Scholarships for ROTC Students
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Editor & Writer
Writer
Editor & Writer
Thousands of students receive scholarships each year to pursue an undergraduate degree through a Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) program. Many colleges offer ROTC programs approved by the U.S. military to prepare students to enter the various branches of the armed forces.
Students may qualify for ROTC Army, Navy, or Air Force scholarships based on their academic merit and personal potential. Explore the most popular ROTC scholarships below.
How Does an ROTC Scholarship Work?
ROTC programs cover some or all of your postsecondary education and training costs in exchange for a commitment to serve in the armed forces after graduation. ROTC scholarships can cover up to 100% of your college tuition and fees provided that the program is approved by the U.S. Department of Defense and you meet the scholarship's eligibility requirements.
Funds may be applied to two- or four-year programs, depending on the scholarship. Both active-duty soldiers and students on reserve can use these scholarships while they pursue higher education. The service terms of each scholarship also vary, typically requiring candidates to serve a term of 3-8 years in their chosen branch of the armed forces as a condition of award.
ROTC Scholarship Requirements
Students must meet a variety of basic criteria to qualify for ROTC scholarships:
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Be a U.S. citizen -
Maintain a high school or college minimum GPA of 2.5 or 2.7, respectively -
Be between 17 and 31 years old in the year you receive the scholarship -
Meet military-issued physical fitness test standards -
Hold a high school diploma or equivalent -
Accept a military service assignment to begin after graduation
Army ROTC Scholarships
ROTC National Four-Year Scholarship
Who Is Eligible: Candidates must be U.S. citizens who are at least 17 years old, with a high school diploma and a minimum 2.5 GPA. They must be accepted into a participating four-year university. Eligibility requires a commitment of eight years of service in the Army or Army Reserve.
Deadline: March 11, 2024
Scholarship Amount: 100% of college expenses
ROTC National Three-Year Scholarship
Who Is Eligible: Applicants must be enrolled in a five-year ARMY program with three years remaining or a two-year program with plans to transfer to a four-year university. Candidates must also commit to serving eight years of future service in the Army or Army Reserve.
Deadline: March 11, 2024
Scholarship Amount: 100% of college expenses
ROTC National Two-Year Scholarship
Who Is Eligible: Candidates currently enrolled in a two-year community college program or with two years remaining of a four-year degree can qualify for this scholarship. Eligibility is contingent on a future commitment of eight years of service in the Army or Army Reserve.
Deadline: March 11, 2024
Scholarship Amount: 100% of college expenses
ROTC Nursing Scholarship
Who Is Eligible: Candidates must meet the same requirements as the ROTC two-, three-, and four-year scholarships, either as a rising high school graduate or current college student in a participating nursing program.
Deadline: March 11, 2024
Scholarship Amount: Varies, includes eligibility for paid Nurse Summer Training Program
Green to Gold Scholarship
Who Is Eligible: This award suits cadets looking to leave active duty to earn a degree. Candidates must be U.S. citizens with a minimum 2.5 GPA and acceptance into an ROTC-participating school. Applicants must also serve a minimum of two years of active duty, pass a physical fitness test within the last 6 months, and demonstrate a GT score of 110 or above on the ASVAB exam.
Deadline: TBD
Scholarship Amount: 100% of college expenses, plus a monthly stipend
Division Commanders Hip Pocket Scholarship
Who Is Eligible: Candidates who meet the requirements of the Green and Gold Scholarship must be nominated by their chain of command for this award, which enables students to obtain their bachelor's degree and earn a commission as an Army officer through ROTC.
Deadline: TBD
Scholarship Amount: 100% of college expenses, plus a monthly stipend
Green to Gold Active-Duty Option
Who Is Eligible: This award suits cadets looking to stay on active duty while earning a degree. Candidates must meet the same requirements as the standard Green to Gold Scholarship to receive support through collective federal programs, such as the GI Bill, to fund their education.
Deadline: TBD
Scholarship Amount: 100% of college expenses
Green to Gold Non-Scholarship
Who Is Eligible: Ideal candidates are considering leaving active duty to attend college. Eligibility requires meeting the same criteria as the standard Green to Gold Scholarship. This non-scholarship awards funds in the form of a monthly stipend for educational expenses.
Deadline: TBD
Scholarship Amount: Varies according to available funds
The Minuteman Scholarship
Who Is Eligible: Candidates must be U.S. citizens between 17 and 30 years old, currently or eligible for enlistment in the Army Reserve. Applicants must also demonstrate a minimum 2.5 GPA and acceptance into an ROTC college program.
Deadline: March 11, 2024
Scholarship Amount: Up to $10,000 per year, plus a monthly stipend and book allowance
Army Women's Foundation Scholarships
Who Is Eligible: Applicants must be women who have honorably served or are currently serving in the U.S. Army, Army Reserve, or National Guard. Candidates must also maintain a minimum 2.5-3.0 GPA and demonstrate acceptance into an accredited college program.
Deadline: January 21, 2024
Scholarship Amount: Varies by year
Air Force ROTC Scholarships
Air Force High School Scholarships
Who Is Eligible: Candidates must hold a minimum GPA of 3.0 and 1240 SAT or 26 ACT score. They must also meet physical fitness requirements and commit to serving at least four years in active duty.
