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Air Force ROTC Scholarships and Colleges

Updated 23 Oct 2024 | Hannah Heine

Take Your Career to the Next Level with Air Force ROTC Scholarships

The Air Force ROTC program develops tomorrow’s leaders by preparing college students to become officers in the U.S. Air Force.

Air Force ROTC Program Requirements

Academic

Cadets are held to the highest academic standards. You must be willing to put in the time and effort to successfully complete your studies.

Fitness

All ROTC cadets must meet the weight and fitness standards established by the U.S. Air Force. This is not only for professionalism and appearance in uniform, but also for mission readiness.

Medical

All cadets must pass a Department of Defense Medical Examination Review Board (DODMERB) medical exam.

Enlisted Requirements

The Air Force ROTC program offers several options for current active-duty enlisted personnel. Since the program requirements change frequently, consult the Enlisted Commissioning Programs website for the most up-to-date information.

The Service Commitments

After completing their degree and accepting a commission as a Second Lieutenant in the Air Force, you can expect a service commitment.

Most officers incur a four-year active-duty service commitment, while Pilots have a 10-year commitment. Those serving as Combat Systems Officers or Air Battle Managers take on a six year service obligation upon completion of training.

Nursing graduates accept a commission into the Air Force Nurse Corps and serve for four active years after completing their licensing exam.

Air Force ROTC Scholarship Options

High School Scholarships

There are three scholarship types for high school students.

1. Type 1 – This scholarship pays full tuition (100%) and any authorized fees at any public or private institution with an AFROTC detachment. Cadets with this scholarship will also receive stipends for monthly living expenses and books.
2. Type 2 – This scholarship pays up to $18,000 per year in college tuition, along with any authorized fees at any institution with an AFROTC detachment. Type 2 recipients will also receive monthly stipends for books and living expenses.
3. Type 7 – This scholarship also covers full tuition expenses (100%), but only at public institutions with an AFROTC detachment. The monthly expense and books stipends also apply to Type 7 recipients.

NOTE: Air Force ROTC Scholarships do NOT cover room and board.

The annual book stipend is $900 per academic year, and the monthly stipend increases based on a student’s status:

- Freshman = $300
- Sophomore = $350
- Junior = $450
- Senior = $500

All High School Scholarship recipients are entitled to have their travel expenses covered from their home of record to their AFROTC detachment’s location.

Apply now!

Enlisted Airman Scholarship

There are two scholarship options for currently enlisted Airmen.

First, the Airman Scholarship & Commissioning Program (ASCP) allows enlisted personnel to separate from active duty and receive a scholarship for up to $18,000 per academic year.

ASCP candidates will enroll in the AFROTC program as a cadet and become full-time college students. They will receive a monthly textbook allowance and stipend for living expenses.

Next is the Scholarships for Outstanding Airmen to ROTC (SOAR) program. The SOAR program allows enlisted personnel to separate from active duty and attend college full-time. This scholarship is also worth up to $18,000 per academic year.

For either of the Enlisted Airmen Scholarship options, all cadets must complete their bachelor’s degrees and commissioning requirements within four years. Additionally, the time spent at school does NOT count towards their total Time in Service (TIS).

The annual book stipend is $900 per academic year, and the monthly stipend increases based on a student’s status:

- Freshman = $300
- Sophomore = $350
- Junior = $450
- Senior = $500

Moreover, many prior-service enlisted members separate from active-duty and attend college with their GI Bill benefits. Get started and apply now.

College Student Scholarships

There are even scholarships available for you if you’re already in a military friendly college or other institutions. Freshman and sophomore students may be eligible for the In-College Scholarship Program (ICSP).

The ICSP awards scholarships based on merit during either the Fall or Spring selection phases.

There are three types of scholarships within the ICSP:

1. Type 1 – This is reserved for the Commanders’ In-College Scholarships (CICS) which are offered to cadets pursuing a technical major. It covers 100% of tuition costs at any public or private institution with an AFROTC detachment. An annual book stipend and monthly expense stipend are included.
2. Type 2 – This is awarded to cadets selected through the ICSP and pays up to $18,000 of tuition per academic year. An annual book stipend and monthly expense stipend are included.
3. Nursing – The Air Force Nursing Scholarship Program offers competitive scholarships to undergraduate sophomores and juniors. Applicants must be accepted to a nursing program at a college or university accredited by the National League for Nursing Accreditation Commission (NLNAC) or the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).

