Determine your GI Bill housing allowance eligibility based on course load.
Total credits you are taking this term.
Usually 12 for undergraduate, 9 for graduate (check with school).
Standard semesters are 15-18 weeks. Enter exact weeks for accelerated/summer terms.
Calculated Rate of Pursuit:0%
Rounded Payment Tier:0%
MHA Eligibility:—
Calculation Method Used:
function calculateRateOfPursuit() {
// 1. Get Inputs
var credits = parseFloat(document.getElementById('va_credits').value);
var standard = parseFloat(document.getElementById('va_fulltime').value);
var weeks = parseFloat(document.getElementById('va_weeks').value);
// 2. Validation
if (isNaN(credits) || isNaN(standard) || isNaN(weeks) || standard <= 0 || weeks <= 0) {
alert("Please enter valid positive numbers for all fields.");
return;
}
// 3. Logic Determination (Standard vs Non-Standard)
// Standard Term: 15 to 19 weeks.
// Non-Standard Term: 19 weeks.
var isStandardTerm = (weeks >= 15 && weeks 100) {
rateOfPursuit = 100;
}
// 4. Rounding Logic (VA rounds to nearest 10%)
// Example: 51-54 rounds to 50 (no MHA), 55-64 rounds to 60.
// Specifically for Post-9/11 GI Bill:
// If RoP > 50%, you get housing.
var roundedRate = Math.round(rateOfPursuit / 10) * 10;
// Special case: Rate of Pursuit must be > 50% for ANY housing allowance.
var isEligible = rateOfPursuit > 50;
// Display Formatting
document.getElementById('va_results_area').style.display = 'block';
document.getElementById('va_rop_raw').innerText = rateOfPursuit.toFixed(2) + "%";
var roundedText = roundedRate + "%";
if (roundedRate === 0 && rateOfPursuit > 0) {
roundedText = "0% (Less than 10%)";
}
document.getElementById('va_rop_rounded').innerText = roundedText;
var eligibilityBadge = document.getElementById('va_eligibility');
if (isEligible) {
eligibilityBadge.className = "va-status-badge status-eligible";
eligibilityBadge.innerText = "Eligible for MHA";
// Check for Active Duty handling? (Calculator scope limit: General Student)
} else {
eligibilityBadge.className = "va-status-badge status-ineligible";
eligibilityBadge.innerText = "Ineligible (Must be > 50%)";
}
document.getElementById('va_calc_note').innerText = calculationNote;
}
Understanding Your Rate of Pursuit
The "Rate of Pursuit" (RoP) is a critical calculation used by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to determine your eligibility and payment percentage for the Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33) Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA). Unlike a simple "Part-Time" or "Full-Time" designation, the RoP is a precise percentage based on your enrolled credits relative to your school's definition of full-time status.
How It Is Calculated
The calculation method depends on the length of your academic term:
Standard Terms (15-19 Weeks): For a standard semester, the formula is straightforward. The VA divides your enrolled credit hours by the number of credits your school considers full-time (usually 12 for undergraduates).
Non-Standard Terms (Accelerated/Summer): For terms shorter or longer than the standard semester, the VA calculates "Equivalent Credit Hours." This formula multiplies your credits by 18, divides by the number of weeks in the term, and then compares that result to the full-time standard.
The 50% Threshold Rule
The most important number in this calculation is 50%. To be eligible for any portion of the Monthly Housing Allowance, your Rate of Pursuit must be greater than 50%.
RoP of 50% or less: You are not eligible for any housing allowance.
RoP of 51% or higher: You are eligible for a percentage of the housing allowance based on your rounded Rate of Pursuit.
Rounding Rules
The VA rounds the Rate of Pursuit to the nearest 10% for payment purposes. For example:
A calculated rate of 75% rounds up to 80%.
A calculated rate of 54% rounds down to 50% (making you ineligible for MHA).
A calculated rate of 55% rounds up to 60%.
Full-Time Status
If your Rate of Pursuit is calculated at 100% or higher, you receive the full Monthly Housing Allowance for your location (or the national average if you are an online-only student). Note that "Distance Learning" (online) students are capped at 50% of the national average MHA rate, regardless of having a 100% Rate of Pursuit, unless they take at least one credit hour in-residence.