The Post-9/11 GI Bill is for individuals with at least 90 days of aggregate service on or after September 11, 2001, or individuals discharged with a service-connected disability after 30 days. You must have received an honorable discharge to be eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill. The Post-9/11 GI Bill will become effective for training on or after August 1, 2009.

This program will pay eligible individuals:
• tuition & fees directly to the school not to exceed the maximum in-state tuition & fees at a public Institution of Higher Learning.   The current Minnesota maximums for tuition & fees are $326.28 per credit hour and $4,359.28 per term.
• a monthly housing allowance based on the Basic Allowance for Housing for an E-5 with dependents at the location of the school. The rate for Minneapolis/St. Paul for an E-1 with dependents is $1,281 and $961 for an E-1 with no dependents.  The rates vary depending on the area and rank of the individual.
• an annual books & supplies stipend of $1,000 paid proportionately based on enrollment
• a one-time rural benefit payment for eligible individuals.  Eligible individuals may also receive a one-time rural benefit payment of $500.00 if you reside in a county with 6 persons or less per square mile (as determined by the most recent decennial census) and:
        o either physically relocate at least 500 miles to attend an educational institution or
        o travel by air to physically attend an educational institution if no other land-based transportation exists

This benefit is payable only for training at an Institution of Higher Learning (IHL). If you are enrolled exclusively in online training you will not receive the housing allowance. If you are on active duty you will not receive the housing allowance or books & supplies stipend. This benefit provides up to 36 months of education benefits, generally benefits are payable for 15 years following your release from active duty.

For many eligible participants, the Post-9/11 GI Bill is a better alternative than other education benefit programs, such as the Montgomery GI Bill - Active Duty, Montgomery GI Bill - Selected Reserve and the Reserve Education Assistance Program (REAP). However, this decision depends on several factors, including the type of education or training you plan to take and the amount of benefits received under each program.
 

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