Check out the College Student Scholarship types and their requirements. Apply now

Air Force ROTC Non-Scholarship Options

Cadets in ROTC are not limited to only those seeking the scholarship option.

While most students are seeking education funding, applicants who are not selected or choose not to apply for AFROTC scholarships can still participate in the ROTC program. By doing so, it is possible that they will be considered for other scholarship opportunities as they arise.

Even if you’re not applying for the ROTC scholarship, you should still submit your application online. Doing so does does two things:

It shows your intent to participate in the AFROTC program
It puts you in contact with an AFROTC admissions officer.

To apply, head to the Air Force ROTC Account Request page to get the process moving.

Another option is to sign up for AFROTC classes when you arrive at college.

Air Force ROTC Colleges and Universities

The following lists all the current colleges and universities with Air Force ROTC Detachments.

The host university is linked and has the ROTC detachment. Those institutions bulleted under each host university are those that participate through the linked school.

For more information about any of the detachments, follow the links to their main page. This list is for information purposes only, so please contact each ROTC detachment directly for assistance.

Alabama

Auburn University

Southern Union State Community College

University of Alabama

Marion Military Institute
Shelton State Community College
Stillman College
University of West Alabama

Samford University

Birmingham-Southern College
Jefferson State Community College
Miles College
University of Alabama – Birmingham
University of Montevallo

University of South Alabama

Spring Hill College
University of Mobile

Tuskegee University

Troy University

Alabama State University

Auburn University – Montgomery
Faulkner University
Huntingdon College
Troy University Montgomery

Alaska

University of Alaska Anchorage

Wayland Baptist University
Alaska Pacific University

Arizona

University of Arizona

Pima Community College

Arizona State University

Estrella Mountain Community College
Gateway Community College
Glendale Community College
Grand Canyon University
Maricopa Community School District
Mesa Community College
Paradise Valley Community College
Park University
Phoenix College
Scottsdale Community College
Arizona Christian University
Wayland Baptist University
Southern Mountain Community College

Northern Arizona University

Coconino Community College

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University – Prescott

Arkansas

University of Arkansas

John Brown University
Northeast Arkansas Community College
University of Arkansas – Fort Smith

California

California State University – Fresno

Reedley College
Merced College

California State University – San Bernardino

Barstow College
California State Polytechnic University
Chaffey Community College
College of the Desert
Crafton Hills Community College
Mount San Antonio College
Riverside Community College
San Bernardino Valley College
Victor Valley College
Saddleback College
University of California – Irvine
University of La Verne
University of California – Riverside
Antelope Valley College
Azusa Pacific University
Chapman University
California Baptist University
Loma Linda University
University of the Redlands
Mt. San Jacinto Community College

Loyola-Marymount University

Biola University
Los Angeles Harbor College
Marymount Palos Verdes College
Mount Saint Mary
National University
Vanguard University of Southern California
Webster University
West Los Angeles College
Westmont College
College of the Canyons
Los Angeles City College
Los Angeles Trade Technical College
Santa Ana College
Whittier College
The Master’s University

San Jose State University

De Anza College
Foothill College
Menlo College
Mission College
Ohlone College
Santa Clara University
Stanford University
West Valley College
University of California – Santa Cruz
San Jose City College

University of California – Los Angeles

California Lutheran University
California State University – Long Beach
California State University – Dominguez Hills
California State University – Fullerton
California State University – Los Angeles
California State University – Northridge
Los Angeles Mission College
Los Angeles Pierce College
Los Angeles Southwest College
Los Angeles Valley College
Moorpark College
Santa Monica College
University of California – Santa Barbara

University of Southern California

Claremont McKenna College
Claremont University – The Graduate School
Compton Community College
Cypress College
East Los Angeles College
El Camino College
Glendale Community College
Golden West College
Harvey Mudd College
Hope International University
Long Beach City College
Occidental College
Orange Coast College
Pasadena City College
Pepperdine University
Pitzer College
Pomona College
Rio Hondo College
Scripps College
Ventura College
Fullerton College

San Diego State University

California State University – San Marcos
San Diego Christian College
Cuyamaca Community College
Grossmont Community College
Mira Costa College
Palomar College
Point Loma Nazarene College
San Diego City College
San Diego Mesa College
San Diego Miramar College
Southwestern College
University of California – San Diego
University of San Diego
California Western School of Law
Alliant International University: California School of Management and Leadership
Thomas Jefferson School of Law
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University – San Diego