A Brief History of Veterans' Education Benefits and Their Value

A Brief History of Veterans’
Education Benefits and Their Value
Updated July 3, 2008
David P. Smole
Specialist in Education Policy
Domestic Social Policy Division
Shannon S. Loane
Information Research Specialist
Knowledge Services Group

A Brief History of Veterans’
Education Benefits and Their Value
Summary
Federal educational assistance programs have been authorized for veterans of
the Armed Forces since 1944. The Servicemen’s Readjustment Act of 1944 (P.L. 78-
346), or the GI Bill of Rights, provided support, including education benefits, to
veterans of World War II. Subsequently, other programs were implemented for
similar purposes (e.g., the Korean GI Bill and the Vietnam Era GI Bill). These new
programs were primarily, if not exclusively, funded by the federal government and
were intended to support veterans returning from war. The implementation of the
Post-Vietnam Era Veterans’ Educational Assistance Program (VEAP) marked the
first time that an educational benefit had been established during peacetime and for
an all-volunteer force; the first time that education benefits were viewed as a military
recruiting tool; and the first time that servicemembers were required to make a
contribution toward their veterans’ education benefits. Many of the principles of
VEAP were carried over during the creation of its successor program, the
Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB), which was implemented in 1985.
Veterans’ education benefits have evolved substantially over the last 60-plus
years. When first established, veterans’ education benefits were completely
subsidized by the federal government; payments were issued to educational
institutions on behalf of the veteran; they could be used for a variety of education and
training programs; and separate subsistence payments were also provided. Currently
available veterans’ education benefits are partially subsidized; paid directly to the
veteran; and may be used to pay tuition, fees, and expenses associated with a variety
of education and training programs.
During the period since veterans’ education benefits first were made available,
college prices have increased substantially. In addition, the manner in which federal
student financial aid is calculated and awarded has shifted several times during the
evolution of the veterans’ education benefits programs. At present, federal student
assistance is calculated according to the federal need analysis system, which
considers the receipt of veterans’ education benefits when determining eligibility for
some student aid programs. These policy and program changes have altered the role
that veterans’ education benefits play in supporting access to postsecondary
education for veterans.
This report reviews the evolution of veterans’ education benefit programs prior
to the enactment of the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008. It
also examines how changes in the estimated value of those benefits compares with
changes in average college prices, and provides a discussion of the interaction
between veterans’ education benefits and federal student aid benefits made available
under Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA), as amended.

Contents
In troduction ......................................................1
Veterans’ Education Benefit Programs.................................2
GI Bill of Rights...............................................2
Korean GI Bill................................................3
Post-Korea and Vietnam-Era GI Bill...............................3
Post-Vietnam Era Veterans’ Educational Assistance Program (VEAP)....4
Montgomery GI Bill............................................4
Montgomery GI Bill - Active Duty (MGIB-AD)..................4
Montgomery GI Bill - Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR)..............6
Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP)....................7
Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance Program (DEA).....7
Changes in the Value of Veterans’ Education Benefits Over Time...........11
Value of Veterans’ Education Benefits: 1944-2007..................11
Value of Education Benefits Provided Through the Montgomery GI Bill:
1987-2007 ..............................................13
Purchasing Power of the MGIB-AD Program.......................14
Use of Education Benefits......................................16
Veterans’ Education Benefits and Federal Student Aid Available Under
the Higher Education Act.......................................17
Federal Need Analysis.........................................18
Military Education Benefits, Need Analysis, and Federal Student Aid....19
Military Education Benefits and Pell Grants....................20
Military Education Benefits and FFEL/DL Program Student Loans..20
Military Education Benefits and Campus-Based Programs.........20
Student Eligibility Requirements for Title IV Programs and
Military Education Benefits.............................20
List of Figures
Figure 1. Veterans’ Education Program Monthly Benefit Amounts:
Constant 2007 Dollars, 1944-2007...............................13
List of Tables
Table 1. Selected Characteristics of Veterans’ Education Benefits Programs ...9
Table 2. History of MGIB-AD and MGIB-SR Monthly Education Benefits:
Current and Constant 2007 Dollars, 1985-2007.....................14
Table 3. Percent of Average Price of Public and Private Four-Year IHEs and
Public Two-Year IHEs Covered by the MGIB-AD Education Benefit:

1985-1986 through 2007-2008..................................15

Table 4. Recipients of Veterans’ Education Benefits by Program:
FY1998 - FY2007............................................17
Table 5. Student Eligibility Requirements for Participation in the Federal
Student Aid Programs Under Title IV of the Higher Education Act
and GI Bill Education Benefits..................................22

A Brief History of Veterans’
Education Benefits and Their Value
Introduction¹
Since 1944, Congress has demonstrated an interest in providing education
benefits to veterans of the Armed Forces. The Servicemen’s Readjustment Act of
1944 (P.L. 78-346), or the GI Bill of Rights, provided support, including education
benefits, to veterans of World War II. Following the expiration of the original GI
Bill, other programs, including the Korean GI Bill, Vietnam Era GI Bill, the Post-
Vietnam Era Veterans’ Educational Assistance Program (VEAP), the Montgomery
GI Bill-Active Duty (MGIB-AD) program, the Montgomery GI Bill-Selected Reserve
(MGIB-SR) program, and the Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP),
were implemented to make education benefits available to veterans of the Armed
Forces. On June 30, 2008, the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of

2008 was enacted as part of P.L. 110-252. This act established a new veterans’

educational assistance program and made amendments to the MGIB-AD, MGIB-SR,²
and REAP programs. Throughout their history, veterans’ education programs have
been primarily, if not exclusively, funded by the federal government and have been
intended to provide assistance to veterans following the completion of, and, in some
cases, during their military service.
Veterans’ education benefits have evolved substantially over the last 60-plus
years. In the past, veterans’ education benefits were completely subsidized by the
federal government; they could be used for a variety of education and training
programs; separate subsistence payments were provided; and payments were issued
to educational institutions on behalf of the veteran. Currently available MGIB
veterans’ education benefits are partially subsidized; may be used to pay tuition, fees
and expenses associated with a variety of education and training programs; and paid
directly to the student.

¹ This report is adapted from a prior CRS report, Montgomery GI Bill Education Benefits:
Analysis of College Prices and Federal Student Aid Under the Higher Education Act, by
Charmaine Mercer. The report, now out of print, is available from the authors upon request.
² This report is limited to an examination of veterans’ education benefits prior to the
enactment of P.L. 110-252. For information on legislative proposals in the 110^th Congress
to expand veterans’ education benefits programs, see CRS Report RL33985, Veterans’^th
Benefits: Issues in the 110 Congress, coordinated by Carol D. Davis; and CRS Report
RL34451, Second FY2008 Supplemental Appropriations for Military Operations,
International Affairs, and Other Purposes, by Stephen Daggett, Susan B. Epstein, Rhoda
Margesson, Curt Tarnoff, Pat Towell, Catherine Dale, and Shannon S. Loane.

During the period since 1944, when veterans’ education benefits first were made
available, there have been numerous changes to the veterans’ education programs and
the benefit amounts made available. Also, during this period, other forms of federal
financial assistance have been made to students, including students who are veterans,
through the enactment of an array of federal student financial aid programs. At the
same time, however, college prices and costs associated with obtaining a
postsecondary education have continued to increase.³
The relationship between veterans’ education benefits and federal student aid,
and the manner by which federal student aid is calculated and awarded, have changed
several times as veterans’ education benefits programs have evolved. At present,
federal student aid awards are calculated according to the federal need analysis
system, which takes an individual’s receipt of veterans’ education benefits into
account during the process of determining eligibility for certain federal student aid
programs. The rules governing the interaction between the federal student aid
programs and veterans’ education benefits programs affect how much aggregate aid
is made available to veterans to support their access to postsecondary education.
This report reviews the evolution of veterans’ education benefit programs and
describes the types of education benefits that have been made available under these
programs. The report is organized into three major sections. The first section
provides an historical overview of education benefits for military veterans, beginning
with the Servicemen’s Readjustment Act of 1944 (GI Bill of Rights). The second
section is an analysis of the estimated value of veterans’ education benefits relative
to average college prices. This section focuses on the estimated value of veterans’
education benefits and college prices at four-year public and private institutions, and
two-year public institutions. The final section briefly examines the interaction
between veterans’ education benefits and federal student aid benefits authorized
under the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA), as amended.
Veterans’ Education Benefit Programs
This section provides a brief history of the education benefits programs that
have been made available to veterans, beginning with the GI Bill of Rights. A
summary of selected characteristics of the various programs is presented in Table 1
at the end of this section.
GI Bill of Rights
The original GI Bill, the Servicemen’s Readjustment Act of 1944, was intended
to help veterans readjust to civilian life, avoid high levels of unemployment, and
afford returning veterans an opportunity to receive the education and training that
they missed while serving in the military. Under the GI Bill, the Veterans
Administration, now the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), paid up to $500 a

³ For additional information on college costs and prices, see CRS Report RL34224, College
Costs and Prices: Issues for Reauthorization of the Higher Education Act, by Rebecca R.
Skinner and Blake Alan Naughton.

year directly to an educational institution for tuition, books, fees, and other training
costs.⁴ The VA also paid as much as $50 a month (increased to $65 in 1946, and $75
in 1948) as a subsistence allowance to single veterans, and greater monthly amounts
to veterans with one or more dependents. This program ended on July 25, 1956.
Korean GI Bill
The Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act of 1952, the Korean GI Bill (P.L.
82-550), was authorized to help veterans returning from the Korean War to adjust to
civilian life. The benefit provided up to $110 a month to single veterans for
educational expenses and education-related expenses, and higher amounts for
veterans with dependents. Unlike the GI Bill of Rights, which paid both educational
expenses and a separate subsistence allowance, the monthly benefit for the Korean
GI Bill was intended to cover both. It was believed that requiring the veteran to
contribute to the costs of his/her education would encourage more careful spending.
In addition, partially in response to alleged incidents of fraud and abuse by for-profit
(proprietary) institutions of higher education (IHEs), each veteran received a lump-
sum payment from the VA instead of the VA making direct payments to IHEs. The
program ended January 31, 1965.
Post-Korea and Vietnam-Era GI Bill
The Post-Korea and Vietnam-Era GI Bill was enacted in 1966 under the
Veterans’ Readjustment Benefits Act of 1966 (P.L. 89-358). This program was
originally intended for veterans of the post-Korean War era, and was not intended to⁵
be as generous as some of the earlier programs for veterans. Under this act, veterans
who had been on active duty for more than 180 consecutive days were entitled to one
month of educational assistance for each month of service. This was the first GI Bill
that provided benefits to members of the Armed Forces while they served on active
duty, as opposed to providing benefits only after the completion of active duty. The
program became effective June 1, 1966, but benefits were made available
retroactively to post-Korean War era veterans and Vietnam-Era veterans who had
served prior to the effective date. The initial monthly benefit amount for a single
veteran was $100 per month, and monthly benefit amounts were increased several
times during the operation of the program — ultimately, to $376 per month in 1984.
The program ended December 31, 1989.

