And just about any other school too.

The Post 9/11 GI Bill is an incredible Veteran Benefit, but most users don’t understand how great it really is. It can literally pay for your whole four-year degree at Harvard. Really! It’s true! Let me break it down for you.

The following information is based on a Veteran qualifying for the full 36 months of the Post 9/11 BI Bill at 100%. If you are unsure what you qualify for, you can contact the VA or reach out to a VA counselor on any US Military base for assistance.

GI Bill Basics

There are three basic parts to the GI Bill: the Annual Book Stipend, the Housing Allowance, and the Tuition.

The Annual Book Stipend

The annual book stipend will pay up to $1,000 a year and is paid proportionately based on the number of credits taken by the student at $41 per credit hour. Chances are this probably won’t pay for all your books, but it will put a good dent in the cost, especially if you buy used. So, buy used!

Housing Allowance

The Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA) is generally the same as the military Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) for an E-5 with dependents. This rate is variable and dependent on factors such as the location of your school, your rate of pursuit, and whether you enrolled in the program prior to 1/8/18. — VA Webpage

The Housing Allowance paid to Veterans using the Post 9/11 GI Bill can be significant. It is important to note that the amount is significantly reduced if you are attending classes online or not considered a full-time student. For Cambridge, MA, where Harvard is located, that amount is $3,075/ month. The average rental cost for a one-room apartment in that area in 2021 is about $2,600. This means that if you used your Post 9/11 GI Bill at Harvard and found an apartment for $2,600/month, you would pocket $475/ month for utilities and food. And if you found a roommate, that would be another $1300 in your pocket. That will offset your books and give you some extra for pizza study nights!

Even if you wanted to stay on campus, boarding costs on the 2021 Harvard campus are $11,704 for about 9 months, so you’re still covered (9 x $3,075 = $27,675) and pocket some cash to spare (The Housing Allowance doesn’t pay for Christmas break or summer break unless you are attending classes at that time).

Tuition

Here is where you’re probably most curious. How will the Post 9/11 GI Bill pay all that tuition for you? Watch and learn.

1. The Post 9/11 GI Bill currently pays up to a maximum of $25,162.14 / year for tuition at a private university. Harvard Business School’s annual tuition in 2021 is $54,002. So, we’re just under the halfway mark.
2. Harvard participates in the Yellow Ribbon Program which means that the school offers a scholarship to Veterans using the Post 9/11 GI Bill and the VA matches it. In this case, if you want to go to Harvard Business School, Harvard offers a $20,000 scholarship and the VA matches it with another $20,000 which brings the total of benefits for tuition to $65,162.14. Unfortunately, Veterans don’t keep the difference in the tuition, but your tuition is paid.

Here is a summary of your benefits using the GI Bill Comparison Tool on va.gov.

The total paid to you is the sum of the maximum allotted Book Stipend ($1,000, depending on your course load) and approximately nine months of Housing Allowance (They don’t include summer or Christmas break. However, if you are taking classes during that time you will receive benefits if you apply.)

In Summary

You can use the Post 9/11 GI Bill to pay for an education at Harvard, and if you’re frugal, you might not even have to get a part-time job to supplement. Also, don’t forget to apply for other scholarships directed at military and Veteran personnel and ask about local scholarships at the school you want to attend and the nearby bases. That’s just extra money in your pocket, and there are a lot of opportunities out there for scholarship money if you do your research.

The Post 9/11 GI Bill can assist in paying for just about any college, including foreign schools (Does anybody want to be a French Chef?), and in most cases, it can cover your entire tuition. Contact the VA or reach out to a VA benefits counselor on any US Military base for assistance on using the GI Bill Comparison Tool in order to maximize the use of your benefits.