VA education benefits pay for college, graduate school, trade school, apprenticeships, and professional certifications for veterans, service members, and often their families. The two biggest programs are the Post-9/11 GI Bill and VR&E (Chapter 31), backed by a set of smaller benefits many veterans never claim.
Choosing well matters: the right program for your school, location, and disability status can be worth tens of thousands of dollars more over a degree.
Start with the guide you need
- GI Bill benefits — what the Post-9/11 GI Bill pays (tuition, housing allowance, book stipend), who qualifies, transferring benefits to family, and how to apply.
- VR&E services (Chapter 31) — career retraining for veterans with service-connected disabilities, with uncapped tuition, counseling, and job placement.
- All education benefits — the full list, including tutorial assistance, licensing and testing reimbursement, work-study, on-the-job training, and benefits for spouses and children.
Also see our roundup of free education programs for veterans beyond the VA.
Quick comparison
| Program | Best for | Key requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Post-9/11 GI Bill | Degrees and training with a housing allowance | 90+ days active duty after 9/10/2001 |
| VR&E (Chapter 31) | Career retraining, expensive programs, job placement | Service-connected disability, 10%+ rating |
| Montgomery GI Bill | Fixed monthly payment, low-tuition situations | 2+ years active duty and paid-in contribution |
| DEA / Fry Scholarship | Spouses and children of disabled or fallen veterans | Varies by program |
Get help choosing
The GI Bill Comparison Tool shows what each benefit pays at any approved school. For questions, call the VA Education Call Center at 888-442-4551 (Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m. ET), or get free one-on-one help from a Veterans Service Officer. Your state may add benefits on top — free tuition at state schools in some cases — so check your state’s veteran benefits too.
Common questions
Which VA education benefit should I use?
Most veterans use the Post-9/11 GI Bill, which pays tuition, a housing allowance, and a book stipend. If you have a service-connected disability rated 10% or higher that affects your ability to work, compare VR&E (Chapter 31) first — it has no tuition cap and adds career counseling and job placement.
Can I use more than one education benefit at once?
You can only use one primary benefit at a time (GI Bill, Montgomery GI Bill, or VR&E). But supplemental benefits — tutorial assistance, work-study, and licensing or testing reimbursement — stack on top of your primary benefit, along with state programs and scholarships.
Do VA education benefits cover trade schools and certifications?
Yes. Approved trade schools, apprenticeships, on-the-job training, flight training, and licensing or certification exams are all covered, not just college degrees. Verify any program with the GI Bill Comparison Tool at va.gov before enrolling.