⁴ Reliable, comprehensive data on the price of college attendance during the 1940s are not
available. Based on data obtained on individual institutions, it seems likely that $500
annually would have been sufficient to cover educational costs at most institutions. For
example, based on anecdotal evidence tuition and fees at Harvard University and the
Massachusetts Institute of Technology were $450 and $500, respectively, in the 1940s.
⁵ In 1976, at the end of the Vietnam hostilities, benefits were extended from 36 months to
45 months, and the time period in which benefits could be used was extended from eight
years to 10 years following discharge.

Post-Vietnam Era Veterans’ Educational
Assistance Program (VEAP)
The Post-Vietnam Era Veterans’ Educational Assistance Program (VEAP) was
established under Title IV of the Veterans’ Education and Employment Assistance
Act of 1976 (P.L. 94-502). The program was made available to individuals who
entered active duty after December 31, 1976, and before July 1, 1985. VEAP was
designed as a recruitment incentive for the Armed Forces during peacetime. Since
the benefit was established for an all-volunteer force serving during peacetime, it was
deemed appropriate to require participants, for the first time, to contribute to an
education fund during their period of service in the military. Program participants
had to agree to monthly pay reductions of at least $25, but not more than $100. The
maximum education benefit may not exceed the sum of the amount contributed by
the participant and the matching federal contribution (see Table 1 for details); and
the maximum monthly benefit amount is $300.⁶ VEAP benefits must be used within
ten years of discharge. VEAP participants who were on active duty on October 9,
1996 were eligible until October 8, 1997, to elect to participate in the MGIB
program.
Montgomery GI Bill
The MGIB consists of two major programs: MGIB-Active Duty (MGIB-AD),
for individuals serving on active duty or who have separated from active duty; and
MGIB-Selected Reserves (MGIB-SR), for members of the selected reserves. These
programs are described below.
Montgomery GI Bill - Active Duty (MGIB-AD). The Montgomery GI Bill
(MGIB), originally called the All-Volunteer Force Educational Assistance Program,
was initially enacted as part of the Department of Defense Authorization Act, 1985⁷
(P.L. 98-525), as a three-year pilot program. The MGIB-AD program is available to
individuals who entered active duty after June 30, 1985; as well as, in certain⁸
circumstances, individuals who entered active duty prior to that date. To become
eligible for MGIB-AD benefits, individuals must not have declined the benefit in
writing, and must have had their military pay reduced by $100 per month for 12

⁶ The Department of Defense could also make additional contributions, known as “kickers,”
to individuals in critical military fields to encourage enlistment or reenlistment in the Armed
Forces.
⁷ The New GI Bill Continuation Act (P.L. 100-48) permanently authorized the All-Volunteer
Force Educational Assistance Program and the Selected Reserve Component. It also
changed the name of the program to the Montgomery GI Bill. The MGIB-AD program is
authorized under Title 38, Chapter 30, of the United States Code.
⁸ There are four categories of eligibility for the MGIB-AD program. Category 1applies to
the majority of individuals and is addressed here. Category 2 applies to Vietnam-Era GI Bill
conversion; Category 3 applies to involuntary separation/special separation; and Category
4 applies to veterans who participated in VEAP. For additional information on the four
categories of eligibility, see Department of Veterans Affairs, Federal Benefits for Veterans
and Dependents, 2008 Edition, Chapter 4, Education and Training, at [http://www1.va.gov/
opa/vadocs/fedben.pdf].

months. MGIB-AD benefits may be used for a maximum of 36 months; and in
general, benefits must be used within ten years of discharge from active duty.⁹ To
be eligible for benefits, individuals must have received a fully honorable discharge
(or be serving on active duty); and must have a high school diploma or the
equivalent, or have completed at least 12 credit hours towards a college degree. In
most instances, individuals must have served for three continuous years on active
duty to become eligible to receive MGIB-AD benefits; however, in certain
circumstances, individuals may qualify to receive benefits after two continuous years
of active duty service.
MGIB-AD benefits are paid on a monthly basis. Monthly benefit rates vary
according to whether individuals have served for three continuous years on active
duty; and the intensity of the training toward which the benefits are being applied.
For FY2008, the maximum monthly benefit rate is $1,101 for individuals who have
served for three continuous years on active duty, and who are enrolled full-time.
Maximum monthly benefit amounts are adjusted annually according to the consumer
price index for all urban consumers (CPI-U).¹⁰ Lower benefit rates apply to eligible
individuals who have not served for three continuous years on active duty, and to
those enrolled less than full-time. In certain instances, individuals may also be
eligible to receive higher benefit amounts, referred to as a “kicker” or a “college
fund” (see below).
MGIB-AD benefits may be used to pay for tuition, fees, books, supplies, and
other expenses associated with enrollment in an array of approved education and
training programs, including
^!courses at colleges and universities leading to an associate,
baccalaureate, or graduate degree;
^!courses at business, vocational, and technical schools leading to a
certificate or diploma;
^!apprenticeship and on-the-job training, including self-employment
training for ownership or operation of a franchise (for individuals
not on active duty);
^!flight training (for qualified individuals);
^!state-approved teacher certification programs;
^!preparatory courses for admission to undergraduate or graduate
education programs;
^!approved licensing and certification tests;

⁹ In addition, individuals may receive veterans’ education and training benefits under only
one program at a time; and individuals may receive veterans’ education and training benefits
under all programs combined for a maximum of 48 months.
¹⁰ With the enactment of P.L. 110-252, effective August 1, 2008, the maximum monthly
benefit rate increases to $1,321; and beginning with FY2010, subsequent maximum monthly
benefit amounts will be adjusted annually based on the annual percentage increase in the
average cost of undergraduate tuition in the United States, as determined by the National
Center for Education Statistics.

^!entrepreneurship training courses for the creation or expansion of
small businesses; and
^!tuition assistance using MGIB as “Top-Up” (see below).¹¹
MGIB “Kicker”/College Fund. The College Fund is an add-on benefit to the
MGIB-AD benefit that may be made available to individuals at the time of
enlistment. Individuals must elect to participate in the MGIB-AD program to
become eligible for the College Fund. Each service branch elects whether to offer
the College Fund benefit to recruits serving in certain critical military occupational
specialities. (Currently, the Army and the Navy participate.) Veterans receive the
College Fund benefit as an add-on to the MGIB-AD monthly benefit amount. While
MGIB-AD monthly benefit amounts are adjusted annually according to changes in
the CPI-U, no annual adjustments are made to College Fund monthly benefit
amounts.
Tuition Assistance “Top-Up”. The Tuition Assistance “Top-Up” program
was established under the Floyd D. Spence National Defense Authorization Act for
Fiscal Year 2001 (P.L. 106-398). Through Tuition Assistance programs, military
service branches may pay tuition and expenses for the education and training of
active duty personnel.¹² Under Tuition Assistance Top-Up, MGIB-AD participants
who have served for at least two years on active duty and who are approved for
Tuition Assistance benefits may elect to receive MGIB benefits to pay for education
and training expenses above the amount paid by their military service branch. If a
servicemember’s service branch will not pay 100% of tuition and fees, the
servicemember may use MGIB Top-Up to pay the difference between the total cost
and the amount paid by the service branch. Use of the MGIB Top-Up benefit results
in a reduction of future MGIB benefits.
Montgomery GI Bill - Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR). The MGIB-SR
program is available to individuals serving in the Selected Reserves.¹³ Eligibility for
MGIB-SR is determined by Selected Reserve service components; and individuals
must agree to a six-year service obligation. Individuals may receive up to 36 months
of benefits, and these must be used within 14 years of becoming eligible.
(Individuals who became eligible for MGIB-SR prior to October 1, 1992 must use
benefits within 10 years of becoming eligible.) Education benefits may be used for
activities that include degree programs, certificate or correspondence courses,
cooperative training, independent study, apprenticeship, and vocational flight training
programs. For FY2008, the maximum MGIB-SR monthly benefit amount is $317.

¹¹ Department of Veterans Affairs, Federal Benefits for Veterans and Dependents, 2008
Edition, p. 34.
¹² For additional information on Tuition Assistance programs, see the Defense Activity for
Non-Traditional Education Services (DANTES), Tuition Assistance Programs, at
[http://www.dantes.doded.mil/dantes_web/tuitionassistance/index.htm] .
¹³ The MGIB-SR program is authorized under Title 10, Chapter 1606 of the United States
Code.

Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP)
The Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP) was established under the
Ronald W. Reagan National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2005 (P.L.
108-375);¹⁴ and provides benefits for members of the Selected Reserves, Individual
Ready Reserve (IRR), and National Guard who are called or ordered to active duty
in response to a war or national emergency as declared by the President or Congress.
In general, an individual called to active duty who serves for at least 90 consecutive
days on or after September 11, 2001, is eligible for REAP. The REAP benefit
amount is based on a percentage of the MGIB-AD benefit amount and is indexed to
the duration of service. Members who serve at least 90 days, but less than 1 year
receive 40% of the full MGIB-AD rate; those who serve more than 1 year, but less
than 2 years receive 60% of the full MGIB-AD; and those who serve 2 or more
continuous years receive 80% of the full MGIB-AD rate. In general, REAP benefits
may be used to pay for education programs with the exception of reimbursement for
examinations and testing. REAP benefits are potentially payable from December 9,
2001.¹⁵ A maximum of 36 months of REAP benefits are available; and benefits must
be used within 10 years. For FY2008, the maximum REAP monthly benefit amount
is $881.¹⁶
Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational
Assistance Program (DEA)
The DEA program¹⁷ was first established by the War Orphans’ Educational¹⁸
Assistance Act of 1956 (P.L. 84-634). It provides up to 45 months of education and
training benefits to the spouse and children (including stepchildren or adopted
children) of a veteran who
^!is permanently and totally disabled, or dies, as a result of a service-
connected disability that arises out of or is aggravated by active duty;
^!has a permanent and total service-connected disability and dies from
any cause;
^!is missing in action or is captured in line of duty and held by a
hostile force;

¹⁴ The REAP program is authorized under Title 10, Chapter 1607 of the United States Code.
¹⁵ Department of Veterans Affairs, Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP), VA
Pamphlet 22-05-1, December 2005.
¹⁶ With the enactment of P.L. 110-252, the maximum REAP monthly benefit amount
increases to $1,057, effective August 1, 2008.
¹⁷ The DEA program is authorized under Title 38, Chapter 35 of the United States Code.
¹⁸ Department of Veterans Affairs, Dependents’ Educational Assistance Program (DEA),
VA pamphlet 22-73-3 Revised, January 2005, at [http://www.gibill.va.gov/pamphlets/
CH35/CH35_Pamphlet.pdf].

