What is an ROTC Scholarship?
What is an ROTC Scholarship?
The Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) scholarship is one of the most valuable college scholarships in the United States. It pays up to full tuition, a monthly salary, and a yearly book allowance for those applicants who wish to become officers in the United States Army, Navy, Air Force, or Marines.
Strictly speaking, an ROTC participant is not joining the Armed Forces. Participants will not be sent to “boot camp.” However, the primary purpose of the ROTC program is to produce its officers, so they must agree to serve as officers in the military after graduation in order to go through the entire program, or if they have received an ROTC scholarship. Initially enrolling (the first two years of college) does not obligate participants to serve unless they have also received a scholarship. Scholarship winners generally serve four years on active duty.
ROTC classes normally involve one elective class and one lab per semester. Although the classes involve hands-on work as well as classroom work, they are standard college classes that fit into a normal academic schedule. These courses can help students with personal and academic decision making while giving them the tools to exercise leadership in college life, even before graduating and becoming officers.
ROTC cadets and midshipman have the same lifestyles and academic schedules as any other college students. They join fraternities and sororities. They participate in varsity team and individual sports. They take part in community service projects. Most of the intensive training for ROTC takes place over the summer when officer candidates are not attending school.
FOUR TAKEAWAYS FOR WINNING AN ROTC SCHOLARSHIP
The ROTC interview is the most important thing to do well on. Prepare extensively for it.
A good SAT/ACT score is a way to separate yourself from other candidates.
Do well on the individual Service’s fitness test.
Have a solid athlete and leader profile. Take a college prep high school curriculum and get the best unweighted GPA you can.
Round 1: Applications are due by Oct. 13, 2025 to be reviewed by the board from Oct. 20-24, 2025
Round 2: Applications are due by Jan. 19, 2026 to be reviewed by the board from Jan. 26-30, 2026
Round 3: Applications are due by Mar. 16, 2026 to be reviewed by the board from Mar. 23-27, 2026
1 Apr 24: Four Year scholarship application opens
FY24-A Board: 13-17 October 2025
FY24-B Board: 17-21 November 2025
FY24-C Board: 15-19 December 2025
FY24-D Board: 12-16 January 2026
FY24-E Board: 26-30 January 2026
31 Jan 26: Last Day to Submit Completed Application
FY24-F Board: 9-13 February, 2026
FY24-G Board: 23-27 February, 2026
FY24-H Board: 9-13 March, 2026
FY24-I Board: 23-27 March, 2026
FY24-J Board: 13-17 April, 2026
Once you’ve submitted your application, you may update the information in your application until midnight, 31 January.
Requests to change your Program Option (Navy, Nurse or Marine) must be submitted at least 1 week prior to the application window closing.
Navy ROTC (Pre-Med) application submission deadline is December 31, 2025
First Selection Board: November 2025
Deadline to submit completed application: 31 January 26
Second Selection Board: February 2026
Board Number: 26HS01 Application Cut-Off Date: 16 Sep 25
Board Dates: 27-30 Oct 25 Proj Release Date: 31 Oct 25
Board Number: 26HS02 Application Cut-Off Date: 12 Dec 25
Board Dates: 16-27 Mar 26 Proj Release Date: 10 Apr 26
1 Jul 2025: HSSP Selection Cycle Begins / Application Window Opens
1 Apr 2026: Last day to accept scholarship offers for 26HS01 scholarship selectees
31 May 2026: Last day to accept scholarship offers for 26HS02 scholarship selectees