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Program Entrance Requirements

 
  • U.S. Citizenship, a Naturalized U.S. Citizen or in process of becoming a Naturalized U.S. Citizen.
    • Note: Scholarship selectees must be a U.S. Citizen in order to activate the scholarship.
      Scholarship selectee must obtain their U.S. citizenship and activate their scholarship within the first academic year after the stated scholarship offer begin date listed in their scholarship notification letter or their scholarship offer will be rescinded.
      Retroactive benefits will not be approved for those selectees who delayed activating their scholarship due to not obtaining their U.S. citizenship. 
    • Applicants with dual citizenship may apply and, if selected, activate their scholarship but must acknowledge that they are prepared to renounce their non-U.S. citizenship should they be required to do so. Students are no longer required to renounce their non-U.S. citizenship in order to receive a commission; however, security clearance requirements for assignment to specific designators may require such action.
  • Not less than 17 years old and not yet 23 by September 1 of the year starting college.
  • Must not have reached 27th birthday upon graduation and commissioning.
  • Applicants with prior military service may be eligible for age adjustments for amount of time equal to their prior service, on month-by-month basis, for maximum of 36 months, if they will not reach their 29th birthday upon commissioning.
  • Applicants must have no criminal record of military or civilian offenses pending or federal convictions.
  • High school graduation or equivalency certificate by August 1 of year of entrance into four-year Navy ROTC Scholarship program.
  • No moral obligations or personal convictions that prevent conscientious bearing of arms and supporting and defending the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign or domestic or to taking an oath to perform such acts.
  • Medically qualified by Navy or Marine Corps standards.
  • You must not have any body piercing or tattoos that violate Navy or Marine Corps policy.
  • Navy and Nurse Option Only
    • Students attending a Non-NROTC Affiliated School may apply for a National NROTC Scholarship regardless of number of college credits earn. Students attending an NROTC Affiliated School or School with Cross-Town Agreement should consult the Professors of Naval Science at the host university's NROTC Unit to discuss application opportunities through that unit’s college program and two or three-year scholarship application process.
  • Marine Option Only
    • High school students who have completed less than 30 college credits can be submitted for the Four-Year National scholarship, prior to graduating from High school.
  • You must be within Navy or Marine Corps height/weight standards when you report.
  • Apply for and gain admission to an approved Navy ROTC college or university. Admission to an Navy ROTC institution is not required during the selection process; however, notification of admission must be received before the scholarship can be activated.
  • Students may apply for only one of three program options-Navy, Marine Corps or Nurse.
  • Active duty Navy applicants are ineligible to apply for Navy ROTC program through COMNAVCRUITCOM. Active members of other branches of the military may apply if granted a conditional release. Individuals who are scheduled for boot camp may apply provided they complete all required application evolutions (i.e. officer interview, etc.). Applicants shall not ship to Boot Camp RTC prior to notification of selection or non-selection.  Applicants who chose to ship to Boot Camp prior to selection/non-selection notification must notify NSTC (OD2), in writing, that they wish to withdraw their application.
  • Navy and Nurse-option applicants should apply online or through Navy recruiting offices.
  • Marine Corps applicants should apply online or through Marine Corps recruiting offices.
  • You may start the process of applying during the second semester of your junior year of high school. Before the application can be finalized and forward for selection consideration, you must ensure that a copy of your complete transcript including your entire junior year is forwarded to your recruiter.
  • Marine Option Only
    • Students who are enrolled as freshmen in a 4-Year University or college are not eligible for the Four-Year National scholarship. It is recommended that these students contact the Professor of Naval Science at the Host University's NROTC Unit to discuss other scholarship opportunities.

**For those Navy/Nurse Option applicants who will graduate high school before or during the application period (defined as 1 April to 31 December) you must provide complete 9th thru 12th grade high school transcripts.

If you have attended college, or plan on attending college in the fall of the application period, you must submit the following additional information:

 

  • All college transcripts including the completed fall term of the application period.

  • If not participating in the NROTC program as a College Program Midshipmen, a teacher evaluation or letter of recommendation from one of your college professors, submitted after the end of the Fall term.

 

 

If you are not attending college, or do not plan to attend college in the Fall of the application period, you must submit the following additional information:

 

  • A statement describing your activities during this period or letter of recommendation from your employer.

 

Applications will not be considered by the board until the information requested above is received. You should provide the information to your Navy ROTC Coordinator or email PDF documents to:  grlk_nrotc_applications@us.navy.mil

In order to avoid exceeding the 30 college credit limit, you should submit your application prior to the end of your Fall term of college. You can submit your Fall term transcripts after you have submitted you application.