^!is currently detained in line of duty by a foreign government or
power;
^!is hospitalized or receiving outpatient treatment for a service-
connected permanent and total disability and is likely to be
discharged for that disability.¹⁹
Generally, children of such veterans are eligible from the age of 18 to the age
of 26, although there are some exceptions. Spouses are eligible for benefits for ten
years from the date of death of the veteran or from the date of VA notification of
eligibility due to the veteran’s permanent and total disability, although, again, there
are some exceptions. If the servicemember died on active duty, the spouse’s benefits
end 20 years after the date of death.
DEA benefits can be used for undergraduate and graduate degree programs at
colleges and universities; cooperative training programs; certificate programs at
colleges, universities, business, technical, or vocational schools; apprenticeships or
on-the-job training programs offered by companies or unions; farm cooperative
courses; overseas programs that lead to college degrees; preparatory courses for
college or graduate school entrance examinations; high school programs; and, for the
spouse of a servicemember, correspondence courses. Other types of educational
costs, including tutorial assistance, tests for course credit at colleges and universities,
tests required for admission to certain programs, licensing and certification tests, may
also be covered.
The FY2008 rate for those attending an institution full-time is $881 per month.
Amounts are reduced for those attending less than full-time or pursuing farm
cooperative training or apprenticeship or on-the-job training.

¹⁹ This category is effective as of December 23, 2006.

CRS-9
Table 1. Selected Characteristics of Veterans’ Education Benefits Programs
^Pos^t-Vi^e^tn^am^E^r^a^Res^erve
^Veterans^’^M^oⁿ^t^gom^{ery G}^I^M^oⁿ^t^gom^{ery G}^I^Educa^t^io^na^l
^Crit^eria^G^{I B}^{ill o}^f^Rig^h^t^s^K^o^rea^{n G}^I^B^ill^Vietna^m^-^E^r^a^G^I^B^ill^Educa^t^io^na^l^B^{ill -}^Actⁱ^v^e^Dut^y^B^{ill -}^Select^ed^Assist^aⁿ^c^e
^Assist^aⁿ^c^e^Res^erves^Program^(R^E^A^P)
^Program^(V^E^A^P)
^act^ed¹⁹⁴⁴¹⁹⁵²¹⁹⁶⁶¹⁹⁷⁶¹⁹⁸⁴¹⁹⁸⁴²⁰⁰⁴
^itial^P.L^.^78-³⁴⁶^P.L^.^82-⁵⁵⁰^P.L^.^89-³⁵⁸^P.L^.^94-⁵⁰²^P.L^.^98-⁵²⁵^P.L^.^98-⁵²⁵^P.L^.^108-³⁷⁵
^th^o^r^izatioⁿ
^{od of}^s^e^rvⁱ^c^e^S^ept^e^m^b^{er 16,}^Juⁿ^e^{27, 1950,}^F^e^bru^a^ry^{1, 1955}^Decem^{ber 31,}^En^ter^e^d^activ^e^Ju^l^y^{1, 1985, t}^o^A^f^t^e^{r S}^e^pt^em^ber
^{1940, t}^h^rou^g^h^t^h^r^o^{ugh J}^a^nua^r^y^t^h^r^o^{ugh A}^ugust⁴^,^{1976, t}^h^ro^{ugh J}^u^l^y^du^t^y^af^t^e^{r Ju}ⁿ^e^30,^pres^en^t^{11, 2001, t}^o
^Ju^l^y^{25, 1947}^{31, 1955}^{1964 (Pos}^t^-^K^o^rean^{1, 1985}¹⁹⁸⁵^pres^en^t
ⁱ^{ki/CRS-RL34549}^War);^A^ugust⁵^,^1964,
^g/w^t^h^r^o^{ugh M}^a^y⁷^,
^s^.or^{1975 (V}ⁱ^e^tⁿ^am^-^E^ra
^le^ak^ve^t^e^r^a^ns)
^://wiki^{od of}^U^s^e^J^uⁿ^e^{22, 1944, t}^o^Ju^l^y^{25, 1956}^A^ugust²⁰^,^1952,^t^o^J^a^nua^r^y³¹^,^Juⁿ^e^{1, 1966, t}^o^Decem^{ber 31, 1989}^Jan^u^a^ry^{1, 1977, t}^o^pres^en^t^Ju^l^y^{1, 1985, t}^o^pres^en^t^Ju^l^y^{1, 1985, t}^o^pres^en^t^Decem^{ber 9, 2001,}^{to pres}^en^t
^h^ttp¹⁹⁶⁵
^{st sta}ⁿ^d^a^r^d^{$500 per y}^ear^{$110 per m}^oⁿ^t^h^{$376 per m}^oⁿ^t^h^{$300 per m}^oⁿ^t^h^a^{$1,101 per m}^oⁿ^t^h^{$317 per m}^oⁿ^t^h^{$881 per m}^oⁿ^t^h
^ne^fi^t^a^m^o^unt^ma^xⁱ^mu^m;^aⁿ^d^ma^xⁱ^mu^m⁽^e^f^f^ectiv^{e Oct. 1}^,^b⁽^e^f^f^ectiv^{e Oct. 1}^,^b⁽^e^f^f^ectiv^{e Oct. 1}^,^c
^r^e^nt^d^o^l^l^a^r^s⁾^{$75 m}^oⁿ^t^h^l^y²⁰⁰⁷⁾²⁰⁰⁷⁾²⁰⁰⁷⁾
^su^b^s^isten^c^e
^r^a^tioⁿ^o^f^On^{e y}^{ear f}^u^ll-¹^.⁵^tim^{es th}^e^Oⁿ^e^m^o^nt^{h o}^f^L^e^s^s^e^{r of}³⁶^L^e^s^s^e^{r of}³⁶³⁶^m^o^nt^hs³⁶^m^o^nt^hs
ⁿ^e^f^its^tⁱ^m^e^t^r^aⁱⁿⁱ^{ng p}^l^us^d^u^r^a^tioⁿ^o^f^activ^e^ed^u^catioⁿ^b^eⁿ^e^f^its^m^o^nt^{hs o}^r^num^b^e^r^m^o^nt^{hs o}^r^num^b^e^r
^{a peri}^{od equ}^a^l^t^o^se^r^vⁱ^c^e^;³⁶^m^o^nt^hs^f^o^{r ev}^ery^m^oⁿ^t^h^of^o^f^m^o^nt^{hs o}^f^o^f^m^o^nt^{hs o}^f^a^c^tⁱ^v^e
^tim^{e in}^ser^v^ice;^ma^xⁱ^mu^m^activ^{e du}^ty^s^e^rv^ice;^c^o^nt^rⁱ^b^u^tⁱ^o^ns^du^t^y
⁴⁸^m^o^nt^hs⁴⁵^m^o^nt^hs
^ma^xⁱ^mu^m^ma^xⁱ^mu^m
ⁿ^t^ri^bu^tⁱ^oⁿ^N^on^e^N^on^e^N^on^e^{$25 t}^o^{$100 per}^Pay^redu^ctⁱ^oⁿ^of^Noⁿ^e^Noⁿ^e

^m^oⁿ^t^h^;^$2,700^{$100 per m}^oⁿ^t^h
^ma^xⁱ^mu^m^fo^r^t^h^e^fi^r^s^t¹²
^m^o^nt^{hs o}^f^p^a^y

