Post 9-11 GI Bill

The Post-9/11 GI Bill® is for individuals with at least 90 days of aggregate service on or after September 11, 2001, or individuals discharged with a service-connected disability after 30 days. You must have received an honorable discharge to be eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill®. The Post-9/11 GI Bill® will become effective for training on or after August 1, 2009.

About GI Benefits on the VA website

The tuition and fees payment is paid directly to the school on behalf of the student when an enrollment certification has been processed. The tuition and fees payment is based on the benefit level, as well as the reported actual net cost for in-state tuition and fees after the application of any waiver, scholarship, aid, or assistance [other than loans and funds provided under section 401(b) of the Higher Education Act of 1965], provided directly to the institution and specifically designated for the sole purpose of defraying tuition and fees.

A monthly housing allowance is paid directly to the student at the beginning of each month for the previous month. The amount paid is based on the Basic Allowance for Housing for an E-5 with dependents at the location of the school (active duty personnel and spouses of active duty personnel are not eligible for the housing allowance).

NOTE: Students enrolled only in online learning courses will be eligible for a monthly housing allowance equal to 50% of the national average of all Basic Allowances for Housing.

Rate of Pursuit and the Housing Allowance

The VA calculates rate of pursuit by dividing the number of credits being pursued by the number of credits considered to be full-time by the school. The resulting percentage (rounded to the nearest multiple of 10) is the student’s rate of pursuit.

For example, full-time for an undergraduate student at the University of Arizona during a 16 week session term is 12 credits Therefore, the rate of pursuit for:

  • 6 credits is 50% (6 ÷ 12 = 50%)
  • 7 credits is 60% (7 ÷ 12 = 58% rounded up to 60%)

Post-9/11 and Fry Scholarship: Rate of pursuit determines whether a student receives or does not receive the housing allowance. To be eligible for the housing allowance, rate of pursuit must be 60% or more. If rate of pursuit is less than 60%, then the student does not receive any housing allowance. (Active-duty personnel receiving Chapter 33 benefits or spouses of active-duty personnel receiving Transfer of Entitlement (TOE) benefits are not eligible for the housing allowance.) Students who are enrolled only in online learning courses will be eligible for a monthly housing allowance equal to 50% of the national average of all Basic Allowances for Housing.

A lump sum will be paid directly to the student at the beginning of each semester. At the 100% benefit level it pays $41.67 per credit certified, up to 24 credits for the academic year (08/01/XX to 07/31/XX). If benefit level is less than 100%, the amount paid to the student is based on percentage. For example, at the 90% benefit level, the amount paid per credit certified is $37.50 ($41.67 x 90%) for up to 24 credits for the academic year.

A one-time payment of $500 may be payable to certain individuals relocating from highly rural areas if they reside in a county with 6 persons or less per square mile (as determined by the most recent decennial census) who either:

  1. Physically relocate at least 500 miles to attend an educational institution or 
  2. Travel by air to physically attend an educational institution if no other land-based transportation exists 

More information regarding the Rural Benefit

The University of Arizona is a Yellow Ribbon School. Only individuals approved for 100% benefit level may receive funding.

The Post-9/11 GI Bill® pays in-state tuition and fees at public schools. Out-of-state students and those attending private or foreign schools may receive additional funds to help cover unmet costs under the Yellow Ribbon Program.

The Yellow Ribbon Program is on a first-come, first-serve basis and is limited to 600 undergraduate applicants, 200 graduate applicants, and 200 professional program applicants.

Applications are submitted automatically in the Veteran Certification through UAccess Student based on your residency and Post-9/11 GI Bill® status.

The Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship (Fry Scholarship) provides Post-9/11 GI Bill® benefits to the children and surviving spouses of service members who died in the line of duty while on active duty after September 10, 2001. Eligible beneficiaries attending school may receive up to 36 months of benefits at the 100% level.

Fry scholarship covers the net cost of in-state tuition and fees after the application of any waiver, scholarship, aid, or assistance [other than loans and funds provided under section 401(b) of the Higher Education Act of 1965], provided directly to the institution and specifically designated for the sole purpose of defraying tuition and fees. Fry Scholarship recipients are NOT eligible for Yellow Ribbon.

Office Locations and Contact Information 

                                         Student Union Memorial Center, Rm 404
                                         Tucson, AZ 85721
                                         Phone: 520-621-9501
                                         Fax: 520-621-3665

                                         Main & Phoenix Campuses
                                         Alexis Garibay

1140 N Colombo Avenue | Groth Hall, Rm 306
Sierra Vista, AZ 85635
Phone: 520-621-9501
Fax: 520-458-5823

Distance, Online, and Sierra Vista Campuses
Clara Gonzalez

Military-Connected Benefits & Certifications  
Student Union Memorial Center, Rm 404 | 1303 E. University Blvd., Tucson, AZ 85721
Phone: 520-621-9501  |  Email: veterans@arizona.edu