MILITARY (ROTC) AND NON-MILITARY SCHOLARSHIP INFORMATION

CADETS AND PARENTS...THIS PAGE IS INTENDED TO PROVIDE YOU WITH KEY INFORMATION ABOUT COLLEGE (MILITARY) ROTC SCHOLARSHIPS, AS WELL AS NON-MILITARY SCHOLARSHIPS. 

HERE ARE SEVERAL EXCELLENT SCHOLARSHIP SEARCH WEBSITES! 

www.scholarships.com/ 

www.fastweb.com/ 

www.cappex.com/ 

www.niche.com/colleges/scholarships/ 

www.petersons.com/scholarship-search.aspx 

https://www.ausa.org/scholarships 

IT IS VITAL THAT YOU UNDERSTAND THE FOLLOWING CONCERNING ROTC (MILITARY) SCHOLARSHIPS:

1.  IF YOU APPLY FOR AND EARN AN ROTC SCHOLARSHIP, YOU ARE NOT ENLISTING IN THE MILITARY. WHAT YOU ARE DOING IS GOING TO COLLEGE FULL-TIME WHILE PARTICIPATING IN AN "OFFICER PRODUCING PROGRAM". THIS MEANS THAT WHEN YOU FINISH COLLEGE, YOU  BECOME A JUNIOR OFFICER (ENSIGN OR 2ND LIEUTENANT) IN THE MILITARY SERVICE THAT AWARDED YOU THE SCHOLARSHIP (ARMY, NAVY, AIR FORCE OR MARINE CORPS).

2. ALL OF THE MILITARY SERVICES' ROTC SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS ARE COMPLETED ON-LINE. YOU WILL BE ASKED TO PROVIDE COPIES OF YOUR HS TRANSCRIPTS, SAT/ACT SCORES, LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION AND OTHER DOCUMENTS. YOU WILL UPLOAD THEM INTO YOUR COLLEGE ROTC SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION PACKET ONLINE.

3. THERE ARE DEADLINES FOR ALL SERVICES (ARMY, NAVY, AND AIR FORCE) FOR APPLYING FOR AN ROTC SCHOLARSHIP. EACH SERVICE HAS A DIFFERENT DEADLINE SCHEDULE! YOU MUST MEET THE DEADLINES TO BE CONSIDERED IN EACH "ROUND" OF SCHOLARSHIP OFFERS.  

4.  THERE IS A 'MEDICAL" REQUIREMENT, MEANING YOU MUST BE MEDICALLY QUALIFIED TO BE AWARDED AN ROTC SCHOLARSHIP. THE' MEDICAL REQUIREMENTS ARE GENERALLY THE SAME FOR THE ARMY, NAVY, AIR FORCE AND MARINES...BUT THERE ARE SOME MINOR DIFFERENCES. YOU WILL BE REQUIRED TO TAKE A DODMERB (DoD MEDICAL EXAMINATION AND REVIEW BOARD) PHYSICAL. IT'S FREE.

5. THERE IS A PHYSICAL FITNESS REQUIREMENT AS WELL. AS PART OF THE APPLICATION PROCESS, YOU WILL TAKE A CADET FITNESS ASSESSMENT (CFA). EACH SERVICES' CFA VARIES SLIGHTLY, BUT ALL INCLUDE AN EVENT TESTING UPPER BODY STRENGTH, CORE STRENGTH AND CARDIOVASCULAR ENDURANCE. (PUSH-UPS, CURL UPS, 1-MILE RUN).

6. IF YOU ACCEPT AN ROTC SCHOLARSHIP AND THEN GRADUATE WITH YOUR BS/BA (OR HIGHER) DEGREE, YOU HAVE A SERVICE OBLIGATION OF EIGHT (8) YEARS. THIS MEANS YOU MUST SERVE AS A COMMISSIONED OFFICER FOR A TOTAL OF EIGHT YEARS! 