CRS-10
^Pos^t-Vi^e^tn^am^E^r^a^Res^erve
^Veterans^’^M^oⁿ^t^gom^{ery G}^I^M^oⁿ^t^gom^{ery G}^I^Educa^t^io^na^l
^Crit^eria^G^{I B}^{ill o}^f^Rig^h^t^s^K^o^rea^{n G}^I^B^ill^Vietna^m^-^E^r^a^G^I^B^ill^Educa^t^io^na^l^B^{ill -}^Actⁱ^v^e^Dut^y^B^{ill -}^Select^ed^Assist^aⁿ^c^e
^Assist^aⁿ^c^e^Res^erves^Program^(R^E^A^P)
^Program^(V^E^A^P)
^ngt^{h o}^f^se^r^vⁱ^c^e^Mⁱⁿⁱ^m^um⁹⁰^Miⁿⁱ^m^u^m^{90 day}^s^{More t}^h^an^{180 day}^s^Mⁱⁿⁱ^mu^{m 1}⁸¹^Mⁱⁿⁱ^mu^{m 1}⁸¹^A^{ccepted 6-}^y^ear^Miⁿⁱ^m^u^m^{90 day}^s
^day^s^o^f^activ^{e d}^u^ty^c^o^ntⁱ^nuo^{us d}^a^y^s^o^f^c^o^ntⁱ^nuo^{us d}^a^y^s^o^f^r^e^ser^v^{e o}^b^lig^atioⁿ^of^con^s^ecu^tiv^e
^se^r^v^ic^e^activ^{e du}^ty^s^e^rv^ice,^activ^{e d}^u^ty^af^t^e^{r Ju}ⁿ^e^{30, 1985}^s^e^rv^{ice in}^a
^if^en^ter^e^d^b^e^f^o^r^e^se^r^vⁱ^c^e^;²⁴^m^o^nt^hs^c^o^ntⁱ^nge^nc^y
^O^c^t^{ober 16, 1981;}^o^f^activ^{e d}^u^ty^if^operatⁱ^oⁿ
^{24 m}^oⁿ^t^h^s^of^en^listed^af^ter
^c^o^ntⁱ^nuo^{us a}^c^tⁱ^v^e^S^e^pt^em^{ber 7, 1980}
^d^u^ty^ser^v^{ice if}
^en^{tered af}^ter
^O^c^t^{ober 16, 1981}
ⁱ^{ki/CRS-RL34549}^sc^ha^r^g^e^st^a^t^us^O^t^he^r^t^h^aⁿ^Oth^e^{r th}^an^Oth^e^{r th}^an^Oth^e^{r th}^an^Ful^l^y^ho^no^r^a^b^l^e^Mu^{st r}^e^m^aⁱⁿ^w^ith^Mu^{st r}^e^m^aⁱⁿ^w^ith
^g/w^di^s^h^on^orabl^e^di^s^h^on^orabl^e^di^s^h^on^orabl^e^di^s^h^on^orabl^e^di^s^c^h^a^rg^{e or on}^Re^se^r^v^e^uni^t^Re^se^r^v^e^uni^t
^s^.or^activ^{e d}^u^ty
^le^ak^m^e^lim^itatioⁿ^oⁿ^Iⁿ^itiated^b^y^later^Iⁿ^itiated^b^y^th^r^e^e^W^ithⁱⁿ⁸^y^ear^{s af}^ter^W^ithⁱⁿ¹⁰^y^ear^{s o}^f^W^ithⁱⁿ¹⁰^y^ear^{s o}^f^W^ithⁱⁿ¹⁴^y^ear^{s o}^f^B^eⁿ^e^f^{its can}^b^e
^://wiki^{e of}^ben^e^fⁱ^t^s^of^en^{d of}^w^a^{r or}^tw^{o y}^ears^af^ter^y^ears^an^d^co^m^p^leted^b^y^eig^h^t^di^s^c^h^a^rg^e;^{10 y}^ears^fo^r^Vⁱ^e^t^na^m^di^s^c^h^a^rg^{e or}^releas^{e f}^r^om^activ^e^di^s^c^h^a^rg^{e or}^releas^{e f}^r^om^activ^eⁱⁿ^{itial elig}^ib^ility^{, if}^elig^ib^{le o}ⁿ^o^r^af^ter^u^s^{ed af}^t^e^{r 90-}^day^miⁿⁱ^mu^{m s}^e^r^vⁱ^c^e
^h^ttp^di^s^c^h^a^rg^e^y^ears^af^ter^ve^t^e^r^a^ns^du^t^y^du^t^y^O^c^t^{ober 1, 1992}^peri^{od com}^p^l^e^t^e^d
^di^s^c^h^a^rg^e^(f^{or t}^h^os^{e f}ⁱ^rs^t^—^no^fi^xe^d
^elig^ib^{le p}^r^io^r^to^d^e^lim^ited^d^a^te;
^O^c^t^{ober 1, 1992,}^m^u^{st r}^e^m^aⁱⁿ^w^ith
^ben^e^fⁱ^t^s^m^u^s^t^be^Re^se^r^v^e
^u^s^ed^w^ithⁱⁿ¹⁰^com^pon^en^t
^y^ear^{s o}^fⁱⁿ^itial
^elig^ib^ility⁾
^T^a^bl^{e prepared by}^C^R^S^bas^e^{d on}^dat^a^av^ai^l^a^bl^{e f}^r^om^t^h^{e U}^.^S^.^D^e^part^m^eⁿ^t^of^V^e^t^e^ran^s^A^f^f^aⁱ^r^s^.
^e^rn^m^eⁿ^t^m^a^tch^e^s^ev^ery^{$1 th}^{e s}^e^rv^{ice pers}^on^con^t^ribu^tes^w^ith^$2.^T^h^e^m^a^xⁱ^m^u^m^ben^e^f^it^av^ailable^uⁿ^d^er^th^{e prog}^ram^is^$8,1^{00 ($5,400 f}^e^deral^con^t^ri^bu^tⁱ^oⁿ^an^{d $2,700 i}ⁿ^di^vⁱ^du^al
^c^o^nt^rⁱ^b^u^tⁱ^oⁿ⁾^.^T^h^e^t^o^t^a^l^c^o^nt^rⁱ^b^u^tⁱ^o^{n (}^s^e^r^vi^c^e^p^e^r^s^oⁿ^c^o^nt^rⁱ^b^u^tⁱ^o^{n p}^l^{us go}^ve^rⁿ^m^e^nt^sha^r^e⁾ⁱ^s^t^h^eⁿ^dⁱ^vi^d^e^d^b^y^t^h^e^num^b^e^r^o^f^m^oⁿ^th^{s th}^{e ser}^v^{ice p}^e^r^s^oⁿ^coⁿ^t^rⁱ^b^u^ted^to^VEA^P^.
^m^o^uⁿ^t^{s sh}^o^wⁿ^ar^{e f}^o^r^f^u^ll-^tim^{e in}^stitu^tioⁿ^a^{l tr}^ainⁱⁿ^g^,^an^d^ar^e^f^o^rⁱⁿ^dⁱ^vⁱ^d^u^als^w^h^o^co^m^p^leted^a^mⁱⁿⁱ^m^u^m^o^f^th^r^{ee y}^ear^{s o}^f^s^ervⁱ^{ce. T}^h^{e am}^ouⁿ^t^s^{are les}^s^f^o^{r in}^divⁱ^du^als^w^h^{o s}^e^rv^ed
^{less th}^an^th^r^{ee y}^ear^{s an}^d^w^h^o^atten^d^{less th}^an^f^u^ll-^tim^{e. T}^h^{e ed}^u^catioⁿ^b^eⁿ^e^f^{its p}^a^y^m^en^{t r}^a^{te sch}^e^d^u^{le is av}^ailab^l^{e at [}^h^ttp^:/^/^www.^gⁱ^b^ill.v^a^.g^o^v^/GI^_^B^ill_^Iⁿ^f^o^/r^ates.h^tm^]^.
^h^e^m^oⁿ^t^h^l^y^am^ouⁿ^t^is^a^percen^tag^e^of^th^{e MGIB}^-^A^ctiv^{e Du}^ty^an^{d is}^bas^e^{d on}^th^{e n}^u^m^{ber of}^con^tin^u^o^u^s^day^s^of^activ^e^du^ty^s^e^r^vⁱ^{ce. T}^h^{e am}^o^uⁿ^t^sh^o^wⁿ^{is f}^o^r^f^u^ll-^tim^{e in}^stitu^tioⁿ^a^l
^t^r^aiⁿⁱⁿ^g^,^an^{d i}^s^f^o^{r i}ⁿ^di^vⁱ^du^al^s^w^h^{o com}^p^l^e^t^e^{d at}^t^w^{o y}^ears^{or m}^o^{re of}^activ^{e du}^ty^s^e^rv^{ice. T}^h^{e am}^ouⁿ^t^is^les^s^f^o^{r in}^divⁱ^du^als^w^h^{o s}^e^rv^{ed t}^w^{o y}^ears^{or l}^e^s^s^,^an^{d w}^h^{o at}^t^eⁿ^d^l^e^s^s
^th^an^f^u^ll-^tim^e.

Changes in the Value of Veterans’
Education Benefits Over Time
Over time, there have been numerous changes to the veterans’ education benefit
programs. Periodically, programmatic eligibility criteria and benefit amounts have
been amended. Several programs have expired and been replaced by successor
programs. One useful way to examine veterans’ education benefits is to compare the
actual (real) value of the benefits made available under these different programs over
time. The analysis presented here considers only the benefits available for education
and living expenses. It does not factor in any individual contributions toward
education benefits that servicemembers have been required to make beginning with
the establishment of the VEAP in 1976, nor “kickers” provided to encourage
enrollment in the Armed Forces. In addition, it only considers benefits available to
full-time students with no dependents.²⁰ This section examines the value of the
education benefits provided through the GI Bill of Rights and successor programs
from 1944 through 2007 in inflation-adjusted (constant) 2007 dollars. It also
examines the purchasing power of benefits made available under the MGIB-AD
program — the largest of the currently active veterans’ education benefits programs
— with respect to the costs of obtaining a postsecondary education.
Veterans’ education benefits are generally awarded for a specific number of
months, depending upon the program, when the recipient enrolled, and the duration
of service. For example, a recipient can receive MGIB benefits for 36 months, which
could be disbursed over the course of three years (twelve monthly payments per year)
or over the course of four years (nine monthly payments per 9-month academic
year).²¹ In the analyses presented here, it is assumed that the benefits will be
disbursed over a four-year period (i.e., for four 9-month academic years). College
price data are primarily from the Digest of Education Statistics, 2007, produced by
the Department of Education (ED). Data for 2007-2008 are from the College Board
because these data are not currently available from ED. The College Board bases its
college price data on a sample of institutions, whereas ED includes the universe of
institutions of higher education (IHEs) in its price data.
Value of Veterans’ Education Benefits: 1944-2007
As previously discussed, the original GI Bill provided up to $500 annually for
education expenses. This is the equivalent of $5,890 in 2007 dollars.²² An additional
$50 was provided monthly for living expenses in 1944, which in 2007 dollars is

²⁰ Veterans with dependents have historically received additional funding to acknowledge
this added responsibility under programs prior to VEAP.
²¹ Other payment distribution arrangements are possible.
²² All constant dollar calculations were performed using Consumer Price Index-All Urban
Consumers (CPI-U) data available from the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor
Statistics (BLS).

equivalent to $589 monthly, or $5,301 annually.²³ Thus, the total education benefit,
including the living allowance, in 1944 would have been worth $11,191 annually, or
$1,243 monthly in 2007 dollars.²⁴ In 1956, when the original GI Bill ended, the
education benefit was $131 per month, which is equal to $999 per month in real-
dollar 2007 terms. Subsequent GI Bills provided benefits on a monthly basis.²⁵ The
monthly benefit amount for the Korean War GI Bill was $110 for duration of the
program. In 1952, this was equivalent to $861 in 2007 dollars, and in 1965 when the
program ended, it was equivalent to $724. When the Post Korea and Vietnam-Era
GI Bill was enacted in 1966, the monthly benefit amount was $100, which was
equivalent to $640 in 2007 dollars. In 1989, when the Post-Korea and Vietnam-Era
GI Bill ended, the monthly benefit amount was $376, or $629 in 2007 dollars. The
maximum monthly benefit amount for the VEAP has remained constant at $300 since
first becoming available in 1977. In 1977, this was equivalent to $1,026 in 2007
dollars.
When the MGIB-AD program was enacted in 1985, the maximum monthly
benefit was $300, or $578 in constant 2007 dollars. The MGIB-AD benefit amount
has been increased numerous times, most recently under the Veterans Education and
Benefits Expansion Act of 2001 (P.L. 107-103). Since FY2004, MGIB-AD monthly
benefit amounts have been adjusted annually according to the CPI. Currently, the
MGIB-AD monthly benefit amount is $1,101. When enacted in 1985, the MGIB-SR
monthly benefit amount was $140, which was the equivalent of $270 in 2007 dollars.
The monthly benefit amount for the MGIB-SR program has also been increased
numerous times; however, these increases have not kept pace with those for the
MGIB-AD program. The maximum monthly benefit amount for the REAP program
is a fixed proportion of the MGIB-AD benefit amount. Thus, REAP benefits have
increased in concert with MGIB-AD.
Figure 1 shows the real value of the maximum monthly benefit amounts made
available under the various veterans’ education benefit programs that have been in
effect since 1944. As can be seen, benefits were most generous in real terms in the
late 1940s under the original GI Bill of Rights, in the early 1970s under the Post-^st
Korea and Vietnam-Era GI Bill, and in the 21 century under the MGIB-AD
program.

