38 C.F.R. § 21.9640 – Rates of payment of educational assistance—for provisions effective before August 1, 2011.

For training that occurs before August 1, 2011, unless otherwise noted, VA will determine the amount of educational assistance payable under 38 U.S.C. chapter 33 as provided in this section.

(a) Percentage of maximum amounts payable.

(1) Except as provided in paragraphs (a)(2) and (d) of this section, VA will apply the applicable percentage of the maximum amounts payable under this section for pursuit of an approved program of education, in accordance with table 1 to paragraph (a).

Table 1 to paragraph (a)
Aggregate length of creditable active duty service after09/10/01	Number of days	Percentageof maximumamountspayable
At least 36 months 1	If aggregate service (including entry training) is 1095 days or more days	100
At least 30 continuous days (Must be discharged due to service-connected disability)		100
At least 30 months, but less than 36 months 1	If aggregate service (including entry training) is from 910 to 1094 days	90
At least 24 months, but less than 30 months 1 3	If aggregate service (including entry training) is from 730 to 909 days	3 80
At least 18 months, but less than 24 months 2 3	If aggregate service (excluding entry training) is from 545 to 729 days	3 70
At least 12 months, but less than 18 months 2	If aggregate service (excluding entry training) is from 365 to 544 days	60
At least 6 months, but less than 12 months 2	If aggregate service (excluding entry training) is from 180 to 364 days	50
At least 90 days, but less than 6 months 2	If aggregate service (excluding entry training) is from 90 to 179 days	40
1 Includes entry level and skill training.
2 Excludes entry level and skill training.
3 The 70/80% rule: If the aggregate service including training is at least 24 months but less than 30 months (730-909 days) BUT the aggregate service excluding training is at least 18 but less than 24 months (545 to 729 days), the individual will be deemed eligible at the 70% benefit level. This limitation is explicitly mandated by 38 U.S.C. 3311(e).

(2) Amounts payable for individuals eligible for the Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship. VA will apply 100 percent of the maximum amounts payable for pursuit of an approved program of education by an individual who is eligible for educational assistance under § 21.9520(d).

