The annual Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) for 2026 will be 2.8 percent to ensure benefits are not negative impacted by inflation. According to the Social Security Administration, annual automatic COLA increases began in 1975 and affects how VA benefits adjusted. By federal law, increase to VA benefits must align with the Social Security Administration’s COLA percentage, including VA disability compensation, VA pensions, and military retirement pay.
Typically, the VA will issue corresponding COLA increases starting in January. Last year, the COLA rate was 2.5 percent. Click Here Is the 2026 Pay Raise for Disabled Veterans and Military Retirees for the whole scoop.
Read further for information on how COLA increases will impact educational benefits.
Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance (DEA) Chapter 35 Rates
DEA rates are effective from October 1, 2025, to September 30, 2026. These rates slightly increased by $38, for example, when looking at a full-time enrollment rate at a college or university at a higher education institution. See the quick breakdown below.
Rate for Higher Education Institutions:
- Full-time enrollment: $1,574.00 for each full month
- 3/4-time enrollment: $1,244.00 for each full month
- 1/2-time enrollment: $912.00 for each full month
- Less than 1/2-time and more than 1/4-time enrollment: $912.00 for each full month (or the cost of your tuition and fees, whichever is less)
- 1/4-time enrollment or less: $393.50 for each full month (or the cost of your tuition and fees, whichever is less)
Rate for Non-College Programs:
- Full-time enrollment: $1,574.00 for each full month
- 3/4-time enrollment: $1,244.00 for each full month
- 1/2-time enrollment: $912.00 for each full month
- Less than 1/2-time and more than 1/4-time enrollment: $912.00 for each full month (or the cost of your tuition and fees, whichever is less)
- 1/4-time enrollment or less: $393.50 for each full month (or the cost of your tuition and fees, whichever is less)
Rate for On-The-Job Training and Apprenticeships:
- Months 1 to 6: $999.00 for each full month
- Months 7 to 12: $751.00 for each full month
- Months 13 to 18: $493.00 for each full month
- More than 19 months: $251.00 for each full month
See Chapter 35 rates for survivors and dependents for more details, which include rates for correspondence, special restorative training, prep courses, and test fees.
Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33) Rates
The Post-9/11 GI Bill rates are effective from August 1, 2025, to July 31, 2026. As the Post-9/11 GI Bill rates have consistently kept pace with rising costs, we can expect to see another increase in the next academic year that runs from August 1, 2026, to July 31, 2027. These rates will be posted on the VA site in March 2026.
In the meantime, here is a breakdown of the benefits per the VA site.
Full Rates for School and Training Programs
- Higher education institution: Pays the net tuition and mandatory fees.
- Private institution of higher learning: Pays the net tuition and mandatory fees up to $29,920.95.
- Foreign institution of higher learning: Pays the net tuition and mandatory fees up to $29,920.95 in U.S. dollars.
- Non-college degree programs: Pays the net tuition and mandatory fees up to $29,920.95.
- Flight training: Pays the net tuition and mandatory fees up to $17,097.67.
- Correspondence school: Pays the net tuition and mandatory fees up to $14,533.00.
- Co-op training: Pays the net in-state tuition and mandatory fees at a public school and the net tuition and mandatory fees up to $29,920.95 at a private school.
See the Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33) rates for additional details, including the monthly housing allowance, prep courses, fees, books, and supplies.