7. HOW YOU SERVE THOSE EIGHT YEARS CAN VARY! YOU CAN DO ALL EIGHT YEARS ON ACTIVE DUTY, OR TRANSITION TO THE NATIONAL GUARD OR RESERVES AFTER FOUR (4) YEARS, OR DO ALL EIGHT YEARS IN THE NATIONAL GUARD OR RESERVES! IT'S UP TO YOU!

8. HOW ROTC SCHOLARSHIPS ARE STRUCTURED VARIES FROM SERVICE TO SERVICE. SOME ARE 100% TUITION AND FEES, OTHERS ARE 50% TUITION AND FEES. THE AMOUNT VARIES FROM SERVICE TO SERVICE.

9. ALL SERVICES HAVE SEPERATE ROTC SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS INTERESTED IN NURSING! 

10. MANY COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES OFFER SIGNIFICANT INCENTIVES PACKAGES TO STUDENTS ACCEPTED TO THEIR SCHOOLS WHO ARE BRINGING AN ROTC SCHOLARSHIP WITH THEM! EXAMPLE - WIDENER UNIV. OFFERS FREE ROOM AND BOARD FOR THE LENGTH OF YOUR ROTC SCHOLARSHIP...4-YEAR SCHOLARSHIP = 4 YEARS FREE ROOM AND BOARD; EXAMPLE - DREXEL UNIVERSITY OFFERS A 75% DISCOUNT ON ROOM AND BOARD). YOU NEED TO CONSIDER THIS!

THE NEW JERSEY ARMY NATIONAL GUARD AND AIR NATIONAL GUARD OFFER UNIQUE SCHOLARSHIP / TUITION REMISSION INCENTIVES. HERE'S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW...

1.  THE NEW JERSEY ARMY NATIONAL GUARD AND AIR NATIONAL GUARD OFFER A FULL-TUITION INCENTIVE FOR STUDENTS THAT ENLIST IN THE NATIONAL GUARD.

2. IN ORDER TO EARN THIS FULL-TUITION INCENTIVE, YOU MUST MEET ALL MEDICAL, MORAL AND ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS TO ENLIST IN THE NATIONAL GUARD, AND MUST COMPLETE BASIC TRAINING AND ADVANCED TRAINING FOR YOUR CAREER FIELD. THAT MEANS, YOU WILL ENLIST IN THE NATIONAL GUARD AND THEN GO OFF TO MILITARY TRAINING BEFORE YOU START COLLEGE.

3. YOU CAN BE A MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL GUARD AND BE IN COLLEGE ROTC...AND EARN ADDITIONAL SCOLARSHIP BENEFITS THAT COVER ROOM AND BOARD!

THE U.S. ARMY RESERVE OFFERS UNIQUE SCHOLARSHIP / TUITION REMISSION INCENTIVES. HERE'S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW...

1.  THE U.S. ARMY RESERVE OFFERS A 4-YEAR FULL-TUITION INCENTIVE FOR STUDENTS THAT ENLIST IN THE ARMY RESERVE.

2. IN ORDER TO EARN THIS FULL-TUITION INCENTIVE, YOU MUST MEET ALL MEDICAL, MORAL AND ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS TO ENLIST IN THE ARMY RESERVE, AND MUST COMPLETE BASIC TRAINING AND ADVANCED TRAINING FOR YOUR CAREER FIELD. THAT MEANS, YOU WILL ENLIST IN THE ARMY RESERVE AND THEN GO OFF TO MILITARY TRAINING BEFORE YOU START COLLEGE.

3. YOU CAN BE A MEMBER OF THE ARMY RESERVE AND BE IN COLLEGE ROTC...AND EARN ADDITIONAL SCHOLARSHIP BENEFITS THAT COVER ROOM AND BOARD!

4. HERE'S THE LINK FOR MORE INFORMATION!  https://www.usar.army.mil/MinutemanCampaign/ 

HERE'S THE LINK TO THE ARMY ROTC SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION WEBSITE:

https://www.goarmy.com/careers-and-jobs/find-your-path/army-officers/rotc/scholarships.html 

PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO THE APPLICATION DEADLINES!