²³ This assumes that living expenses were provided for nine months each year, the length of
a traditional academic year. P.L. 78-346 specifically refers to an “ordinary school year”
when discussing education benefits. The monthly allowance for living expenses increased
to $65 in 1946 and $75 in 1948.
²⁴ Details may not add to totals due to rounding.
²⁵ Benefits provided through the original GI Bill were converted to monthly amounts for
comparison purposes.

Figure 1. Veterans’ Education Program Monthly Benefit Amounts:
Constant 2007 Dollars, 1944-2007

^$1^,⁴⁰⁰
^$1^,²⁰⁰
^'^s)
^$1^,⁰⁰⁰^{7 $}
²⁰⁰
^$8⁰⁰^o^{unt (}
^m
^{t A}
^$6⁰⁰^e^nefi
^l^{y B}
^$4⁰⁰
^Month
^$2⁰⁰
^$0
⁹⁹⁵⁴⁹⁵⁹⁹⁶⁴⁹⁶⁹⁹⁷⁴⁹⁷⁹⁹⁸⁴⁹⁸⁹⁹⁹⁴⁹⁹⁹⁰⁰⁴
¹⁹⁴⁴¹⁹⁴¹¹¹¹¹¹¹¹¹¹²
^G^I^Bi^l^l^o^f^Ri^ght^s^Ko^r^e^aⁿ^GI^Bⁱ^l^l^P^o^s^t^-^K^o^r^ea^an^d^Vⁱ^etn^a^m-^E^r^{a G}^I^B^ill^VE^A^P^MG^I^B^-^A^D^M^G^IB^-^S^R^RE^A^P
^S^o^u^r^ce:^T^a^bl^e^pre^p^a^r^e^d^by^C^R^S^{on t}^h^e^ba^sⁱ^s^{of da}^t^a^from^t^h^e^U^.^S^.^D^e^p^a^rt^m^e^nt^{of V}^e^t^e^ra^ns^A^f^f^aⁱ^r^s^a^{nd U}^.^S^.^Bure^a^u^{of L}^a^bo^{r S}^t^a^tⁱ^s^tⁱ^c^s^.^N^o^te^:^A^l^l^c^ons^t^aⁿ^t^dol^l^a^{r c}^a^l^c^u^l^a^tⁱ^oⁿ^s^a^r^e^ba^s^e^d^on^t^h^e^a^v^e^r^a^g^e^Con^s^um^e^r^P^rⁱ^c^e^Inde^x-^A^l^l^U^r^baⁿ^Cons^um^e^r^s⁽^C^P^I^-^U^{) for e}^a^c^h^y^e^a^r^{. M}^oⁿ^th^l^y^ed^u^c^a^tioⁿ^b^eⁿ^e^f^its
ⁱⁿ^c^l^u^d^e^aⁿ^y^fu^nds^a^v^aⁱ^l^a^bl^e^f^o^{r l}ⁱ^vⁱ^{ng e}^xpe^ns^e^s^.^A^l^l^d^o^l^l^a^{r a}^m^oun^t^s^ha^ve^be^eⁿ^roun^d^e^d.
Value of Education Benefits Provided
Through the Montgomery GI Bill: 1987-2007
The maximum monthly benefit amounts available under the MGIB-AD and
MGIB-SR programs since their inception in 1985 are presented in Table 2. Monthly
benefit amounts are shown at the inception of the programs, at annual intervals, and
when adjustments to benefit amounts have been made. Benefit amounts are shown
in both current and constant (2007) dollars.
In the initial years of both the MGIB-AD and MGIB-SR programs, benefit
amounts remained stagnant. However, in real terms, benefit amounts declined
slightly. Beginning in the early 1990s benefit amounts began to be increased and
through most of that decade, proportional increases were provided for both programs.
Since the late 1990s, a number of substantial increases to MGIB-AD benefit amounts
were enacted, resulting in increases in several years that exceed the CPI. Increases
for MGIB-SR benefits have been less substantial and for most of the past decade
have been indexed to the CPI. Since MGIB-AD and MGIB-SR (and REAP) benefit
amounts have been adjusted according to the CPI, increases in benefit amounts were
designed to keep pace with inflation. This contrasts with predecessor veterans’
education programs in which benefit amounts generally were not indexed to the CPI.

Table 2. History of MGIB-AD and MGIB-SR Monthly Education
Benefits: Current and Constant 2007 Dollars, 1985-2007
^MG^I^B^-^A^D^M^G^I^B^-^S^R
^M^o^nt^hly^M^o^nt^hly^M^o^nt^hly^M^o^nt^hly
^Da^te^Beⁿ^e^fi^t⁽ⁿ^omⁱⁿ^al^benefⁱ^t^(con^s^t^an^{t 2007}^Beⁿ^e^fi^t⁽ⁿ^omⁱⁿ^al^benefⁱ^t^(con^s^t^an^{t 2007}
^do^lla^rs)^do^lla^rs)^do^lla^rs)^do^lla^rs)
^Ju^l^y¹⁹⁸⁵^$300⁵⁷⁸¹⁴⁰²⁷⁰
^Ju^l^y¹⁹⁸⁶³⁰⁰⁵⁶⁸¹⁴⁰²⁶⁵
^Ju^l^y¹⁹⁸⁷³⁰⁰⁵⁴⁸¹⁴⁰²⁵⁶
^Ju^l^y¹⁹⁸⁸³⁰⁰⁵²⁶¹⁴⁰²⁴⁵
^Ju^l^y¹⁹⁸⁹³⁰⁰⁵⁰²¹⁴⁰²³⁴
^Ju^l^y¹⁹⁹⁰³⁰⁰⁴⁷⁶¹⁴⁰²²²
^O^c^t^.¹⁹⁹¹³⁵⁰⁵³³¹⁷⁰²⁵⁹
^O^c^t^.¹⁹⁹²³⁵⁰⁵¹⁷¹⁷⁰²⁵¹
^A^p^{r. 1993}⁴⁰⁰⁵⁷⁴¹⁹⁰²⁷³
^O^c^t^.¹⁹⁹⁴⁴⁰⁵⁵⁶⁶¹⁹²²⁶⁹
^O^c^t^.¹⁹⁹⁵⁴¹⁷⁵⁶⁷¹⁹⁸²⁶⁹
^O^c^t^.¹⁹⁹⁶⁴²⁸⁵⁶⁵²⁰³²⁶⁹
^O^c^t^.¹⁹⁹⁷⁴⁴⁰⁵⁶⁸²⁰⁹²⁷⁰
^O^c^t^.¹⁹⁹⁸⁵²⁸⁶⁷²²⁵¹³¹⁹
^O^c^t^.¹⁹⁹⁹⁵³⁶⁶⁶⁷²⁵⁵³¹⁷
^O^c^t^.²⁰⁰⁰⁵⁵²⁶⁶⁵²⁶³³¹⁷
^N^o^v^.²⁰⁰⁰⁶⁵⁰⁷⁸³²⁶³³¹⁷
^O^c^t^.²⁰⁰¹⁶⁷²⁷⁸⁷²⁷²³¹⁸
^Jan^.²⁰⁰²⁸⁰⁰⁹²²²⁷²³¹³
^O^c^t^.²⁰⁰²⁹⁰⁰^1,037²⁷⁶³¹⁸
^O^c^t^.²⁰⁰³⁹⁸⁵^1,110²⁸²³¹⁸
^O^c^t^.²⁰⁰⁴^1,004^1,102²⁸⁸³¹⁶
^O^c^t^.²⁰⁰⁵^1,034^1,098²⁹⁷³¹⁵
^O^c^t^.²⁰⁰⁶^1,075^1,106³⁰⁹³¹⁸
^O^c^t^.²⁰⁰⁷^1,101^1,101³¹⁷³¹⁷

^Sources^:^{U.S. Dep}^a^r^t^m^eⁿ^t^o^f^Veter^aⁿ^s^A^f^f^a^ir^{s; an}^d^Militar^y^Of^fⁱ^cer^{s A}^sso^ciatioⁿ^o^f^A^m^er^ica.
^No^te:^A^{ll con}^s^ta^nt^d^o^l^l^a^{r calcu}^lation^s^{are bas}^e^{d on}^th^{e av}^erag^{e C}^oⁿ^s^u^m^{er P}^r^{ice In}^dex^-^A^{ll Urban}
^Co^nsum^e^r^{s (}^C^P^I^-U⁾^.^A^l^l^d^o^l^l^a^r^a^m^o^unt^{s ha}^ve^b^e^eⁿ^r^o^und^e^d^.
Purchasing Power of the MGIB-AD Program
Since college prices have often increased at a rate that exceeds the CPI, it is also
useful to examine what proportion of the costs of obtaining a postsecondary
education may be met with MGIB-AD benefits. Table 3 shows the percentage of
tuition, fees, room, and board the MGIB-AD benefit has covered on an annual basis
at four-year public and private institutions, as well as at two-year public institutions
from 1985-1986 through the 2007-2008 academic years.

