FAFSA & Military Education
Estimate your Expected Family Contribution and Pell Grant eligibility. Learn why BAH and BAS don't count as FAFSA income.
BAH and BAS are excluded from FAFSA income reporting. A deployed parent's combat pay can be included or excluded — whichever helps more.
Household Income Details
Estimated Aid Eligibility
$31,576
FAFSA Income
$23,424
Income Excluded
$0
Est. SAI
$7,395
Est. Pell Grant
Military exclusions save you $5,757/year in additional Pell Grant eligibility compared to reporting full income.
| Metric | With Exclusions | Without |
|---|---|---|
| FAFSA Income | $31,576 | $55,000 |
| SAI | $0 | $5,060 |
| Pell Grant | $7,395 | $1,638 |
Military FAFSA Key Facts
BAH and BAS are NOT reported as income on FAFSA — this significantly reduces your SAI
Combat pay can be included OR excluded — choose whichever gives you better aid
Deployed parent's income: the non-deployed parent can file as head of household
Military children may qualify for dependency overrides if parents are deployed
Yellow Ribbon Program: schools cover tuition above the GI Bill cap — ask your school's financial aid office
VTS Duffle Bag tools are for informational purposes only. All calculations run in your browser — no data is collected or stored. Verify amounts with official sources before making financial decisions.