Do you have GI Bill benefits but sense that college isn't right for you? Well, many people don't know that the GI Bill is available for technical or vocational training. The Department of Veterans Affairs calls these types of training programs non-college degree programs.
What is a Non-College Degree Institution?
Non-college-degree institutions include trade schools, vocational schools and specialized skill training schools. A few examples include:
- heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) repair
- truck driving
- emergency medical training
- cosmetology
- computer network administrator
- auto repair
- gunsmithing
What Kind of GI Bill Benefit Can You Get at a Non-College Degree Institution?
The payment amount varies depending on the GI Bill program you use and the type of non-college degree school you attend. Generally, your monthly benefit is based on the amount of time you spend in training each month. The VA measures the instructional time at this type of school differently than it measures the time at a typical, degree-granting college.
At a regular college, the VA bases your benefit and payment on the credit hours you are enrolled in each term. In a non-college degree program, however, the VA bases your payment on the number of clock hours you attend each week.
This difference is important, since most technical programs normally require a certain combination of classroom training and hands-on learning. For GI Bill purposes, full-time training is 18 clock hours per week if classroom instruction predominates and 22 clock hours per week if shop practice predominates.
The Post-9/11 GI Bill
Under the Post-9/11 GI Bill, for programs offered at public non-degree-granting schools, the VA pays the equivalent of the cost of in-state tuition. For private schools, recipients get the lesser of the actual cost or the national maximum amount.
A monthly housing allowance is based on the location of the school. Up to $1,000 per year is available for books and supplies.
See our Post-9/11 GI Bill Rates page for details.
The Fry Scholarship for the surviving spouses and children of service members who die in the line of duty provides the same benefits as the Post-9/11 GI Bill.
All Other GI Bill Programs
VA pays a monthly rate that varies depending on which GI Bill program you are entitled to and how long your qualifying military service was.
View current payment rates for the Active Duty Montgomery GI Bill.
View current payment rates for the Guard/Reserve Montgomery GI Bill
View current payment rates for Dependents Education Assistance (DEA)
Keep Up With Your Education Benefits
Whether you need a guide on how to use your GI Bill, want to take advantage of tuition assistance and scholarships, or get the lowdown on education benefits available for your family, Military.com can help. Subscribe to Military.com to have education tips and benefits updates delivered directly to your inbox.
