Introduction
If you use the Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33), you may get a monthly payment to help pay for housing while you go to school. This payment is called the Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA). Most people also call it BAH because it is based on the military's Basic Allowance for Housing rate for an E-5 with dependents.
How much you get depends on three things: where your school is located, how many credit hours you take, and your GI Bill eligibility percentage. This calculator does the math for you. Enter your school and enrollment details, and it will show your estimated MHA rate in seconds.
You can also compare housing allowance rates at up to three schools side by side. All rates shown are for the 2025–2026 academic year, effective August 1, 2025 through July 31, 2026. This tool estimates MHA only — it does not cover tuition, book stipends, or Yellow Ribbon benefits. For a broader look at your full Chapter 33 entitlement, try our GI Bill Calculator.
How to Use Our GI Bill BAH Calculator
Enter a few details about your GI Bill benefits, school, and enrollment below. The calculator will estimate your monthly housing allowance (MHA) under the Post-9/11 GI Bill.
GI Bill Chapter: Pick your GI Bill chapter. This tool only calculates MHA for the Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33). If you use a different chapter, your housing benefits are calculated differently.
Active Duty Status: Tell us if you are currently on active duty. Active duty service members receive $0 in housing allowance, so this is important to get right. If you are still serving and want to review your current compensation, see our Military Pay Calculator.
Student Type: Select whether you are a veteran using your own benefits, a dependent using transferred entitlement, or a National Guard or Reserve member.
Eligibility Percentage: Choose your GI Bill eligibility tier. This ranges from 50% to 100% based on how long you served on active duty after September 10, 2001. You can find your percentage on your Certificate of Eligibility from the VA.
Dependents: Select whether you have dependents. Note that the VA always uses the E-5 with dependents BAH rate to calculate MHA, so this choice does not change your result.
School Location: Search for your school by name or type in the 5-digit ZIP code of your campus. Your MHA rate is based on where your school is located, not where you live. If you are comparing cities, our Cost of Living Calculator can help you understand how far your allowance will go in each area.
Learning Modality: Choose how you attend classes. In-person and hybrid students get the local BAH rate. Online-only students get a flat national rate. Foreign school students also get a flat national rate.
Credit Hours: Enter the number of credit hours you are taking this term. The VA uses this number to figure out your training time. You must be enrolled in more than 6 credit hours to receive any housing allowance.
Click Calculate My MHA to see your estimated monthly and yearly housing allowance, a full breakdown of the math, and a step-by-step explanation of how your amount was determined.
What Is the GI Bill Monthly Housing Allowance?
The GI Bill Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA) is a tax-free payment the VA sends to eligible students each month to help cover rent and housing costs. It is part of the Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33). Many people call it BAH because the payment amount is based on the military's Basic Allowance for Housing rates. To estimate your overall GI Bill entitlement including tuition and fees, use our GI Bill Calculator.
How Is MHA Calculated?
Your MHA amount depends on three things:
- Your school's location. The VA uses the E-5 with dependents BAH rate for the ZIP code where your campus is located — not where you live.
- How many credits you take. The VA divides your credit hours by 12 to find your training time. It then rounds that number to the nearest 10%. You must be enrolled in more than 6 credit hours (more than half-time) to get any MHA.
- Your GI Bill eligibility percentage. This is based on how long you served on active duty after September 10, 2001. It ranges from 50% to 100%.
The formula is: Base BAH Rate × Training Time × Eligibility Percentage = Monthly MHA.
Who Cannot Get MHA?
Active-duty service members do not receive MHA. Students enrolled at half-time or below (6 or fewer credits) also get $0 in housing allowance.
Online and Foreign School Rates
If you attend school entirely online, you receive a flat national rate equal to 50% of the national average BAH. If you attend a foreign school, you receive the full national average rate. These rates do not change based on location. However, hybrid students who take at least one class in person qualify for the full local rate.
When Do Rates Change?
The VA updates MHA rates once a year on August 1. The current rates cover the 2025–2026 academic year and are in effect from August 1, 2025, through July 31, 2026. Use this calculator to estimate your benefit before you enroll.
Planning Around Your MHA
Once you know your estimated MHA, you can plan the rest of your finances more effectively. Use a Budget Calculator to build a monthly spending plan around your allowance. If you are deciding whether to rent near campus or buy a home with your VA benefits, our Rent vs Buy Calculator and VA Loan Calculator can help you compare options. Veterans receiving disability compensation can also estimate those payments with our VA Disability Calculator, and those approaching the end of their career may want to project future income using the Military Retirement Calculator or TSP Calculator. If you are also tracking your academic progress, our GPA Calculator and Grade Calculator can help you stay on top of your coursework while you focus on your benefits.