(b) Maximum amounts payable for training at more than one-half time. An individual, other than one on active duty, who is pursuing a program of education at more than one-half time (at a rate of pursuit greater than 50 percent) and who—
1. (1) Is enrolled at an institution of higher learning located in the United States, or at a branch of such institution that is located outside the United States, may receive—
  1. (i) A lump sum amount for established charges paid directly to the institution of higher learning for the entire quarter, semester, or term, as applicable. The amount payable will be the sum of the lower amount of tuition as determined in paragraph (b)(1)(i)(A) and the lower amount of fees as determined in paragraph (b)(1)(i)(B) of this section.
    1. (A) The amount of tuition payable is the lesser of—
      (1) The actual amount of tuition charged by the institution of higher learning; or
      (2) The maximum amount of tuition regularly charged per credit hour to full-time undergraduate in-State students by the public institution of higher learning having the highest rate of regularly-charged tuition per credit hour in the State in which the individual is enrolled or, if the individual is enrolled at a branch located outside the United States, in the State where the main campus of the institution of higher learning is located, multiplied by the number of credit hours in which the individual is enrolled.
    2. (B) The amount of fees payable is the lesser of—
      (1) The actual amount of fees charged by the institution of higher learning; or
      (2) The maximum amount of fees regularly charged full-time undergraduate in-State students in a term, quarter, or semester by the public institution of higher learning having the highest rate of regularly-charged fees in a term, quarter, or semester in the State in which the individual is enrolled or, if the individual is enrolled at a branch located outside the United States, in the State where the main campus of the institution of higher learning is located.
    3. (C) The lesser amount of paragraph (b)(1)(i)(A) or (B) of this section, divided by the number of days in the individual's quarter, semester, or term, as applicable, to determine the individual's daily rate which will then be multiplied by the individual's remaining months and days of entitlement to educational assistance in accordance with § 21.4020 and § 21.9635(o);
  2. (ii) Except for individuals pursuing a program of education offered entirely through distance learning, a monthly housing allowance. The monthly housing allowance will be equal to the monthly amount of the basic allowance for housing payable under 37 U.S.C. 403 for a member of the military with dependents in pay grade E-5 using the ZIP code area in which all, or a majority, of the primary institution of higher learning in which the individual is enrolled is located or, if the individual is only pursuing distance learning courses at the primary institution of higher learning, the ZIP code area in which all, or a majority of the institution of higher learning in which the individual is enrolled in one or more resident courses is located; and
  3. (iii) An amount for books, supplies, equipment, and other educational costs (referred to as the “book stipend”) payable as a lump sum for each quarter, semester, or term. The maximum amount payable to an eligible individual with remaining entitlement is based on pursuit of twenty-four credit hours (the minimum number of credit hours generally considered to be full-time training at the undergraduate level for an academic year). An individual may receive an amount for each credit hour pursued up to twenty-four credit hours (or the equivalent number of credit hours if enrollment is reported in clock hours) in a single academic year. The lump sum payment for each quarter, semester, or term is equal to—
    1. (A) $41.67 ($1,000 divided by 24 credit hours); multiplied by—
    2. (B) The number of credit hours (or the equivalent number of credit hours if enrollment is reported in clock hours) taken by the individual in the quarter, semester, or term, up to a cumulative total of twenty-four credit hours for the academic year.
2. (2) Is enrolled at an institution of higher learning not located in the United States, may receive—
  1. (i) A lump sum amount for established charges paid directly to the institution of higher learning for the entire quarter, semester, or term, as applicable. The amount payable will be the sum of the lower amount of tuition as determined in paragraph (b)(2)(i)(A) and the lower amount of fees as determined in paragraph (b)(2)(i)(B) of this section. Prior to comparing the amounts in paragraph ((b)(2)(i)(A) and in paragraph (b)(2)(i)(B) of this section, foreign currency must be converted into United States dollars using the foreign exchange conversion rate as published by the Federal Reserve effective on the first day of the month of July that precedes the beginning date of the individual's enrollment period.
    1. (A) The amount of tuition payable is the lesser of—
      (1) The actual amount of tuition charged by the institution of higher learning (converted into United States dollars); or
      (2) The average (i.e., unweighted arithmetic mean) amount of tuition per credit hour regularly charged full-time undergraduate in-State students by public institutions of higher learning throughout the United States as published by VA for the relevant academic year.
    2. (B) The amount of fees payable is the lesser of—
      (1) The actual amount of fees charged by the institution of higher learning (converted into United States dollars); or
      (2) The average (i.e., unweighted arithmetic mean) amount of fees regularly charged full-time undergraduate in-State students per term, quarter, or semester by the public institutions of higher learning throughout the United States as published by VA for the relevant academic year.
    3. (C) The lesser amount of paragraph (b)(2)(i)(A) or (B) of this section, divided by the number of days in the individual's quarter, semester, or term, as applicable, to determine the individual's daily rate which will then be multiplied by the individual's remaining months and days of entitlement to educational assistance in accordance with § 21.4020 and § 21.9635(o);
