GI Bill® housing allowance (BAH/MHA) for trade school and apprenticeships
- Page last updated October 23, 2026
- VA data retrieved October 23, 2026 (Comparison Tool data version 1522)
Quick answer
Under the Post-9/11 GI Bill, trade school students and apprentices can get a monthly housing allowance (MHA). VA bases it on the Defense Department's Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) for an E-5 with dependents at the ZIP code where you train. School students must train at more than half time. Apprentices get a payment that starts at the full local rate and steps down every six months. [VA: Post-9/11 GI Bill rates]
Trade school (non-college degree programs)
- Rate basis: BAH for an E-5 with dependents, for the ZIP code of the school location where you attend most of your training. [VA: Post-9/11 GI Bill rates]
- Rate of pursuit: you must train at more than half time to receive any MHA. VA prorates it by your rate of pursuit and your eligibility percentage. [VA: Post-9/11 GI Bill rates]
- Active duty: MHA is not paid while you are on active duty (or to a spouse using transferred benefits while the service member is on active duty). [VA: Post-9/11 GI Bill rates]
- Books and supplies: up to $83 a month, up to $1,000 a year, for NCD programs. [VA: Post-9/11 GI Bill rates]
Apprenticeships and on-the-job training
For approved OJT and apprenticeship programs, the Post-9/11 payment is a percentage of the local housing rate that drops as your wages rise: [VA: Post-9/11 GI Bill rates]
| Months of training | Share of the housing rate |
|---|---|
| 1 to 6 | 100% |
| 7 to 12 | 80% |
| 13 to 18 | 60% |
| 19 to 24 | 40% |
| 25 and after | 20% |
VA prorates the payment if you work fewer than 120 hours in a month. You also get up to $83 a month for books and supplies. [VA: Post-9/11 GI Bill rates]
Montgomery GI Bill: a flat payment instead
The Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty (MGIB-AD) does not pay a separate housing allowance. It pays a monthly rate directly to you, and you pay the school. From Oct 1, 2026, the full-time 3-year rate is $2,601.00 a month for school programs. For apprenticeships and OJT it is $1,950.75 a month for the first six months, $1,430.55 for the next six, and $910.35 after that. [VA: Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty rates]
Compare Post-9/11 and Montgomery for trade school →
How to find your rate
Open any listing's VA profile in the GI Bill Comparison Tool and use its benefit estimator. It calculates housing for that school's location and your eligibility. We do not show per-school housing figures because the amount depends on your own service history and enrollment. [VA: GI Bill Comparison Tool]
Sources
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, “Post-9/11 GI Bill rates (Aug 1, 2026 to Jul 31, 2027)” (page last updated October 13, 2026). Retrieved October 23, 2026.
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, “Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33)” (page last updated July 23, 2026). Retrieved October 23, 2026.
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, “Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty (MGIB-AD) rates (Oct 1, 2026 to Sep 30, 2027)”. Retrieved October 23, 2026.
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, “On-the-job training and apprenticeships” (page last updated February 4, 2025). Retrieved October 23, 2026.
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, “Non-college degree programs” (page last updated December 13, 2024). Retrieved October 23, 2026.
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, “GI Bill Comparison Tool”. Retrieved October 23, 2026.
GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government website at https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.