Schools?
- Thread starter cisco
- Start date
sg1fan93
5-Year Member
- Joined
- Nov 4, 2010
- Messages
- 191
Is there a list with the top 20 or so colleges with the top ROTC programs? If anyone can provide a list with real good colleges with ROTC (or Military institutes, etc) it'd be great!
What branch of ROTC are you looking at?
From what I've learned there isn't really a "best" school for ROTC. It all really depends on what you want out of a college. The colleges that I am looking at (I am only a sophomore) are: The Citadel (A military college in South Carolina), North Georgia College (It has a HUGE ROTC program, but it is also a civilian college also) and Texas A&M (The corps of cadets there is quite huge, but there is also quite a bit of civilians as well). I am also interested with the ROTC programs at the schools near me, which is Oregon and Oregon State. I haven't really done much research regarding the amount of people in the ROTC programs there but it isn't anywhere near what North Georgia and Texas A&M are like.
Excuse me if anything I said was incorrect.
Excuse me if anything I said was incorrect.
for Army, you can start here:
http://www.goarmy.com/rotc/find-schools.html
I'm confused by your question... do you mean Top rated schools in USNWR that have ROTC, or the top rated ROTC programs in colleges?
If the second, there is no such ranking. Nor is there anywhere I found that tells you how many cadets are even in the 800+ colleges that have an ROTC presence (most are 1-3 person units that drill and take classes at a "Host Battalion", of which I think there are about 180.
Here are the USNWR Top 20 or so National Universities, plus top 20 or so Liberal Arts Colleges, and which offer ROTC: C means "cross-town", while H = Host, and N = NO. The Liberal Arts Colleges are S#. i.e. Amherst is S2
-----------------
School / US News Rank / Navy Rotc / Air Force ROTC / Army ROTC
Harvard 1 C C C
Yale 3 C C C
Stanford 5 C C C
Princeton 2 n n C
Columbia 4 n n C
MIT 7 H H H
Brown 15 n n n
Dartmouth 9 n n C
Caltech 7
Pomona s6
Amherst s2
Claremont s11 N n H
Cornell 15 H H H
Swarthmore s3
Penn 5 H n n
Duke 9 H H H
Bowdoin s6
Wash & Lee s14
Georgetown 21 C n H
Williams s1
Middlebury s4
Vanderbilt TN 17 H H H
Pitzer s46 No C C
Wash U ^ 13
UC Berk 22 H H H
Rice 17 H n n
UCLA 25 H H H
Wesleyan s12
USC ^ 23 H H H
Haverford s9
Vassar s12
Barnard s26
Tulane 51 H H H
Davidson s9
Johns Hopkins 14 H
Tufts 28
Northwestern 12 H
U of Chicago 9
Pepperdine 53 No C C
Colgate s21
Notre Dame 19 H H H
Other Highly Ranked (LACs & medium size Unis) by US News
Bard s38
Carleton MN s8
Emory GA 20
Hamilton NY s18
Colby s23
Bucknell PA s30 No No H
Carnegie Mellon 23
George Wash 51 H C C
Wellesley MA s4
NYU - 31 33 No No No
Lehigh PA 37 No No H
Wake Forrest SC 25 No n H
Grinnell IA s18
Rose Hul Tech se1
Wheaton IL s55
Smith MA s14
Oberlin OH s20
Boston College 31 C H
Harvey Mudd s18 H
University of California
UC S Diego 35 C No C
UCSB 39 No No H
UCI 41 No C C
UC Davis 39 C C H
UCSC 3.7 72 C C C
http://www.goarmy.com/rotc/find-schools.html
I'm confused by your question... do you mean Top rated schools in USNWR that have ROTC, or the top rated ROTC programs in colleges?
If the second, there is no such ranking. Nor is there anywhere I found that tells you how many cadets are even in the 800+ colleges that have an ROTC presence (most are 1-3 person units that drill and take classes at a "Host Battalion", of which I think there are about 180.
