Full Time (100%)
90%
80%
70%
60%
50% or Less (No MHA)
In-Person / Hybrid
100% Distance Learning
Estimated Monthly Housing Allowance:$0.00
Understanding Your Post 9/11 GI Bill MHA Rates
The Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA) for the Post 9/11 GI Bill is one of the most significant benefits for Veterans pursuing higher education. Unlike the Montgomery GI Bill, which pays a flat rate, the Post 9/11 GI Bill calculates your housing payment based on several variables specific to your location and enrollment status.
1. The E-5 with Dependents Benchmark
Your MHA is fundamentally based on the Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) for an E-5 with dependents. Even if you were a higher rank or have no dependents, the VA uses this specific metric for everyone. The rate is determined by the ZIP code of the campus where you attend the majority of your classes.
2. Rate of Pursuit (Enrollment Status)
To qualify for any MHA, your "Rate of Pursuit" must be greater than 50%. If you are exactly half-time or less, you will not receive a housing allowance. For those above 50%, the payment is rounded to the nearest multiple of 10. For example, if you are at 75% enrollment, you receive 80% of the MHA rate.
3. Online vs. In-Person Learning
There is a significant difference in payments based on how you attend class:
In-Person: If at least one credit hour is taken in a physical classroom, you qualify for the full ZIP-code-based MHA.
Online: If you are 100% distance learning, your MHA is capped at half the national average of all BAH rates. Currently, for the 2023-2024 academic year, the 100% online rate is $1,054.50 (at the 100% benefit level).
4. Benefit Level Impact
Your service time determines your benefit tier. If you served 36 months or more, you are at 100%. If you served only 6 months of active duty, you may be at 60%. Your final MHA payment is your base rate multiplied by your benefit level percentage.
Example Calculation: A student at the 100% benefit level attending school full-time in a ZIP code where E-5 BAH is $2,000 would receive $2,000/month. If that same student was at an 80% benefit level and enrolled 3/4 time, the calculation would be $2,000 × 0.80 × 0.80 = $1,280/month.
function calculateMHA() {
// Inputs
var mhaBaseInput = document.getElementById("mhaBaseRate").value;
var benefitLevel = parseFloat(document.getElementById("benefitLevel").value);
var pursuitRate = parseFloat(document.getElementById("rateOfPursuit").value);
var isOnline = document.getElementById("learningType").value === "online";
// Elements for output
var resultContainer = document.getElementById("mhaResultContainer");
var mhaDisplay = document.getElementById("mhaValue");
var explanationDisplay = document.getElementById("mhaExplanation");
// Current National Average MHA for Online (approx. 2023-2024 academic year)
// Full national average is approx $2,109, half is $1,054.50
var onlineHalfNationalAverage = 1054.50;
// Validation
if (mhaBaseInput === "" && !isOnline) {
alert("Please enter the E-5 with Dependents rate for your ZIP code.");
return;
}
var baseRate = parseFloat(mhaBaseInput) || 0;
var finalMonthlyRate = 0;
var message = "";
// Calculation Logic
if (pursuitRate <= 0.5) {
// VA rule: 50% or less enrollment = $0 MHA
finalMonthlyRate = 0;
message = "Because your Rate of Pursuit is 50% or less, you do not qualify for a Monthly Housing Allowance under current VA regulations.";
} else {
var startRate = isOnline ? onlineHalfNationalAverage : baseRate;
// Calculation: (Rate) * (Benefit %) * (Pursuit %)
finalMonthlyRate = startRate * benefitLevel * pursuitRate;
var formatType = isOnline ? "Distance Learning" : "In-Person/Hybrid";
message = "Based on " + (benefitLevel * 100) + "% benefit level, " + (pursuitRate * 100) + "% enrollment, and " + formatType + " status.";
}
// Display Results
mhaDisplay.innerText = "$" + finalMonthlyRate.toLocaleString(undefined, {minimumFractionDigits: 2, maximumFractionDigits: 2});
explanationDisplay.innerText = message;
resultContainer.style.display = "block";
}