HERE'S SOME IMPORTANT STATISTICS TO UNDERSTAND. BOTTOM LINE:  IF YOU ARE INVOLVED IN SCHOOL, EXTRACURRICULARS, JROTC AND DO WELL ACADEMICALLY, YOU HAVE A GOOD SHOT AT EARNING AN ARMY ROTC SCHOLARSHIP! KEY - YOU MUST APPLY!

HERE'S THE LINK TO THE NAVY ROTC SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION WEBSITE:   www.netc.navy.mil/commands/naval-service-training-command/nrotc/apply/ 

PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO THE APPLICATION DEADLINES!

NOTE: IN ORDER TO BECOME AN OFFICER IN THE U.S. MARINE CORPS THROUGH ROTC, YOU MUST BE AWARDED A NAVY ROTC SCHOLARSHIP.

UPDATE, MARCH 3RD 2023!!!

THERE ARE MAJOR CHANGES TO THE AIR FORCE ROTC SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM STARTING JANUARY 2023! CHECK OUT THIS LINK!

https://admissionsdecrypted.com/2022/07/25/air-force-rotc-scholarship-changes/ 

HERE'S THE LINK TO THE AIR FORCE ROTC SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION WEBSITE: https://www.afrotc.com/scholarships/high-school/types/ 

PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO THE APPLICATION DEADLINES!

SERVICE ACADEMIES (U.S. MILITARY ACADEMY AT WEST POINT, US - U.S. NAVAL ACADEMY - U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY - U.S. COAST GUARD ACADEMY - U.S. MERCHANT MARINE ACADEMY)

ADMISSION TO ANY OF THE SERVICE ACADEMIES IS THE EQUIVALENT OF BEING ADMITTED TO AN "IVY LEAGUE" INSTITUTION.  THE ADMISSIONS PROCESS IS EXTREMELY COMPETITIVE, WITH SOME ACADEMIES HAVING AN ACCEPTANCE RATE OF UNDER 10%.

IT IS VITAL THAT YOU UNDERSTAND THE FOLLOWING CONCERNING THE SERVICE ACADEMIES:

1.  IF YOU APPLY FOR AND EARN A NOMINATION TO A SERVICE ACADEMY,  YOU ARE NOT ENLISTING IN THE MILITARY. WHAT YOU ARE DOING IS GOING TO COLLEGE FULL-TIME AT A NATIONALLY-RANKED UNIVERSITY WHILE PARTICIPATING IN AN "OFFICER PRODUCING PROGRAM". THIS MEANS THAT WHEN YOU FINISH YOUR FOUR YEARS AT THE SERVICE ACADEMY, YOU BECOME A JUNIOR OFFICER (ENSIGN OR 2ND LIEUTENANT) IN THE MILITARY SERVICE WHOSE ACADEMY YOU ATTENDED. (ARMY, NAVY/MARINE CORPS OR AIR FORCE).

2. ALL OF THE MILITARY SERVICE ACADEMIES APPLICATIONS ARE COMPLETED ON-LINE. YOU WILL BE ASKED TO PROVIDE COPIES OF YOUR HS TRANSCRIPTS, SAT/ACT SCORES, LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION AND OTHER DOCUMENTS. YOU WILL UPLOAD THEM INTO YOUR ACADEMY APPLICATION PACKET ONLINE.

3. THERE ARE DEADLINES FOR ALL SERVICES (ARMY, NAVY, AND AIR FORCE) FOR APPLYING FOR A NOMINATION. EACH SERVICE HAS A DIFFERENT DEADLINE SCHEDULE! YOU MUST MEET THE DEADLINES TO BE CONSIDERED FOR A NOMINATION. UNLIKE COLLEGE ROTC SCHOLARSHIPS, THERE IS ONLY ONE ROUND OF NOMINATIONS.  

