http://www.armytimes.com/news/2010/02/army_rotc_awards_021510w/
Along with production efficiency, cadet retention rate, quality of military training and performance in military training, the Cadet National Order of Merit List performance is also taken into consideration when deciding which program is a stand-out for the annually-given award. Performance of the previous fiscal year (Oct. 2009-Sept. 2010) is evaluated, and then the prize is offered to the schools that meet the standards in each area.
That being stated, I still stand by my position, love ROTC, hate the school, = no good. Conversely love the school, hate ROTC = no good.
If you want to attend Notre Dame and are from CA, I am not sure Campbell University in NC is a match because Campbell is on the list and ND isn't. West and East coast colleges are night and day differences in attitudes like their respective coasts.
Campbell is not on par with Notre Dame academically.
ROTC is really about blending your college desires with your ROTC/military goals.
Candidates need to understand that college life is a part of the equation. If you want military life or best chances for the military is go SA. If you believe you are not competitive, or want a college life, bring it down to schools that have Corps. If you want to go to a great school with a great ROTC unit...talk to the schools that you match.
AROTC and NROTC are different than AFROTC. We still do not know the ROTC program that the OP desires.
A/NROTC, you can want to apply to the best ROTC program, but remember they select who gets a scholarship, if it was me or my child, I would want to guarantee academically I am a match or they are my safety. AFROTC is national, dets have no voice in the game, they allow the scholarship to go to the schools that accept the scholarship.
Not trying to promote AFROTC, because there are downfalls, Type of scholarships to say the least. Just saying, if the list came out that MIT was the best ROTC program in the states for every branch, how will it impact you if you are going to get the TWE from MIT or didn't apply? It is moot.
Choose the schools, and pick the best ROTC program from that pile.
Putting ROTC over the school is like putting the cart before the horse. You need the college to accept you. If your profile is phenomenal to the point any college will take you, the question that is begging to be answered is why not the SA? If finance is an issue, the question begging to be answered is what if you hate ROTC? How will you pay for it without a scholarship? If ROTC in a college atmosphere is your true desire, than look for schools that mimic that.
Start asking what you want, don't play the system of best odds.