THE NEW GI BILL
The New GI Bill is an entirely new program providing $62 billion in education funding and tuition benefits to veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

TUITION BENEFITS ARE FOR
Military personnel who have served a minimum of 90 days in the military as active duty on or following September 11, 2001.

TUITION BENEFITS ARE TO BE USED FOR
The New GI Bill is to be used for graduate and undergraduate degrees and other types of vocational or technical training.

The following benefits do not require future military service or re-enlistment. The amount of tuition received is based upon your months of service at war following September 11, 2001 (see table below).

An education allowance for eligible veterans which covers the costs of tuition and books of a graduate or an undergraduate education to attend the most expensive public university in your state of residence.

A private school education provision where the U.S. government would fund the costs of the most expensive public university plus match dollar-for-dollar aid private universities provide to cover the complete costs of your tuition.

Depending upon your situation, the following benefit could require your commitment of future military service and/or reenlistment.

A pass along feature (or tuition fund transfer) to wives and children of war veterans.

WHEN THE NEW GI BILL GOES INTO EFFECT
Tuition benefits are payable on August 1, 2009 towards education which is completed after July 31, 2009.

TUITION BENEFITS AVAILABLE
The amount of tuition money received is based upon your months of service. Veterans must serve an aggregate period of active duty after September 10, 2001. The following table shows the percentage of tuition benefit available:

Member Serves Percentage of Maximum Benefit Payable
36 months or more 100%
30 to 36 months 90%
24 to 30 months 80%
18 to 24 months 70%
12 to 18 months 60%
6 to 12 months 50%
90 days to 6 months 40%


EXAMPLES OF TUITION PAID
Public University Costs (in Massachusetts)
Annual Tuition & Fees: $8,500
Highest In-State Annual Tuition & Fees (Public): $9,000
Books & Supplies: $1,000

Student Example #1 (Public University)
This student served 38 months on active duty and then separated. He is going to school full time. In his situation (using the education costs shown above), he would receive $8,500 for tuition and $500 for books and supplies. His total education benefit can not exceed the cost of the most expensive public university in his state of residence, which is $9,000.

Student Example #2 (Public University)
This student served 17 months in the guard/reserves and is going to school full time. He would receive $5,100 (60% of $8,500) for tuition and $300 (60% of $500) for books and supplies.

Student Example #3 (Private University)
Private University Costs (in Massachusetts)
Annual Tuition & Fees: $30,800
Scholarship Award from Private School: $5,000
Highest In-State Annual Tuition & Fees (Public): $9,000
Books & Supplies: $1,000

This student served 32 months on active duty and then separated. She is going to school full time. In her situation (using the Private education figures above), she would receive $8,100 (90% of $9,000) for tuition and $900 (90% of $1,000) for books and supplies. Plus, she would receive a dollar-for-dollar match equal to another $5,000 for a total of $14,000 in tuition benefits to attend the private university.

(Source: Department of Veterans Affairs, The Post-9/11 Veterans Education Assistance Act of 2008, Tuition Benefits Handbook)