CRS-15
Table 3. Percent of Average Price of Public and Private Four-Year IHEs and Public Two-Year
IHEs Covered by the MGIB-AD Education Benefit: 1985-1986 through 2007-2008
⁽ⁱⁿ^cu^r^r^en^{t d}^o^llar^s⁾
^Pu^b^{lic Fou}^r^{-Year I}^H^E^s^{Private Fou}^r^{-Year I}^H^E^s^{Public T}^w^{o-Year I}^H^E^s
^Aca^d^em^ic^MG^I^B^-^A^D^Beⁿ^e^fi^t^Av^era^g^e^Tuit^io^n,^{% o}^f^Price^Av^era^g^e^Tuit^io^n,^{% o}^f^Price^Av^era^g^e^Tuit^io^n,^{% o}^f^Price
^Yea^r^(Septem^b^er-M^ay)^Fees^{, R}^oom^{, an}^d^{Covered by}^Fees^{, R}^oom^{, an}^d^{Covered by}^Fees^{, R}^oom^{, an}^d^{Covered by}
^Board^Beⁿ^e^fi^t^Board^Beⁿ^e^fi^t^Board^Beⁿ^e^fi^t
^1985-¹⁹⁸⁶^2,700^3,859^70.0⁹^,228^29.3²^,981^90.6
^1986-¹⁹⁸⁷^2,700^4,138^65.2^10,039^26.9²^,989^90.3
^1987-¹⁹⁸⁸^2,700^4,403^61.3^10,659^25.3³^,066^88.1
^1988-¹⁹⁸⁹^2,700^4,678^57.7^11,474^23.5³^,183^84.8
^1989-¹⁹⁹⁰^2,700^4,975^54.3^12,284^22.0³^,299^81.8
^1990-¹⁹⁹¹^2,700^5,243^51.5^13,237^20.4³^,467^77.9
^1991-¹⁹⁹²^3,100^5,693^54.5^14,258^21.7³^,623^85.6
ⁱ^{ki/CRS-RL34549}^1992-¹⁹⁹³^3,150^6,020^52.3^15,009^21.0³^,799^82.9
^g/w^1993-¹⁹⁹⁴^3,250^6,365^51.1^15,904^20.4³^,996^81.3
^s^.or^1994-¹⁹⁹⁵^3,640^6,670^54.6^16,602^21.9⁴^,137^88.0
^le^ak^1995-¹⁹⁹⁶^3,741^7,014^53.3^17,612^21.2⁴^,217^88.7
^1996-¹⁹⁹⁷^3,841^7,334^52.4^18,442^20.8⁴^,404^87.2
^://wiki^1997-¹⁹⁹⁸^3,948^7,673^51.5^19,070^20.7⁴^,509^87.6
^h^ttp^1998-¹⁹⁹⁹^4,664^8,027^58.1^19,929^23.4⁴^,604^101.3
^1999-²⁰⁰⁰^4,816^8,275^58.2^20,706^23.3⁴^,720^102.0
^2000-²⁰⁰¹^5,638^8,653^65.2^21,856^25.8⁴^,839^116.5
^2001-²⁰⁰²^6,666^9,196^72.5^22,896^29.1⁵^,137^129.8
^2002-²⁰⁰³^8,000^9,787^81.7^23,787^33.6⁵^,601^142.8
^2003-²⁰⁰⁴^8,780^10,674^82.3^25,083^35.0⁶^,020^145.8
^2004-²⁰⁰⁵^9,017^11,426^78.9^26,257^34.3⁶^,375^141.4
^2005-²⁰⁰⁶^9,276^12,108^76.6^27,317^34.0⁶^,492^142.9
^2006-²⁰⁰⁷^9,634^12,805^75.2^28,869^33.4⁶^,810^141.5
^2007-²⁰⁰⁸^9,883^13,589^72.7^32,307^30.6^—^—

^Source:^T^a^bl^{e prepared by}^C^R^S^bas^e^{d on}^dat^a^f^r^om^t^h^{e D}^e^part^m^eⁿ^t^of^V^e^t^e^ran^s^A^f^f^aⁱ^r^s^,^dat^a^av^ai^l^a^bl^{e f}^r^o^m^t^h^{e U}^.^S^.^D^e^part^m^eⁿ^t^of^Edu^c^a^tioⁿ^,
^Natioⁿ^a^{l Cen}^t^er^f^o^r^Ed^u^catioⁿ^Statistics⁽^N^CES)^,^Dⁱ^ges^t^of^Educatⁱ^on^St^atⁱ^s^tⁱ^c^s^:²⁰⁰⁷^{, t}^a^bl^{e 320, an}^{d dat}^a^av^ai^l^a^bl^{e f}^r^om^T^h^{e C}^o^l^l^e^g^e^Board,^T^r^ends
ⁱⁿ^C^o^l^l^e^{ge Pr}ⁱ^cⁱ^{ng: 2007}^.

^No^te^s^:^T^h^e^a^nnua^l^M^G^I^B^-A^D^b^e^ne^fi^t^sho^w^{n he}^r^eⁱ^s^b^a^se^d^oⁿⁿⁱ^ne^m^o^nt^{hs o}^f^e^d^uc^a^tⁱ^o^{n b}^e^ne^fi^t^s^t^o^c^oⁱⁿ^cⁱ^d^e^wⁱ^t^h^aⁿⁱ^ne^-m^oⁿ^t^h⁽^S^e^p^t^.^t^o^May⁾
^academ^{ic y}^{ear. See}^Ta^ble²^fo^r^m^o^nt^hl^y^b^e^ne^fi^t^a^m^o^unt^{s b}^y^d^a^t^e^.^A^l^l^d^o^l^l^a^r^a^m^o^unt^{s ha}^ve^b^e^eⁿ^r^o^und^e^d^.

As shown in Table 3, since the inception of the MGIB-AD program in 1985, the
benefits have covered only a portion of the average tuition, fees, room, and board at²⁶
public and private four-year institutions. In academic year 1985-1986, the benefit
would have covered 70% of the average expenses at a public four-year institution,²⁷
and 29.3% of the average expenses at a private four-year institution. In the 2007-
2008 academic year, the MGIB-AD benefit covers 72.7% of the average expenses at
public four-year institutions, and 30.6% of the average expenses at private four-year
institutions. Table 3 also shows that during the 1990s, MGIB-AD benefits met just
over half of the average costs of attending public four-year institutions and just over
one-fifth of the average costs of attending private four-year institutions. In the early
years of this decade, MGIB-AD benefits were increased substantially, and although
benefits are currently indexed to the CPI-U, since college prices are increasing at a
rate that exceeds the CPI-U, their purchasing power relative to college costs is again
declining. MGIB-AD benefits cover a much greater proportion of the average costs
of attending public two-year institutions. Public two-year institutions have typically
had lower prices of attendance and smaller price increases. Since the late 1990s, the
MGIB benefits have covered more than 100% of the average price for tuition, fees,
room, and board at public two-year institutions.
Use of Education Benefits
Information on the number of individuals receiving veterans’ education benefits
by program for FY1998 through FY2007 is shown in Table 4. Nearly two-thirds of
individuals receiving veterans’ education benefits participate in the MGIB-AD
program. Most other beneficiaries are spread across the MGIB-SR, REAP, and DEA
programs. Only a very small number of veterans currently receive benefits under
VEAP.

²⁶ For both analyses, prices are based on in-state tuition and fees and room and board rates
paid by full-time-equivalent students enrolled in degree-granting institutions. While GI Bill
recipients may choose not to live on campus, room and board for on-campus residency were
used in the calculations because these prices are comparable to or higher than room and
board expenses for students living off-campus (The College Board, Trends in College
Pricing: 2007. Available online at [http://www.collegeboard.com].)
²⁷ Due to program eligibility requirements, including minimum time-in-service provisions,
maximum benefit amounts, in general, would not be initially available.

Table 4. Recipients of Veterans’ Education Benefits
by Program: FY1998 - FY2007
F Y M GI B - AD M GI B - SR REAP DEA VEAP Tot al
1998 276,568 121,063 0 22,223 1,023 420,877
1999 288,052 73,580 0 44,423 3,939 409,994
2000 279,948 70,299 0 44,820 2,522 397,589
2001 289,771 82,283 0 46,917 1,680 420,651
2002 323,165 85,766 0 53,888 1,340 464,159
2003 321,837 88,342 0 61,874 917 472,970
2004 332,031 88,650 0 68,920 796 490,397
2005 336,347 87,161 0 74,267 723 498,498
2006 332,184 66,105 23,747 75,460 627 498,123
2007 343,751 60,298 41,388 77,339 568 523,344
^Source:^{Data p}^r^o^v^id^ed^to^{CRS b}^y^th^{e Dep}^a^r^t^m^eⁿ^t^o^f^Veter^aⁿ^s^A^f^f^a^ir^s.
Veterans’ Education Benefits and Federal Student
Aid Available Under the Higher Education Act
Unlike when the GI Bill of Rights was enacted in 1944, veterans’ education
benefits are made available to veterans alongside a broad array of federal student
financial aid programs under which veterans and servicemembers may also be
eligible for assistance. The Higher Education Act (HEA) of 1965, as amended,
authorizes the major federal student aid programs through which financial assistance
is made available to individuals seeking to obtain a postsecondary education. Most
programs that make available federal student aid to individual students are authorized
under Title IV of the HEA. Major programs authorized under HEA, Title IV include
the Pell Grant program, the American Competitiveness (AC) grant and National
Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent grant (SMART) programs, the
Teacher Quality Enhancement Grants for States and Partnerships (TEACH) Grant
program, the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
program, the Federal Work-Study (FWS) program, the Federal Perkins Loan
program; and the Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) and William D. Ford
Federal Direct Loan (DL) programs. ²⁸ The FFEL and DL programs both make
available subsidized Stafford Loans, unsubsidized Stafford Loans, and PLUS Loans.
These and other programs authorized under the HEA make available federal student
aid in numerous forms, including grants, work-study employment, and loans. The
types and amounts of aid students may be eligible to receive is determined by
programmatic requirements and federal need analysis provisions. As explained
below, federal need analysis provisions take into account students’ status as a veteran
and veterans’ education benefits for which they may be entitled.

²⁸ For additional information on federal student aid programs authorized under the HEA, see
CRS Report RL34214, A Primer on the Higher Education Act (HEA), by Blake Alan
Naughton.