**For those Navy/Nurse Option applicants who will graduate after the application period closes (31 December) but no later than August 1 of the year of entrance into a four-year Navy ROTC Scholarship program, you must provide complete 9th thru 11th grade transcripts.

SAT/ACT Eligibility Requirements

 

Navy | Nurse | Marine Corps

 

NAVY

 

SAT/ACT TESTS

Qualifying scores on Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) or American College Test (ACT)

Applicants must have BOTH the minimum individual scores in the SAT/ACT Math and Verbal and a minimum Combined (Math plus Verbal) score in order to be eligible to apply for the scholarship.

Students that did, or do not have reasonable access to SAT or ACT testing, and therefore were unable to test or unable to retest in order to achieve qualifying scores, may request an exception to policy (ETP). ETP’s will be granted on a case-by-case basis only. Students that had or have reasonable access to SAT or ACT testing may not request an ETP. In order to request an ETP, student must meet the GPA, Math GPA, and written statement requirements listed below.

For Navy and Nurse scholarship eligibility, applicants must meet the requirements of minimum individual score and combined score. Tests can be super scored, meaning some combination of two of the SAME TYPE of test can be used to achieve the minimum required combined score and will be utilized in determining the highest individual test scores.

For example :

Applicant took ACT in May and achieved 30 in Math and 18 in English. A second ACT was taken in October resulting in a 20 in Math and a 27 in English. The superscore would be the highest individual test score from each category - 30 Math (May) and 27 English (October) resulting in a combined score of 57.

The SAT would function in the same manner.

SAT:
540 Math; 550 Verbal Evidence Based Reading and Writing
AND
1100 Combined (Math plus Evidence Based Reading and Writing)
OR

ACT:

21 Math; 22 English
AND
44 Combined (Math plus English)

OR
 
A cumulative High school GPA of 2.75 (on a 4.0 Scale) AND a 2.0 grade (on a 4.0 Scale) in Algebra II (or equivalent course) AND a statement from their high school guidance counselor or senior JROTC instructor certifying that SAT and ACT testing was not reasonably available to the applicant.
 

Applicants with the minimum individual Math and Verbal scores but not the combined score, and who respond positively to the MSISR interest question in the application, are eligible to apply and will be considered on the MSISR selection board (Navy Option only). See the link below for more information on the MSISR scholarship.
 

Link to the MSISR Scholarship page
 

If these academic criteria cannot be met, other opportunities exist for an Navy ROTC scholarship -- please contact your local Navy Recruiter or Navy ROTC Unit

Test Dates are valid for a four-year period prior to the close of the current application website, 31Jan.


NURSE


Apply for and gain admission to Navy ROTC colleges offering the nursing academic program (not required during selection process, but notification of admission must be received before scholarship can be activated)

Qualifying scores on Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) or American College Test (ACT)

Applicants must have BOTH the minimum individual scores in the SAT/ACT Math and Verbal and a minimum Combined (Math plus Verbal) score in order to be eligible to apply for the scholarship.

For Navy and Nurse scholarship eligibility, applicants must meet the requirements of minimum individual score and combined score. Tests can be super scored, meaning some combination of two of the SAME TYPE of test can be used to achieve the minimum required combined score and will be utilized in determining the highest individual test scores.

For example :

Applicant took ACT in May and achieved 30 in Math and 18 in English. A second ACT was taken in October resulting in a 20 in Math and a 27 in English. The superscore would be the highest individual test score from each category - 30 Math (May) and 27 English (October) resulting in a combined score of 57.

The SAT would function in the same manner.

SAT:
540 Math; 550 Verbal Evidence Based Reading and Writing
AND
1100 Combined (Math plus Evidence Based Reading and Writing)
OR

ACT:
21 Math; 22 English
AND
44 Combined (Math plus English)
OR
 
A cumulative High school GPA of 2.75 (on a 4.0 Scale) AND a 2.0 grade (on a 4.0 Scale) in Algebra II (or equivalent course) AND a statement from their high school guidance counselor or senior JROTC instructor certifying that SAT and ACT testing was not reasonably available to the applicant.
 

If these academic criteria cannot be met, other opportunities exist for an Navy ROTC scholarship -- please contact your local Navy Recruiter or Navy ROTC Unit

Test Dates are valid for a four-year period prior to the close of the current application website, 31Jan.