4. UNIQUE TO THE SERVICE ACADEMIES - THERE IS A REQUIREMENT TO RECEIVE A NOMINATION FROM A U.S. SENATOR OR U.S. REPRESENTATIVE. RECEIVING A NOMINATION FROM YOUR CONGRESSMAN AND/OR A SENATOR IS A PROCESS WHICH INVOLVES SUBMITTING SEVERAL LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION, AND CONDUCTING AN "IN-PERSON" INTERVIEW WITH THE SENATOR/CONGRESSMAN THEMSELF OR WITH A COMMITTE OF PERSONS THEY SELECT. THE LINKS BELOW ARE FOR OUR U.S. SENATORS AND OUR CURRENT U.S. REPRESENTATIVE FOR OUR CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT:

     SENATOR CORY BOOKER:  www.booker.senate.gov/services/academy-nominations 

     SENATOR ROBERT MENENDEZ:  www.menendez.senate.gov/services/academy 

     REPRESENTATIVE VAN DREW:   vandrewforms.house.gov/forms/serviceacademynomination/ 

5.  THERE IS A "MEDICAL" PHYSICAL REQUIREMENT, MEANING YOU MUST BE MEDICALLY QUALIFIED TO BE NOMINATED TO ATEND A SERVICE ACADEMY. THE' MEDICAL REQUIREMENTS ARE GENERALLY THE SAME FOR THE ARMY, NAVY, AIR FORCE AND MARINES...BUT THERE ARE SOME MINOR DIFFERENCES. YOU WILL BE REQUIRED TO TAKE A DODMERB (DoD MEDICAL EXAMINATION AND REVIEW BOARD) PHYSICAL. IT'S FREE. ONCE YOU APPLY, YOU'LL RECEIVE A LETTER PROVIDING YOU WITH ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. 

6. THERE IS A PHYSICAL FITNESS REQUIREMENT AS WELL. AS PART OF THE APPLICATION PROCESS, YOU WILL TAKE A CADET FITNESS ASSESSMENT (CFA). EACH SERVICES' CFA VARIES SLIGHTLY, BUT ALL INCLUDE A MINIMUM OF FIVE (5) EVENTS TESTING UPPER BODY STRENGTH, CORE STRENGTH AND CARDIOVASCULAR ENDURANCE.

7. IF YOU ACCEPT A NOMINATION AND THEN GRADUATE WITH YOUR BS/BA (OR HIGHER) DEGREE, YOU HAVE A SERVICE OBLIGATION OF EIGHT (8) YEARS. THIS MEANS YOU MUST SERVE AS A COMMISSIONED OFFICER FOR A TOTAL OF EIGHT YEARS! 

8. DIFFERENT FROM COLLEGE ROTC - IF YOU ATTEND A SERVICE ACADEMY, YOU MUST SERVICE THE FIRST FIVE (5) YEARS OF THAT OBLIGATION ON ACTIVE DUTY.

9. IF YOU EARN A NOMINATION TO A SERVICE ACADEMY (AND ACCEPT), YOU HAVE EARNED A 100% TUITION, ROOM AND BOARD SCHOLARSHIP. ADDITIONALLY, YOU WILL BE PAID A MONTHLY STIPEND.  YOU WILL ALSO HAVE ALL UNIFORMS PROVIDED AT NO COST. HOWEVER, THERE IS AN UP-FRONT FEE OF $2000.00 OR MORE TO COVER THE COST OF A NEW LAPTOP/TABLET WHICH YOU MUST PURCHASE FROM THAT SERVICE ACADEMY.

U.S. NAVAL ACADEMY - APPLICATION LINK: www.usna.edu/Admissions/Apply/index.php#fndtn-panel1-Steps-for 

This is the service academy for the U.S. Navy.  When you graduate from USNA, you will become a junior officer in the U.S. Navy, or may apply to become a junior officer in the U.S. Marine Corps.

U.S. COAST GUARD ACADEMY - APPLICATION LINK:  www.uscga.edu/apply/ 

This is the service academy for the U.S. Coast Guard.  When you graduate from USCGA, you will become a junior officer in the U.S. Coast Guard.

NOTE: Though the U.S. Coast Guard has a service academy, it is NOT a branch of the U.S. Department of Defense. The Coast Guard falls under the Department of Homeland Security.