Federal Need Analysis
The expected family contribution (EFC) is the amount that the federal need
analysis system (HEA, Title IV, Part F) determines a family has available to
contribute toward postsecondary education expenses. In calculating the EFC,
consideration is given to available income (a combination of taxable and untaxed
income and benefits) and, for some families, available assets. In addition, living
expenses, retirement needs, and federal and state tax liability are considered. The
income contribution is calculated by determining a student’s (or a student’s family’s,
where applicable) total income, next determining available income by subtracting a
series of allowances from total income, and then considering a percentage of that
available income as an income contribution toward postsecondary education costs.
A contribution from assets is similarly calculated. The combination of the available
income contribution and asset contribution, divided by the number of individuals in
the family enrolled in college, constitutes the EFC.
The calculation of the EFC varies depending upon the applicant’s dependency
status. There are three separate dependency classifications for individual applicants:
dependent student, independent student with dependents, and independent student
without dependents. These distinctions are important because parental financial
information is not considered if the applicant meets the statutory definition of an
independent student. To be classified as statutorily independent (HEA, § 480(d)), an
applicant must meet one of the following conditions:
^!be 24 years of age or older by December 31 of the award year;
^!be an orphan or ward of the court or was a ward of the court until the
individual reached the age of 18;²⁹
^!be a veteran³⁰ of the Armed Forces of the United States or is
currently serving on active duty in the Armed Forces for other than
training purposes;
^!be a graduate or professional student;
^!be married;
^!have legal dependents other than a spouse; or
^!be a student for whom a financial aid administrator makes a
documented determination of independence by reason of other
unusual circumstances.

²⁹ Effective July 1, 2009, this provision is revised to “is an orphan, in foster care, or a ward
of the court, at any time when the individual is 13 years of age or older.” Additionally,
effective July 1, 2009 a student may also be deemed to be independent upon meeting the
following criteria: is an emancipated minor or is in legal guardianship as determined by a
court of competent jurisdiction in the individual’s State of legal residence; or has been
verified as a homeless child or youth as defined by the McKinney-Vento Homeless
Assistance Act. Finally, effective July 1, 2009, a financial aid administrator may make a
determination of independence based upon a documented determination of independence
that was previously made by another financial aid administrator in the same award year.
³⁰ HEA, § 480(c) defines a veteran as an individual who was engaged in the active duty in
the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines or Coast Guard; and was released under a
condition other than dishonorable.

Students who do not meet any of the aforementioned conditions are considered to be
financially dependent on their parents for the purposes of Title IV student aid.
Cost of attendance (COA) is determined by each higher education institution.
The COA is a measure of a student’s educational expenses at a specific IHE.³¹ In
general, it is the sum of tuition and fees; an allowance for books, supplies,
transportation, and miscellaneous personal expenses; and a room and board
allowance.
The financial aid administrator determines the student’s need for federal aid and
other sources of aid, based primarily upon the EFC and COA. This is true for all
federal student aid programs except for the Pell Grant program (see below). The
final outcome of this process is the financial aid award or package, which consists
of the specific sources and amounts of student aid each applicant will receive.³²
Military Education Benefits, Need Analysis,
and Federal Student Aid
This section describes military education benefits and how they are treated in³³
the federal need analysis system. Military education benefits are not treated as
income, and therefore are not used in the calculation of the expected EFC. However,
depending upon the federal student aid program, veterans’ education benefits may be
treated as a resource or other estimated financial assistance (to be discussed).³⁴
Financial need is calculated by subtracting the EFC and resources or other estimated
financial assistance from the student’s COA. As a result, as the amount of the EFC

³¹ See HEA Title IV, § 472 for relevant statutory language.
³² For a more detailed description of the federal student aid need analysis system, see
archived CRS Report RL33266, Federal Student Aid Need Analysis System: Background,
Description and Legislative Action, by Charmaine Mercer.
³³ HEA, § 480(c)(2) defines “veterans’ education benefits” as including, but not limited to,
10 different sources of veterans’ education support. In addition to the Montgomery GI Bill
benefits, these include benefits from such sources as the Dependents Educational Assistance
program (U.S.C., Title 38, Chapter 35), and the Reserve Officer Training Corps program
(U.S.C., Title 37, Chapter 2).
³⁴ The program regulations for the three campus-based programs (FSEOG, FWS, and
Perkins Loans) refer to other types of aid, such as veterans’ education benefits, as a resource
and the federal Stafford Loan programs refer to them as estimated financial assistance. HEA
Title IV, Section 480(j)(1) states that for the purpose of determining a student’s eligibility
for funds under this title, estimated financial assistance shall include all scholarships,
grants, loans, or other assistance known to the institution at the time the determination of
the student’s need is made, including veterans’ education benefits as defined in Subsection
(c), and national service education awards or post-service benefits under Title I of the
National and Community Service Act of 1990. According to the Federal Student Aid
Handbook, 2006-2007, the term resources comprises aid from federal student aid programs,
as well as grants, scholarships, loans, and need-based employment that a financial aid
administrator can reasonably anticipate at the time he/she awards aid to the student,
regardless of whether the assistance is awarded by the school or by an individual or
organization outside the school.

or estimated financial assistance/resources increases, the amount of need declines,
which reduces the amount of need-based aid a student can receive.
Military Education Benefits and Pell Grants. The primary Pell Grant
award rule is that a student’s annual grant is the least of (a) the maximum
appropriated Pell Grant, minus EFC, or (b) the cost of attendance (COA) of the
institution attended, minus EFC. For nearly all Pell recipients, the Pell Grant award
is calculated by subtracting the EFC from the maximum appropriated Pell Grant for
the year (i.e., without regard to the COA). This is because the maximum Pell Grant
minus the recipient’s EFC is almost always lower than the COA minus the EFC.
Because military education benefits are not considered in calculating the EFC, the
receipt of these benefits does not affect a student’s Pell Grant award.
Military Education Benefits and FFEL/DL Program Student Loans.
Need analysis also determines the amount that students may borrow in need-based,
subsidized Stafford Loans under the FFEL and DL program. Eligibility for
subsidized Stafford Loans is determined by subtracting the student’s EFC and other
estimated financial assistance (EFA) from the COA of the institution attended. In
general, EFA includes all grants, loans, scholarships, and veterans’ education benefits
(with the exception of MGIB-AD benefits).³⁵
Slightly different need analysis rules apply to the awarding of non-need-based
unsubsidized Stafford Loans and PLUS Loans. For non-need-based loans, eligibility
is determined by subtracting the student’s EFA from COA; and MGIB-AD benefits
are included in this calculation. Students may borrow unsubsidized Stafford Loans
and PLUS Loans to replace their EFC.
Military Education Benefits and Campus-Based Programs. For the
FSEOG, FWS and Federal Perkins Loan programs (also commonly referred to at the
campus-based student aid programs), military education benefits, including MGIB-
AD benefits, are considered to be a resource. Thus, all veterans’ education benefits
directly affect the determination of a student’s need for campus-based student aid.
However, regulations for the campus-based programs permit an institution of higher
education, in its determination of a student’s campus-based assistance, to exclude
from consideration as a resource any portion of a subsidized Stafford Loan up to the³⁶
amount of a student’s MGIB-AD benefits. This regulatory provision permits an
institution to protect — if it chooses to do so — a certain amount of the subsidized
Stafford Loan assistance from having an adverse effect on the MGIB-AD benefit
recipient’s campus-based assistance.
Student Eligibility Requirements for Title IV Programs and Military
Education Benefits. As illustrated by Table 5, few similarities exist between the
student eligibility requirements for Title IV programs and the eligibility requirements
for military education benefits. The only similarity among all of the programs is that
a student must maintain satisfactory academic progress as determined by the
institution while enrolled.

³⁵ This exception applies only to the rules for awarding subsidized Stafford Loans.
³⁶ Title 34, CFR § 673.5(c)(3).

The differences between the programs are primarily eligibility-related, and are
targeted to the particular program. For example, the eligibility requirements for
military education benefits generally focus on the beneficiary’s time and duration of
service, the amount that was contributed toward the benefit, and how much the
recipient is eligible to receive. Similarly, the eligibility requirements for the HEA,
Title IV programs generally relate to the student having the requisite education and
citizenship status, not having a drug conviction, not owing money to the federal
government, and registering for the Selective Service (where applicable).