MARINE CORPS


General eligibility requirements for the program are as follows:

  • Be physically qualified by Marine Corps standards. Applicants will be required to complete a physical fitness test (PFT) consisting of a three-mile run for time, sit-ups, and dead-hang pull-ups for males/flexed armed-hang for females.  Marine Corps Physical Fitness Program PDF
  • Have no criminal record of military or civilian offenses..
  • Achieve a qualifying score on the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT), Armed Forces Qualification Test (AFQT), or the American College Test (ACT).   The SAT math and reading scores must be from the same and most recent test.  Applicants cannot combine their best math and reading scores from the SAT to achieve the qualifying score for application. (Marine Corps Option only).

SAT: 1000 Combination of Math and Evidence Based Reading and Writing Only
ACT minimum composite score of 22
Armed Forces Qualification Test (AFQT): 74

If these academic criteria cannot be met, other opportunities exist for an Navy ROTC scholarship -- please contact your local Marine Recruiter or Navy ROTC Unit.

Test Dates are valid for a four-year period prior to the close of the current application website, 31Jan.

Apply NowAPPLY NOW

Academic Requirements

 
  • Complete all requirements for bachelor's degree under college/university rules and regulations
  • Complete certain courses specified by Navy
  • Requirements may vary by college, but Navy and Marine Corps highly emphasize academic success
  • Normal course load required by college or university for degree completion
  • In addition to normal course load, midshipmen must follow these general academic guidelines:
    • Calculus (one year by end of sophomore year) (not required for Nurse- or Marine Corps- option students)
    • Physics (one year of calculus-based physics by end of junior year) (not required for Nurse- or Marine Corps- option students)
    • English grammar and composition (one year)
    • National Security Policy/American Military Affairs (not required for Nurse-option)
    • One semester of world culture and regional studies is required.
  • Naval Science course each semester - NOTE: Not all colleges grant credit for Naval Science courses
  • Weekly drill instruction periods
  • Four- to Six- week training period each summer. (This link takes you to the "Summer-Cruise" page.)
    • Nurse midshipmen participate in summer training in accordance with their individual nursing curriculum requirements
  • Scholarship midshipmen may enroll in courses requiring five years for bachelor’s degree provided they will not have reached their 27th birthday on June 30 of year in which they complete fifth year and are commissioned
  • Midshipmen enrolled in five-year programs may qualify for compensations and benefits during fifth year
    • Entitlements to additional year of benefits is determined through a separate process after the student has been in program for at least one year
    • Students not entitled to fifth year of scholarship benefits will be granted a leave of absence without benefits to qualify for their degrees; leave of absence normally scheduled for third year, but may be taken during second or fourth year of the five-year curriculum

Physical and Medical Requirements

 

 

  • Military service is a physically demanding profession and requires a high degree of physical preparedness and a healthy constitution. Physical and scholarship qualification processes are independent of each other, but students must receive favorable endorsement in both to receive Navy ROTC scholarship.

  1. Navy and Nurse Option MIDN are HIGHLY ENCOURAGED to prepare for New Student Indoctrination (NSI) by visiting the Navy Operational Fitness and Fueling System (NOFFS) website and by downloading the NOFFS Endurance App on their mobile device. NOFFS was developed by Navy fitness stakeholders, in partnership with industry leaders in human performance, to provide a complete physical training program that will ‘eliminate the guesswork’ for the individual Sailor who is participating in his/her personal, physical training program.
  2. Marine Option MIDN are HIGHLY ENCOURAGED to prepare for NSI by downloading the USMC Squad Bay App for their mobile device.  The Squad Bay app challenges aspiring Marines to track fitness progress and learn about the Marine Corps and the demanding and transformative process of Officer Candidates.
  3. Other Resources.​​​​
  • All Navy and Nurse Applicants must conduct an Navy ROTC Applicant Fitness Assessment (AFA) and provide their scores to their recruiter in order for their application to be considered complete and forwarded for consideration by the selection board.
     
    • The test consists of abdominal crunches, push-ups, and a one-mile run. The purpose of the test is to evaluate your level of physical fitness.
    • At the applicant's request, the test can be administered by any physical education instructor, athletics coach, fitness instructor or Teacher.
    • Applicants accustomed to regular physical activity should have no difficulty with the AFA.
    • Being properly conditioned prior to reporting to NSI and your NROTC Unit cannot be overemphasized.
    • You will be far better prepared to meet the stringent physical demands of the Navy ROTC Program if you maintain a high level of physical fitness during high school.