  2. (ii) Except for individuals pursuing a program of education offered entirely through distance learning, a monthly housing allowance. The monthly housing allowance will be equal to the average (i.e., unweighted arithmetic mean) monthly amount of the basic allowance for housing payable under 37 U.S.C. 403 for a member of the military with dependents in pay grade E-5 residing in the United States; and
  3. (iii) An amount for books, supplies, equipment, and other educational costs (referred to as the “book stipend”) payable as a lump sum for each quarter, semester, or term. The maximum amount payable to an eligible individual with remaining entitlement is based on pursuit of twenty-four credit hours (the minimum number of credit hours generally considered to be full-time training at the undergraduate level for an academic year). An individual may receive an amount for each credit hour pursued up to twenty-four credit hours (or the equivalent number of credit hours if enrollment is reported in clock hours) in a single academic year. The lump sum payment for each quarter, semester, or term is equal to—
    1. (A) $41.67 ($1,000 divided by 24 credit hours); multiplied by—
    2. (B) The number of credit hours (or the equivalent number of credit hours if enrollment is reported in clock hours) taken by the individual in the quarter, semester, or term, up to a cumulative total of twenty-four credit hours for the academic year.
(c) Maximum amounts payable for training at one-half time or less. An individual, other than one on active duty, who is pursuing a program of education at one-half time or less (at a rate of pursuit of 50 percent or less) and who—
1. (1) Is enrolled at an institution of higher learning located in the United States, or at a branch of such institution that is located outside the United States, may receive—
  1. (i) A lump sum amount for established charges paid directly to the institution of higher learning for the entire quarter, semester, or term, as applicable. The amount payable will be the sum of the lower amount of tuition as determined in paragraph (c)(1)(i)(A) and the lower amount of fees as determined in paragraph (c)(1)(i)(B) of this section.
    1. (A) The amount of tuition payable is the lesser of—
      (1) The actual amount of tuition charged by the institution of higher learning that similarly circumstanced nonveterans enrolled in the individual's program of education would be required to pay; or
      (2) The maximum amount of tuition regularly charged per credit hour to full-time undergraduate in-State students by the public institution of higher learning having the highest rate of regularly-charged tuition per credit hour in the State in which the individual is enrolled or, if the individual is enrolled at a branch located outside the United States, in the State where the main campus of the institution of higher learning is located, multiplied by the number of credit hours in which the individual is enrolled.
    2. (B) The amount of fees payable is the lesser of—
      (1) The actual amount of fees charged by the institution of higher learning that similarly circumstanced nonveterans enrolled in the individual's program of education would be required to pay; or
      (2) The maximum amount of fees regularly charged full-time undergraduate in-State students per term, quarter, or semester by the public institution of higher learning having the highest rate of regularly-charged fees per term, quarter or semester, in the State in which the individual is enrolled or, if the individual is enrolled at a branch located outside the United States, in the State where the main campus of the institution of higher learning is located.
    3. (C) The lesser amount of paragraph (c)(1)(i)(A) or (B) of this section, divided by the number of days in the individual's quarter, semester, or term, as applicable, to determine the individual's daily rate which will then be multiplied by the individual's remaining months and days of entitlement to educational assistance in accordance with § 21.4020 and § 21.9635(o);
  2. (ii) An amount for books, supplies, equipment, and other educational costs (referred to as the “book stipend”) payable as a lump sum for the certified enrollment period. The maximum amount payable to an eligible individual with remaining entitlement is based on pursuit of twenty-four credit hours (the minimum number of credit hours generally considered to be full-time training at the undergraduate level for an academic year). An individual may receive an amount for each credit hour pursued up to twenty-four credit hours (or the equivalent number of credit hours if enrollment is reported in clock hours) in a single academic year. The lump sum payment for each quarter, semester, or term is equal to—
    1. (A) $41.67 ($1,000 divided by 24 credit hours); multiplied by—
    2. (B) The number of credit hours (or the equivalent number of credit hours if enrollment is reported in clock hours) taken by the individual in the quarter, semester, or term; multiplied by—
    3. (C) The percentage equal to the individual's rate of pursuit as determined by dividing the number of credit hours the individual is pursuing by the number of credit hours required for full-time pursuit.
2. (2) Is enrolled in an institution of higher learning not located in the United States, may receive—
  1. (i) A lump sum amount for established charges paid directly to the institution of higher learning for the entire quarter, semester, or term, as applicable. The amount payable will be the sum of the lower amount of tuition as determined in paragraph (c)(2)(i)(A) and the lower amount of fees as determined in paragraph (c)(2)(i)(B) of this section. Prior to comparing the amounts in paragraph (c)(2)(i)(A) and in paragraph (c)(2)(i)(B) of this section, foreign currency must be converted into United States dollars using the foreign exchange conversion rate as published by the Federal Reserve effective on the first day of the month of July that precedes the beginning date of the individual's enrollment period.
    1. (A) The amount of tuition payable is the lesser of—