Deadline: January 11, 2024
Scholarship Amount: 100% of tuition and fees, plus stipends for books and living expenses
Air Force College Scholarships Types 1 and 2
Who Is Eligible: Candidates must be U.S. citizens and meet individual academic criteria, including minimum GPA and test score requirements. Applicants must pass a medical exam and physical fitness assessment. These scholarships carry a service term of at least four years.
Deadline: January 11, 2024
Scholarship Amount: 100% (Type 1) or $18,000 per year (Type 2) plus stipends for books and living expenses
Air Force In-College Scholarship
Who Is Eligible: This scholarship applies to students already enrolled in their first or second year of ROTC training based on their academic merit. Candidates must meet the same requirements for Type 1 and Type 2 awards.
Deadline: January 11, 2024
Scholarship Amount: Up to $18,000 per year, plus stipends for books and living expenses
General Charles McGee Leadership Award
Who Is Eligible: This award applies only to students not already on scholarship who receive an enrollment allocation for service in the Air or Space Force after graduation. Recipients may convert their award to a housing scholarship.
Deadline: January 11, 2024
Scholarship Amount: $18,000 per year for two years
Enlisted Airmen Scholarships
Who Is Eligible: The Airmen Scholarship and Commissioning Program offers a 2-4-year scholarship to AFROTC cadets completing a bachelor's degree. Recipients must complete four years on active duty after graduation.
Deadline: January 11, 2024
Scholarship Amount: 100% of tuition and fees, plus stipends for books and living expenses
Navy ROTC Scholarships
NROTC Preparatory Scholarship
Who Is Eligible: Candidates must be U.S. citizens between 17 and 23 years old. Eligibility includes academic merit and potential but excludes SAT and ACT test score requirements.
Deadline: February 15, 2024
Scholarship Amount: 100% of tuition costs for one year
NROTC Four-Year Scholarship
Who Is Eligible: Applicants must hold U.S. citizenship and fall between the ages of 17 and 23 at the time of enrollment. Candidates must also meet the academic, morality, and fitness standards of the U.S. Naval Academy and serve a minimum of five years after graduation.
Deadline: February 15, 2024
Scholarship Amount: 100% of tuition and fees, plus stipends for books and living expenses
NROTC Two- and Three-Year Scholarship
Who Is Eligible: Candidates must meet the standard criteria for the four-year scholarship, plus hold between 30 and 120 credit hours and a minimum 2.5 GPA. Applicants must be enrolled or accepted into an NROTC-affiliated school. The service term for this scholarship is five years.
Deadline: February 15, 2024
Scholarship Amount: 100% of tuition and fees, plus stipends for books and living expenses
NROTC Scholarship Nurse Option
Who Is Eligible: Candidates must meet the same criteria required by the standard national (four-year) scholarship, achieve and maintain a minimum 2.5 GPA, and pass physical fitness tests. Applicants must commit to a service term of at least four years on active duty.
Deadline: February 15, 2024
Scholarship Amount: 100% of tuition and fees, plus stipends for books and living expenses
NROTC Scholarship Marine Option
Who Is Eligible: Ideal applicants can meet the requirements of the four-year scholarship in addition to marine-specific criteria, including maintaining a minimum 2.5 GPA and passing regular physical fitness assessments. Graduates must serve four years in the Marine Corps.
Deadline: February 15, 2024
Scholarship Amount: 100% of tuition and fees, plus stipends for books and living expenses
Additional Financial Resources
- FAFSA: Students must prepare and submit the FAFSA to determine their eligibility for ROTC scholarships and nearly all other types of federal financial aid.
- Federal Student Aid: The Federal Student Aid office of The Department of Education offers a variety of federal grants and scholarships, including but not limited to Army, Navy, and Air Force ROTC awards.
- Army ROTC Scholarships: GoArmy.gov features in-depth information about all available Army ROTC scholarships, including full eligibility criteria and how to apply.
- Navy ROTC Scholarships: Here you can find comprehensive information on Navy ROTC scholarships tailored to your specific military program or specialty, including a list of participating colleges and universities.
- Air Force ROTC Scholarships: This resource offers details on all scholarships available to prospective Air Force cadets and commissioners, including for programs in highly desirable majors, and a list of participating schools nationwide.
Frequently Asked Questions About ROTC Scholarships
When should I start applying for ROTC scholarships?
Generally, applying for scholarships as early as possible is ideal, though specific deadlines may vary. The deadlines for the different Army, Navy, and Air Force ROTC scholarships tend to occur during the first few months of the year, so try to gather the necessary materials you need to apply for these scholarships at the end of the year.
You might also consult with an ROTC advisor to confirm your eligibility for a particular scholarship.
Is it hard to get an ROTC scholarship?
Scholarships play a significant role in attracting cadets to the military armed forces in the U.S., so naturally they are quite competitive. The different branches of the military award scholarships at varying levels of selectivity, with the Army ROTC being the "easiest" scholarship to get, followed by the Navy ROTC, and the third and most challenging being the Air Force ROTC scholarship.
All ROTC scholarships count personal interviews (if applicable) and academic rigor among the top criteria.
How long do you have to serve after receiving an ROTC scholarship?
The future service commitment of an ROTC scholarship may vary, depending on the type of scholarship and in which branch of the armed forces you serve.
For example, an Army ROTC scholarship typically requires a future service commitment of eight years, though this can include a combination of selected reserve and active-duty service. By contrast, a non-scholarship award may require only 3-4 years of military service.