MEDICAL REQUIREMENTS

  • Department of Defense Medical Examination Review Board (DODMERB) schedules and reviews all physical examinations for service academies and Navy ROTC candidates; candidates applying for more than one military academy or Navy ROTC scholarship program require only one physical examination.

  • Applicants will be notified by DODMERB of any additional requirements for medical history consultations or diagnostic tests.

  • If DODMERB determines a disqualifying condition exists, your package will be forwarded to the Navy Bureau of Medicine and Surgery (BUMED) for further review and consideration for a medical waiver of the physical standards.

A list of disqualifying medical conditions can be found in the DoDI 6130.03.

Waivers may be granted for conditions which are at low risk for progression and are unlikely to interfere with the completion of training requirements and/or serve in a world-wide deployable capacity.

Major medical considerations are summarized in Appendix A.  This is not meant to be a comprehensive listing of all disqualifying conditions; it is a brief and general summary for your convenience.

  • If you have not been notified that you are medically qualified before your Fall tuition is due, then you must be prepared to pay tuition by other means until you have been found medically qualified or been notified that you have received a waiver.
Minimum Scholarship Requirements

Minimum Scholarship Requirements


National Scholarship selectees (Navy, Nurse and Marine Options) must attend and complete New Student Indoctrination during the summer (during July) prior to reporting to their assigned Unit.

 

The NROTC scholarship is merit based and, once activated, minimum levels of academic, aptitude, and physical fitness performance are required to maintain the scholarship;



For Navy and Nurse Option MIDN:

 

Academic minimums:

Cumulative GPA of 2.5 (4.0 scale) at the end of the freshman academic year (end of Spring term) in the program college. Each subsequent term GPA in the program college must be 2.5 (4.0 scale) or greater.

Physical Fitness minimums:

A score of "Good-Low" (20-24 year age group) on the initial official Physical Fitness Test and any official Physical Fitness Test during all subsequent academic years. Minimums for each event can be found on our website at:

 

Aptitude minimum:

Cumulative Aptitude grade of 2.0 (5.0 scale) at end of each academic year.



For Marine Corps Option MIDN:

 

Academic minimums:

Cumulative GPA of 2.5 (4.0 scale) at the end of the freshman academic year (end of Spring term) in the program college. Each subsequent term GPA in the program college must be 2.5 (4.0 scale) or greater.

Physical Fitness minimums:

A PFT Score of Second Class for their current age group on the initial official Physical Fitness Test during the freshman (or 1st) year of college.
A PFT score of First Class on any official Physical Fitness Test during all subsequent academic years.

Aptitude minimum:

Cumulative Aptitude grade of 2.0 (5.0 scale) at end of each academic year.

 

If any of the above minimums are not maintained, you will be considered for probation, and ultimately termination of scholarship benefits and processed for disenrollment.

 

Naval ROTC Scholarship Recipients

 

For those midshipmen attending college and Naval ROTC on a Naval ROTC Scholarship (regardless of scholarship duration), the following military service obligations apply:

Navy Option midshipmen (does not include Nurses or Marines) starting their freshman year of college in the Fall of 2010 or later will be required to serve a minimum of five years of active military service. Additional requirements may be required for specific job assignments.

Marine Corps Option midshipmen will be required to serve at least four years on active duty.

Navy Nurse Corps Option midshipmen will be required to serve at least four years on active duty.

Naval ROTC College Program

Midshipmen who pay their own educational expenses or have a non-Navy source of educational funding may participate in Naval ROTC through the Naval ROTC College Program. (See the Scholarship Opportunities Tab on the "Program-Info" Page). Upon graduation and commissioning, this individual will be required to serve at least three years on active duty.

Other Information

  • Upon graduation, midshipmen who complete all academic requirements in the Naval ROTC program are commissioned as Ensigns in the Navy or Second Lieutenants in the Marine Corps. Although it is not current policy, in the future some midshipmen may be commissioned temporarily into the Individual Ready Reserve (IRR).  Midshipmen without scholarships may also receive a commission through the College Program.
  • Minimum of two years active enlisted service or recoupment of all tuition dollars paid may be required for midshipmen who disenroll or are disenrolled from the Naval ROTC Scholarship Program for academic or personal reasons after the first day of their sophomore year.
  • If disenrolled, personnel who were originally on active duty and were released early to accept Naval ROTC Scholarships must complete their original enlisted contracts.
 

Naval Service Training Command, NS Great Lakes, 2601A Paul Jones St, Great Lakes, IL  60088-2845 ~ 1.800.NAV.ROTC 
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