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The NROTC Preparatory Programs (NPP) Office mission is to expand NROTC opportunities to produce a more capable and representative Naval Officer Corps. NROTC preparatory scholarship reservations (NPSR) supports that mission by partnering with educational institutions to enhance underserved or disadvantaged scholarship applicants' moral, mental, and physical foundations to prepare them for success in the NROTC program.
Under the NPSR program interested high school students may apply for one-year university, or privately funded scholarships to support room, board and tuition while enrolled in a university NROTC preparatory program. University NROTC Prep programs are designed to improve midshipman candidates’ academic and life skills to prepare for the rigorous NROTC academic program. This expanded relationship between the Navy and the schools that host preparatory programs offers a performance-based pathway for midshipman candidates to earn NROTC scholarships.
The heart of the NPSR program is the host universities’ yearlong commitment to provide students, who show great potential via grades, character, and extra-curricular activities but might lack standardized test scores or advanced high school courses, the educational foundation necessary for success in the NROTC program and Navy. The program's objective is to expand NROTC scholarship opportunities by accessing this untapped talent and potential.
The Navy reserves a percentage of NROTC scholarships for midshipman candidates who complete university NROTC preparatory programs. The Navy helps to identify candidates and screens them to ensure they meet NROTC requirements and are eligible for NROTC and a commission before beginning the prep program. Most universities also require applicants to complete summer NROTC indoctrination training in Great Lakes, IL.
Each University has its own unique NROTC preparatory program. All universities provide scholarships for tuition, fees, room and board for the preparatory year. Upon prep year completion, the Navy NROTC scholarship supports tuition, books and fees for up to 40 months of benefits (up to 5 yr total benefit)
Some universities provide additional NPS benefits which include:
University Naval Science departments assist university admissions, and financial aid offices in screening applications and university NPS awarding officials make scholarships offers. Upon acceptance of an NPS, a follow-on NROTC scholarship is reserved for the midshipman candidate at the respective institution. Requests to transfer reservations between universities requires NROTC Preparatory Programs Office approval. Upon accepting an NPS, Midshipman candidates are no longer eligible for other NROTC scholarships. The scholarship reservation will become an NROTC scholarship, worth up to 40 months of benefits, upon Navy board verification of successful completion of the university NROTC preparatory program.
Additional university program-specific applications and information can be found on host university websites or by contacting the respective university’s Naval Science departments.
Who we are looking for:
The Navy seeks individuals who have demonstrated leadership, integrity, and character but lack standardized test scores and advanced course completions due to a lack of opportunity. Demonstrations of future Navy leadership potential include but are not limited to the following:
Not all the above factors need to be present. The intent is to provide additional opportunities to all who, for any of the above or similar reasons, demonstrate the potential for future success as a naval officer.
The NROTC Preparatory Program leverages programs such as Naval Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps programs to assist universities in identifying high-quality applicants. However, not all university programs require NJROTC participation.
To be eligible for an NPSR follow-on NROTC scholarship, the Navy requires applicants to meet all the requirements for national scholarships except ACT/SAT minimums. Unlike academic resume/test score based scholarships, program scholarships are awarded based on demonstrated preparatory program performance. Participating universities may establish more restrictive program academic requirements, including minimum SAT/ACT scores. See below links for information on specific university NROTC preparatory programs.
General NROTC requirements can be found at: https://www.netc.navy.mil/Commands/Naval-Service-Training-Command/NROTC/Requirements
Additional university benefits provided to all NROTC students: https://www.netc.navy.mil/Commands/Naval-Service-Training-Command/NROTC/Additional-Benefits
The following universities are offering NROTC preparatory scholarships for academic year 24/25. Check back as new universities may be added.