      (1) The actual amount of tuition charged by the institution of higher learning (converted into United States dollars); or
      (2) The average (i.e., arithmetic mean) amount of tuition per credit hour regularly charged full-time undergraduate in-State students by public institutions of higher learning throughout the United States as published by VA for the relevant academic year.
    2. (B) The amount of fees payable is the lesser of—
      (1) The actual amount of fees charged by the institution of higher learning (converted into United States dollars); or
      (2) The average (i.e., arithmetic mean) amount of fees regularly charged full-time undergraduate in-State students per term, quarter, or semester by the public institutions of higher learning throughout the United States as published by VA for the relevant academic year.
    3. (C) The lesser amount of paragraph (c)(2)(i)(A) or (B) of this section, divided by the number of days in the individual's quarter, semester, or term, as applicable, to determine the individual's daily rate which will then be multiplied by the individual's remaining months and days of entitlement to educational assistance in accordance with § 21.4020 and § 21.9635(o);
  2. (ii) An amount for books, supplies, equipment, and other educational costs (referred to as the “book stipend”) payable as a lump sum for the certified enrollment period. The maximum amount payable to an eligible individual with remaining entitlement is based on pursuit of twenty-four credit hours (the minimum number of credit hours generally considered to be full-time training at the undergraduate level for an academic year). An individual may receive an amount for each credit hour pursued up to twenty-four credit hours (or the equivalent number of credit hours if the individual's enrollment is reported in clock hours) in a single academic year. The lump sum payment for each quarter, semester, or term is equal to—
    1. (A) $41.67 ($1,000 divided by 24); multiplied by
    2. (B) The number of credit hours (or the equivalent number of credit hours if the individual's enrollment is reported in clock hours) taken by the individual in the quarter, semester, or term, up to a cumulative total of twenty-four credit hours for the academic year; multiplied by—
    3. (C) The percentage equal to the individual's rate of pursuit as determined by dividing the number of credit hours the individual is pursuing by the number of credit hours required for full-time pursuit.
(d) Amounts payable for individuals on active duty—(1) Amounts payable for programs of education beginning on or after August 1, 2009, and on or before March 4, 2011. Individuals on active duty who are pursuing a program of education during a quarter, semester, or term that starts during the period beginning August 1, 2009, and ending March 4, 2011, may receive a lump sum amount for established charges paid directly to the institution of higher learning for the entire term, quarter, or semester, as applicable. The amount payable will be the lowest of—
1. (i) The established charges that similarly circumstanced nonveterans enrolled in the individual's program of education would be required to pay;
2. (ii) That portion of the established charges not covered by military tuition assistance under 10 U.S.C. 2007(a) or (b) for which the individual has stated to VA that he or she wishes to receive payment;
3. (iii) The lesser amount of paragraph (d)(i) or (ii) of this section, divided by the number of days in the individual's quarter, semester, or term, as applicable, to determine the individual's daily rate which will then be multiplied by the individual's remaining months and days of entitlement to educational assistance in accordance with §§ 21.4020 and 21.9635(o);
4. (2) Amounts payable for a program of education, on more than half-time basis, leading to a degree and beginning after March 4, 2011, but before August 1, 2011.
  1. (i) VA may, on behalf of an individual on active duty who is pursuing a program of education leading to a degree on more than half-time basis at a public IHL, issue a lump sum payment for the term, quarter, or semester directly to the IHL equal to the applicable percentage (as listed in paragraph (a) of this section) of the net cost for in-State tuition and fees.
  2. (ii) VA may, on behalf of an individual on active duty who is pursuing a program of education leading to a degree on more than half-time basis at a non-public or foreign IHL, issue a lump sum payment for the term, quarter, or semester directly to the IHL equal to the lesser of the applicable percentage (as listed in paragraph (a) of this section) of the net cost for tuition and fees assessed by the institution or—
    1. (A) For the academic year beginning August 1, 2011, $17,500; or
    2. (B) For the academic year beginning on any subsequent August 1, the amount for the previous academic year, as increased under 38 U.S.C. 3015(h).
5. (3) Amounts payable for a program of education, on a half-time basis or less, leading to a degree and beginning after March 4, 2011, but before August 1, 2011. Amounts payable for the individual will be calculated in accordance with paragraph (d)(1) of this section.
6. (4) Amounts payable for a program of education not leading to a degree and beginning after March 4, 2011, but before August 1, 2011. Amounts payable for the individual will be calculated in accordance with paragraph (d)(1) of this section.
(e) Publication of educational assistance rates. VA will publish the maximum amounts of tuition and fees payable for the upcoming academic year in the “Notices” section of the Federal Register and on the GI Bill Web site at http://www.gibill.va.gov by the first of August of each calendar year. The maximum amounts payable, as published, will be effective for each term, quarter, or semester that begins during the academic year.
(f) Authority.
1. (1) Paragraph (a)(1) of this section issued under the authority of 38 U.S.C. 3311, 3313;
2. (2) Paragraph (d)(2) of this section issued under the authority of 38 U.S.C. 501(a), 3313(e); and
3. (3) Paragraph (e) of this section issued under the authority of 38 U.S.C. 3313, 3323(c).

[74 FR 14671, Mar. 31, 2009, as amended at 90 FR 5348, Jan. 16, 2025]