GI Bill Housing Allowance Calculator
Quick answer
For in-person classes, VA bases the Post-9/11 GI Bill monthly housing allowance (MHA) on the BAH for an E-5 with dependents at the ZIP code where you attend most classes, then pays a percentage based on your benefit tier and rate of pursuit. For Aug 1, 2026 to Jul 31, 2027, VA uses the 2026 BAH rates. Online-only students get up to $1,198 a month.
This is an estimate from VA’s published rule and DTMO’s 2026 BAH data. VA calculates your actual payment.
Estimate your MHA
How does VA work out the housing allowance?
VA starts with the BAH rate for an E-5 with dependents at your campus ZIP, then pays a percentage of it based on three things it lists: your eligibility tier, your rate of pursuit, and where you physically attend most of your classes.
What is rate of pursuit?
Credits taken divided by the credits your school counts as full time, rounded to the nearest tenth. VA’s own example: 9 credits where 12 is full time is 80%. You must be above 50% to get any housing allowance.
What if my classes are online?
Online-only students get half the national average MHA, up to $1,198 a month for Aug 1, 2026 to Jul 31, 2027. Taking at least one class in person can qualify you for the higher resident rate.
Will the December BAH release change my GI Bill housing?
Not until August 2027. VA says it uses the 2026 BAH rates for MHA paid between August 1, 2026 and July 31, 2027.
Sources
- VA, Post-9/11 GI Bill rates (Aug 1, 2026 – Jul 31, 2027) (checked 2026-10-28)
- DTMO, BAH Rate Lookup (rates for all locations and pay grades) (2026 data imported 2026-10-29)
- DTMO, BAH calculator results used to spot-check our data (checked 2026-10-28)
Last verified October 29, 2026 against the sources above. How we check dates · Corrections