Scholarships for ROTC Students
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Are you considering joining the Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) during college?
If so, you'll want to familiarize yourself with ROTC scholarships and their requirements. These options can provide students with financial resources throughout their undergraduate programs.
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Ready to Start Your Journey?
Information in this guide can help you learn more about military scholarships and the best times to start applying for them. You'll also find different ROTC scholarships for each branch of the armed forces.
Some packages even cover full tuition and expenses. Scholarships can help make your college experience easier to manage.
ROTC Scholarship Requirements
There are different criteria for ROTC scholarships, depending on your ROTC program. In general, however, the following requirements will apply:
- You need to be a citizen of the United States who is at least 17 years of age, and under 31 in your year of commissioning. (Age limits can vary depending on the scholarship.)
- You must have a minimum GPA of 2.5 (up to 3.0, depending on the service branch) and a high school diploma or GED certificate.
In addition to these basic requirements, you need qualifying scores on either the ACT or SAT in order to receive ROTC financial aid.
There is also a physical requirement to consider as well.
You must meet height and weight requirements to qualify, and you must also pass the physical fitness test required by your military branch.
Finally, you have to commit to serving in the military after college.
Scholarships
| Scholarship | Eligibility | Amount | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Army ROTC Four-Year Scholarships | Individuals should have a GPA of 2.5 or higher, and they must be accepted into a participating four-year institution. | Up to full tuition and fees or room and board, plus stipends for books and living expenses. | March |
| Army ROTC Three-Year Scholarships | Individuals should have a GPA of 2.5 or higher, with three years of college remaining. | Up to full tuition and fees or room and board, plus stipends for books and living expenses. | March |
| Army ROTC Two-Year Scholarships | Individuals should have a GPA of 2.5 or higher, with two years of college completed and two remaining. | Up to full tuition and fees or room and board, plus stipends for books and living expenses. | March |
| Army ROTC Current Student Scholarships | Individuals must have a minimum score of 1000 on SAT or 19 on ACT tests. Your high school GPA must be 2.5 or higher. | Up to full tuition | March |
| Army ROTC Nursing Scholarships | Must have GPA of 2.5 or above, with acceptance into a participating nursing track program (two- and three-year scholarships are also available). | Up to full tuition | March |
| Army ROTC Green-to-Gold Scholarships | Individuals currently enlisted in active duty who are seeking to become an officer. | Tuition or room and board support, additional stipend | Varies |
| Army ROTC Hip Pocket Scholarships | Individuals enlisted in active duty who are seeking to become an officer. Must be nominated by unit. | Full tuition, plus other fees | Varies |
| Army ROTC Guaranteed Reserve Forces Duty (GRFD) Scholarships | Individuals currently enlisted in active duty seeking to become an officer. | Full tuition and fees or $10,000 annually, book allowance, and stipend. | Varies |
| Colonel Kathleen Swacina Scholarship | Awarded to a female college student. Those eligible to apply include: current members of armed services or individuals enrolled in ROTC programs, veterans (honorable discharge), children of AFCEA members, full-time students residing in or attending an accredited university or college in Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Florida, and Alabama, including community colleges. | Varies | Varies |
| Army ROTC Study.com Scholarship | Individuals accepted into accredited higher learning institutions and an ROTC program. Must have a minimum of 45 quarter or 30 semester credits left to complete. | $500 | April |
| Scholarships | Eligibility | Amount | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Force ROTC High School Scholarship (Types 1, 2, and 7) | Those with a minimum SAT composite score of 1240 or ACT composite score of 26 and a GPA of 3.0 or higher | Up to full tuition, fees, books, and stipend | January |
| Air Force ROTC College Student Scholarship (Types 1 and 2) | U.S. citizens by award date. GPA requirements vary. | Up to full tuition, additional stipend. | Varies |
| Air Force ROTC Nursing Scholarship | Sophomores or juniors accepted into a nursing program. Must maintain GPA required. | Up to full tuition, fees, books, and stipend. | Varies |
| Air Force Scholarships for Outstanding Airmen to ROTC | Individuals currently enlisted who demonstrate promise, according to their unit. | Up to full tuition, fees, books, and stipend. | Varies |
| Air Force Airman Scholarship and Commissioning Program | Individuals currently enlisted are eligible. | Up to full tuition, fees, textbook allowance, and stipend. | Varies |
| Scholarships | Eligibility | Amount | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Navy ROTC Preparatory Scholarships | High school students who show potential but may be underserved. | Varies | Varies |
| Navy ROTC Four-Year Scholarship | Individuals accepted into participating four-year programs meeting GPA requirements. | Up to full tuition, fees, books, uniform, and stipend. | January |
| Navy ROTC Two- and Three-Year Scholarship | Individuals admitted to participating institutions with a 2.5 GPA and required credit hours. | Up to full tuition, fees, books, uniform, and stipend. | January |
| Navy ROTC Nursing Scholarship | Individuals accepted into participating nursing programs meeting required GPA and testing requirements. | Up to full tuition, fees, books, and stipend. | Varies |
| Navy ROTC Marine Scholarship | Individuals accepted into participating four-year programs meeting GPA requirements. | Up to full tuition, fees, books, uniform, and stipend. | Varies |
ROTC Financial Aid and Resources
Frequently Asked Questions About ROTC Scholarships
How competitive are ROTC scholarships?
While each branch of the armed forces has different odds for ROTC scholarship applicants seeking military financial aid, ROTC scholarships are generally quite competitive across the board.
Approximately 2,500 of 9,300 applicants landed an Army ROTC scholarship in the 2020-2021 academic year, according to ROTC Consulting.
Also, ROTC Consulting reports: 2,300 of 5,000 applicants received Air Force ROTC scholarship aid in 2018-2019, 1,500 of 5,000 Navy applicants were given ROTC scholarships in 2018-2019, and 336 of 2,500 Marine option (Navy branch) applicants were awarded a scholarship in 2017-2018.
Grades, skills, physical fitness, and other factors weigh into the decision process.
When should I start applying for ROTC scholarships?
Depending on which ROTC scholarship you are applying for -- Army, Air Force, or Navy -- the deadline will differ. In most cases, however, these deadlines are toward the beginning of the calendar year in January and February.
That being said, you should start applying for ROTC scholarships far in advance of deadlines. Each application has its own unique -- and potentially time-consuming -- requirements. These include academic, physical, and medical tests, as well as paperwork for your specific, and hopefully, military-friendly college.
When in doubt, speak to your recruiter or military contact.
Does JROTC help with ROTC scholarships?
As military service members and veterans who started out in Junior ROTC (JROTC) will tell you, it's never too early to start preparing for your career in the armed forces. That's why joining JROTC can be a wise idea. You can begin training for your future while you're still in high school.
That being said, joining JROTC doesn't guarantee you military financial aid or give you a special leg up over other applicants. However, it will help you develop and sharpen the skills you need to succeed in ROTC, making the ROTC scholarship more of a reality for you.
