Top-Up for GI Bill® Participants
Top-Up is a program that allows active duty GI Bill® participants to use their benefits to supplement tuition and fees not covered by Tuition Assistance. Top-Up may be an option if you plan to use Tuition Assistance to complete a degree program while on active duty and don’t plan to continue your education after service.
The Top-Up program is only available for recipients of Montgomery GI Bill® Active Duty or Post-9/11 GI Bill® programs. Eligibility for Top-Up depends on a number of factors. You’ll need to carefully consider your situation and check with your education officer before applying for Top-Up.
Top-Up is limited to:
- 36 months of payment
- The amount that you would receive for the same course if regular benefits were being used
- If you are receiving MGIB-AD, you will receive the difference between what the Department of Defense pays for the course and the total cost of the course (not to exceed to GI Bill® monthly maximum).
- If you are receiving the Post-9/11 GI Bill®, your school will be reimbursed the difference between the amount the Department of Defense pays for the course and the authorized maximum tuition and fees for the school.
For more information about Top-Up, please see the VA website here https://www.va.gov/education/about-gi-bill-benefits/how-to-use-benefits/tuition-assistance-top-up/.
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 Web site at https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill/.