CRS-22
Table 5. Student Eligibility Requirements for Participation in the Federal Student Aid Programs
Under Title IV of the Higher Education Act and GI Bill Education Benefits
^Elig^ibilit^y^Crit^eria^H^{EA, Tit}^l^{e IV Pro}^g^r^a^m^s^Vet^era^{ns Educa}^t^io^{n Assist}^aⁿ^ce^Program^(V^E^A^P)^M^o^nt^g^o^m^ery^G^I^B^ill-^Activ^e^Duty^M^o^nt^g^o^m^ery^G^I^B^ill-^{Selected Res}^erve
^s^h^{ip requ}^irem^en^t^G^en^erally^{, s}^t^u^d^en^ts^m^u^s^t^{be U.S.}^N/A^N^/A^N/A
^citizen^s^{or U.S. perm}^an^en^t
^r^e^sid^e^nts.^Iⁿ^dⁱ^vid^u^a^l^{s w}^{ith se}^ve^r^a^l
^oth^e^{r en}^tran^{ce s}^t^atu^s^es^can^qu^alif^y
^fo^r^aⁱ^d
^{e Serv}^{ice reg}ⁱ^s^t^ration^M^ales^betw^een^ag^es^18-^{25 m}^u^s^t^N/A^N^/A^N/A
^regⁱ^s^t^{er f}^o^{r th}^{e s}^e^lectiv^{e s}^e^rv^ice.
^t^ri^bu^tⁱ^oⁿ^N^/^A^{$25 t}^o^{$100 per m}^oⁿ^t^h^;^$2,700^Pay^redu^ctⁱ^oⁿ^of^{$100 per m}^oⁿ^t^h^Noⁿ^e
^ma^xⁱ^mu^m.^f^o^{r t}^h^{e f}ⁱ^rs^t^{12 m}^oⁿ^t^h^s^of^pay
ⁱ^{ki/CRS-RL34549}^a^r^g^{e r}^e^q^u^ir^em^en^t^N^/A^Coⁿ^d^itioⁿ^s^o^t^h^e^r^th^an^dⁱ^sh^oⁿ^o^r^ab^le^Fu^lly^h^oⁿ^o^r^a^b^l^e^M^u^s^{t r}^e^m^aⁱⁿ^w^ith^Reser^v^{e u}ⁿⁱ^t
^g/w^o^nvi^c^tⁱ^oⁿ^C^o^nvi^c^tⁱ^o^{n fo}^r^p^o^sse^ssi^oⁿ^o^r^sa^l^e^o^f^N/A^N^/A^N/A
^s^.or^d^r^{ugs c}^aⁿ^dⁱ^sq^ua^lⁱ^f^y^st^ud^eⁿ^t^s^fo^r
^le^ak^f^e^d^e^r^a^{l stu}^d^en^{t aid}
^ratⁱ^oⁿ^of^ben^e^fⁱ^t^s^N^/^A^L^es^s^e^{r of}^{36 m}^oⁿ^t^h^s^{or n}^u^m^{ber of}^L^e^s^s^e^{r of}^{36 m}^oⁿ^t^h^s^{or n}^u^m^{ber of}³⁶^m^o^nt^hs
^://wiki^m^o^nt^{hs t}^h^e^y^c^o^nt^rⁱ^b^u^t^e^d^m^oⁿ^t^h^s^oⁿ^activ^{e d}^u^ty
^h^ttp^a^tⁱ^o^{n r}^e^q^uⁱ^r^e^m^eⁿ^t^S^t^u^d^e^nt^{s m}^u^st^ha^ve^a^hi^{gh sc}^ho^o^l^N^/^A^Hⁱ^g^h^s^c^h^ool^di^pl^om^{a or}^Hⁱ^g^h^s^c^h^ool^di^pl^om^{a or}
^diplom^{a or th}^{e recog}ⁿⁱ^zed^e^q^ui^va^l^e^nc^y^,^o^r¹²^ho^ur^{s o}^f^c^o^l^l^e^ge^e^q^ui^va^l^e^nc^y^b^e^fo^r^e^a^p^p^l^yⁱ^{ng fo}^r
^equⁱ^v^a^len^{t; abs}^eⁿ^t^s^u^ch^{a diplom}^a^credit^b^eⁿ^e^f^its
^o^rⁱ^t^s^e^q^ui^va^l^e^nt^,^st^ud^eⁿ^t^s^m^u^st
^d^e^m^oⁿ^s^tr^{ate an}^ab^ility^to^b^eⁿ^e^fⁱ^t
^f^r^om^pos^ts^econ^d^ary^edu^cation^by
^pas^sⁱⁿ^g^an^ex^amⁱⁿ^ation^approv^ed
^by^t^h^{e D}^e^part^m^eⁿ^t^of^Edu^catⁱ^oⁿ
^en^{t s}^t^atu^s^Mu^s^t^{be en}^{rolled or accepted f}^o^r^Co^ur^se^{s m}^u^{st le}^a^d^to^aⁿ^Co^ur^se^{s m}^u^{st le}^a^d^to^aⁿ^Co^ur^se^{s m}^u^{st le}^a^d^to^aⁿ
^en^rollm^en^{t in}^{a deg}^r^{ee, certif}^icate,^edu^catⁱ^oⁿ^a^l^,^prof^es^sⁱ^on^al^{, or}^edu^catⁱ^oⁿ^a^l^,^prof^es^sⁱ^on^al^{, or}^edu^catⁱ^oⁿ^a^l^,^prof^es^sⁱ^on^al^{, or}
^{or ot}^h^e^{r prog}^ram^l^eadiⁿ^g^t^o^a^v^o^catioⁿ^a^{l o}^b^j^ectiv^e^v^o^catioⁿ^a^{l o}^b^j^ectiv^e^v^o^catioⁿ^a^{l o}^b^j^ectiv^e

^recogⁿⁱ^{zed edu}^ca^tioⁿ^a^{l cr}^ed^en^tial

CRS-23
^Elig^ibilit^y^Crit^eria^H^{EA, Tit}^l^{e IV Pro}^g^r^a^m^s^Vet^era^{ns Educa}^t^io^{n Assist}^aⁿ^ce^Program^(V^E^A^P)^M^o^nt^g^o^m^ery^G^I^B^ill-^Activ^e^Duty^M^o^nt^g^o^m^ery^G^I^B^ill-^{Selected Res}^erve
^on^m^eⁿ^t^Stu^d^en^ts^w^h^{o are in}^{carcerated in}^a^On^ly^th^{e co}^{sts o}^f^tu^itioⁿ^an^d^f^ees,^On^ly^th^{e co}^{sts o}^f^tu^itioⁿ^an^d^f^ees,^B^eⁿ^e^f^{its w}^{ill b}^e^r^e^d^u^ced
^f^e^d^e^r^a^{l o}^r^{state p}^eⁿ^a^{l in}^stitu^tioⁿ^ar^eⁿ^eces^s^a^ry^book^s^,^an^{d s}^u^pplⁱ^e^s^areⁿ^eces^s^a^ry^book^s^,^an^{d s}^u^pplⁱ^e^s^are
ⁱⁿ^elig^ib^{le f}^o^r^P^e^{ll Gr}^an^{ts an}^d^cov^e^red^cov^e^red
^f^e^d^e^r^a^{l stu}^d^en^{t lo}^an^{s, b}^u^{t m}^a^y
^q^u^alif^y^f^o^r^FSE^{OG and}^FW^{S aid}
^g^t^h^of^s^e^rvⁱ^c^e^N^/^A^Miⁿⁱ^m^u^m^{181 con}^tⁱⁿ^u^o^u^s^day^s^of^S^e^rv^{ed con}^tⁱⁿ^u^o^u^s^l^y^f^o^{r 181 day}^s^A^{ccepted 6-}^y^{ear res}^e^rv^{e oblig}^ation
^activ^{e d}^u^ty^ser^v^{ice, if}^en^ter^e^d^{or m}^o^re;^{24 m}^oⁿ^t^h^s^of^actⁱ^v^{e du}^t^y^af^t^e^{r Ju}ⁿ^e^{30, 1985}
^bef^o^{re O}^c^t^{ober 16, 1981;}²⁴ⁱ^f^en^lⁱ^s^t^e^{d af}^t^e^{r S}^e^pt^em^{ber 7, 1980}
^m^o^nt^{hs o}^f^c^o^ntⁱ^nuo^{us a}^c^tⁱ^v^e^d^u^t^y
^ser^v^{ice if}^en^ter^e^d^af^ter^Octo^b^e^r¹⁶^,
¹⁹⁸¹
^e^y^ow^{ed t}^o^f^e^deral^Ca^nno^t^o^w^e^a^r^e^fund^oⁿ^a^gr^aⁿ^t^N/A^N^/A^N/A
^rⁿ^m^e^nt^prev^iou^s^ly^receiv^e^{d, or be in}
ⁱ^{ki/CRS-RL34549}^d^e^f^a^u^{lt o}ⁿ^an^y^ed^u^catioⁿ^lo^an
^g/w^s^e^rv^ice^N^/A^Decem^{ber 31, 1976, th}^ro^{ugh J}^u^l^y^En^ter^e^d^activ^{e d}^u^ty^af^ter^J^uⁿ^e³⁰^,^Ju^l^y^{1, 1985, t}^o^pres^en^t
^s^.or^{1, 1985}¹⁹⁸⁵
^le^ak^g^r^e^{ss w}^h^{ile en}^r^o^lled^S^tu^d^eⁿ^t^{s h}^a^v^e^to^m^aⁱⁿ^tain^Satis^f^actory^atten^d^an^{ce, con}^d^u^c^t^Satis^f^actory^atten^d^an^{ce, con}^d^u^c^t,^Satis^f^actory^atten^d^an^{ce, con}^d^u^c^t,
^s^a^tis^f^actory^academ^{ic prog}^res^s^an^{d prog}^res^s^,^as^det^e^rmⁱⁿ^{ed by}^t^h^e^an^{d prog}^res^s^,^as^det^e^rmⁱⁿ^{ed by}^t^h^e^an^{d prog}^res^s^{, as}^det^e^rmⁱⁿ^{ed by}^t^h^e
^://wiki^w^h^{ile en}^r^o^lledⁱⁿ^p^o^s^tsecoⁿ^d^ar^yⁱⁿ^stitu^tioⁿⁱⁿ^stitu^tioⁿⁱⁿ^stitu^tioⁿ
^h^ttp^ed^u^catioⁿⁱⁿ^o^r^d^e^r^to^b^e^elig^ib^{le f}^o^r
^f^e^d^e^r^a^{l stu}^d^en^{t aid}^;^satisf^acto^r^y
^prog^res^sⁱ^s^delⁱⁿ^eat^{ed by}^polⁱ^cⁱ^e^s
^dev^e^{loped by}^each^participatin^g
^hⁱ^g^h^e^r^ed^u^catioⁿⁱⁿ^stitu^tioⁿ^.
^e^lim^itatioⁿ^oⁿ^u^s^{e o}^f^N^/^A^Wⁱ^t^hⁱⁿ^{10 y}^ears^of^di^s^c^h^a^rg^{e or}^Wi^t^hⁱⁿ^{10 y}^ears^of^di^s^c^h^a^rg^{e or}^W^ithⁱⁿ¹⁴^y^ear^{s o}^fⁱⁿ^itial
^e^f^its^releas^{e f}^r^om^activ^{e du}^ty^releas^{e f}^r^om^activ^{e du}^ty^elig^ib^ility^{, if}^elig^ib^{le o}ⁿ^o^r^af^ter
^O^c^t^{ober 1, 1992;}^ot^h^e^rwⁱ^s^e,
^b^eⁿ^e^f^{its m}^u^{st b}^e^u^s^ed^w^ithⁱⁿ¹⁰
^y^ear^{s o}^fⁱⁿ^{itial elig}^ib^ility
^T^a^bl^e^{prepared by}^C^R^S^bas^e^{d on}^dat^a^av^ai^l^a^bl^{e f}^r^om^t^h^{e U}^.^S^.^D^e^part^m^eⁿ^t^of^Edu^catⁱ^oⁿ^,^U^.^S^.^D^e^part^m^eⁿ^t^of^V^e^t^e^ran^s^A^f^f^aⁱ^r^s^,^rel^e^v^an^{t leg}ⁱ^slatioⁿ^,^an^d^th^{e Co}^d^e^o^f^Fed^e^r^a^l
^Re^gul^a^tⁱ^o^ns.