Post 9/11 GI Bill®

What is the Post 9/11 GI Bill®?

The Post 9/11 GI Bill® (Chapter 33) provides up to 36 months of assistance to veterans and current service members with qualifying active duty service after September 11th, 2001. If you don’t have 36 months of qualifying service, you may be eligible for the benefit at a partial rate. It can also be transferred to dependents before the veteran leaves service – see more information on Post 9/11 GI Bill® – Dependents.

Under the Post 9/11 GI Bill®, you may receive:

  • In-state tuition and fees coverage up to 100%
  • Money for housing (if you’re in school for more than half-time)
  • Money for books and supplies
  • Additional entitlement under the STEM Scholarship

Tuition is paid directly to the school. The book stipend is paid directly to you, ideally at the beginning of the semester. The housing stipend is also paid directly to you the following month (example: September’s payment arrives in October).

Eligibility for partial Post 9/11 GI Bill®: The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has identified the following eligibility tiers for those who haven’t met the full 36 months of qualifying service.

  • 910 to 1,094 days (30 to 35 months): 90% of the full benefit
  • 730 to 909 days (24 to 29 months): 80% of the full benefit
  • 545 to 729 days (18 to 23 months): 70% of the full benefit
  • 180 to 544 days (6 to 17 months): 60% of the full benefit
  • 90 to 179 days (90 days to 5 months): 50% of the full benefit

In-State Tuition: Non-resident students who start classes at UW-Madison using at least one month of the Post 9/11 GI Bill® will be charged equal to the in-state tuition rate until the completion of their program, even if they exhaust their benefit. However, students who don’t remain continuously enrolled (take a break longer than two semesters) will be assessed the non-resident tuition rate when they return. You can view current tuition rates on the Bursar’s Office website.

Depending on eligibility percentage, the Post 9/11 GI Bill® may be used at the same time as the Wisconsin GI Bill®, Wisconsin National Guard Tuition Grant or Military Tuition Assistance.

 

UW-Madison benefit rates                         Learn more about Post 9/11

Getting Started

Applying

Apply early! It’s best to give the VA at least 30 days to process your application.

  1. Gather the following information:
    • social security number
    • bank account direct deposit information
    • education and military history
    • name of school you want to attend or are attending
  2. Complete the VA’s online application (linked below).
  3. The VA will provide you a certificate of eligibility (COE) if approved. Email your COE to veterans@wisc.edu.

Apply on va.gov

Next Steps

  1. Apply for other education benefits you intend to use.
  2. Contact University Veteran Services. If you start classes in less than 90 days, let us know you intend to use benefits (even if you’re waiting on approval).
  3. Ensure you’ve opted into enrollment verification through the VA.
  4. Complete a FAFSA®. You can learn more about using traditional forms of financial aid on our financial aid & education benefits page.
  5. Confirm your benefits. You’ll complete this process every semester to let us know you’d like to use your GI Bill®.
  6. Read up on receiving federal benefits to learn about course restrictions for GI Bill® users and information related to payments.

Contact

University Veteran Services
school certifying officials

Call us at:
608-265-4628

Email us at:
veterans@wisc.edu

Location pin for University Veterans ServicesUniversity Veterans Services
333 East Campus Mall
10th floor, Suite 10320
Madison, WI 53715


Monday - Friday
9:00am - 4:00pm

Appointments

Drop-ins are always welcome, but appointments are encouraged.

Please visit our About Us page to make an appointment with a member of our staff.