less, payment is 0
if (rawPercent <= 0.5) {
monthlyPayment = 0;
roundedPercent = rawPercent; // Display actual % to show why it failed
} else {
monthlyPayment = baseRate * roundedPercent;
}
// Output
document.getElementById("ropResult").innerHTML = (roundedPercent * 100).toFixed(0) + "%";
// Format Currency
var formatter = new Intl.NumberFormat('en-US', {
style: 'currency',
currency: 'USD',
});
document.getElementById("baseRateResult").innerHTML = formatter.format(baseRate);
document.getElementById("paymentResult").innerHTML = formatter.format(monthlyPayment);
resultBox.style.display = "block";
}
Understanding GI Bill BAH Rates for 2023
The Post-9/11 GI Bill provides a Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA) designed to help veterans cover living expenses while attending school. The payment amounts, often referred to as BAH rates, are based on the Department of Defense's Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) for an E-5 with dependents.
Key Factors That Determine Your Payment
Location: For in-person classes, the rate is based on the zip code of the campus where you attend the majority of your classes.
Rate of Pursuit: You must be attending school at a rate of more than 50% to receive any housing allowance. If you are exactly 50% or less (e.g., 6 credits out of 12), your payment is $0.
Training Modality: Students taking 100% of their classes online receive a different rate than those attending in person.
2023-2024 Academic Year Rates
For the academic year beginning August 1, 2023, the rates have been adjusted based on DOD calculations. The most notable figure for distance learners is the national average cap.
Student Type
Basis of Calculation
2023-2024 Rate (Approx)
In-Person (Resident)
E-5 with Dependents for School Zip Code
Varies by Location
Online Only
50% of the National Average BAH
$1,054.50
How the "Rate of Pursuit" works
The VA calculates your rate of pursuit by dividing the number of credits you are taking by the number of credits your school considers to be full-time (usually 12 for undergraduates). This figure is then rounded to the nearest 10%.
Example: If you are taking 9 credits and 12 is full-time:
9 divided by 12 = 0.75
This rounds to 80% (0.80) per VA rounding rules for benefits.
You would receive 80% of the full MHA rate for your location.
Note: This calculator provides an estimate. Official determinations are made by the VA upon certification of enrollment.