Here are the USNWR Top 20 or so National Universities, plus top 20 or so Liberal Arts Colleges, and which offer ROTC: C means "cross-town", while H = Host, and N = NO. The Liberal Arts Colleges are S#. i.e. Amherst is S2
-----------------
School / US News Rank / Navy Rotc / Air Force ROTC / Army ROTC
Harvard 1 C C C
Yale 3 C C C
Stanford 5 C C C
Princeton 2 n n C
Columbia 4 n n C
MIT 7 H H H
Brown 15 n n n
Dartmouth 9 n n C
Caltech 7
Pomona s6
Amherst s2
Claremont s11 N n H
Cornell 15 H H H
Swarthmore s3
Penn 5 H n n
Duke 9 H H H
Bowdoin s6
Wash & Lee s14
Georgetown 21 C n H
Williams s1
Middlebury s4
Vanderbilt TN 17 H H H
Pitzer s46 No C C
Wash U ^ 13
UC Berk 22 H H H
Rice 17 H n n
UCLA 25 H H H
Wesleyan s12
USC ^ 23 H H H
Haverford s9
Vassar s12
Barnard s26
Tulane 51 H H H
Davidson s9
Johns Hopkins 14 H
Tufts 28
Northwestern 12 H
U of Chicago 9
Pepperdine 53 No C C
Colgate s21
Notre Dame 19 H H H
Other Highly Ranked (LACs & medium size Unis) by US News
Bard s38
Carleton MN s8
Emory GA 20
Hamilton NY s18
Colby s23
Bucknell PA s30 No No H
Carnegie Mellon 23
George Wash 51 H C C
Wellesley MA s4
NYU - 31 33 No No No
Lehigh PA 37 No No H
Wake Forrest SC 25 No n H
Grinnell IA s18
Rose Hul Tech se1
Wheaton IL s55
Smith MA s14
Oberlin OH s20
Boston College 31 C H
Harvey Mudd s18 H
University of California
UC S Diego 35 C No C
UCSB 39 No No H
UCI 41 No C C
UC Davis 39 C C H
UCSC 3.7 72 C C C
Last edited:
- Joined
- Mar 8, 2010
- Messages
- 2,242
Clarkson is ranked #2 in the nation in percentage of cadets who participate in ROTC by Washington Monthly. I'm sure every ROTC program you look at will tell you they are the best at something.
http://goldenknightbattalion.wordpress.com/2010/08/29/choosing-the-right-rotc-program/
here is my take on choosing an ROTC program
http://goldenknightbattalion.wordpress.com/2010/08/29/choosing-the-right-rotc-program/
here is my take on choosing an ROTC program
Ohio2015Parent
5-Year Member
- Joined
- Dec 2, 2010
- Messages
- 1,122
Fengawr and OP,
While considering colleges take time to visit a few close to home. I suggest one urban setting campus, one "boondocks" school, a very small and a very large campus. Fengawr, it sounds like you are researching a lot of the SMCs, my DS also started looking at these schools during his sophmore year. We have visited North GA twice, its is a beautiful campus - just outside of Atlanta and the Chattahocee(spelling...) National forest, but it is a small school with only 50 or so majors available. The Corps of cadets and their ROO are amazing. VMI, VT and Citadel were also in the early list of schools. DS even spoke with USMA a few times. Ultimately he applied to 3 schools - one his dream/1st choice - a medium sized rural state school with 200+ possible majors and a great AROTC program, 2 a medium outofstate university with great merit money and a nice AROTC program and a local large urban university with a good AROTC program.
Take time with the decision, we didn't know about this forum prior to his application early in his senior year, after he had already been boarded by the AROTC October board. Research now will pay off big later -- take to heart the stories of back up plans and then more back up plans. Many apply to all branches and many of the SAs too. DS is Army and only Army so his opportunities were less, but merit money, SMP options and campus based funds all come into play a little later in your planning. Keep an open mind and thank you for thinking about serving our country. Good luck.
Pima
10-Year Member
- Joined
- Nov 28, 2007
- Messages
- 13,900
Look at ROTC like you do at college selection. ROTC cadres have their own personality, just because one is ranked the best in the nation may not be a good fit for you.
Take the time to visit the ROTC unit.
It could be the best cadre in the country, but if you hate the school, you will not be successful. You have to be emotionally in the game. Success is from motivation, and if you are just passing time to your commission date it will show in your work and attitude.
If you want to be there and the fear of losing friends and that life it will show through your work and attitude. Scholarship or no scholarship.
From an AFROTC mom, I will say the cadets who enter that visit the cadre do better because they have show up knowing what they need to do to accomplish their career goals. Many select because they also talk to cadets, and again they feel that they fit the personality of the cadre.
Caveat: Personality is not meant as clique terms, it is like saying you fit the personality of the college. Some colleges you decide to remove from the list because of the "feel" at the school, in other words the personality of the school.
Old cliche, you can't explain/define it, but you know it when you see/feel it.
Also one thing I would state, again AFROTC Mom, is that you need to weigh the size out. For some colleges the cadre is so large it is too much for them, but they hear has X amt graduating. The number sounds great. The follow up question should be what is the %. In other words Texas A &M can say 200 cadets graduate, that sounds great compared to a smaller unit with 100. However, what if that 100 had 75% and the other had 50% would that impact your decision?
Nobody knows you personally, nobody knows your major, your career field or what you consider as factors for the best/top ROTC program. Heck, nobody knows the level of ROTC involvement you want. There are some great units out there, but don't have ROTC dorms, and that is something the cadet wants. Conversely, there are some great ROTC programs that you are dormed together and that is something the cadet would prefer not to have.
Like I said it is like college selection. Approach it in that manner and you will be fine. You will realize once you narrow it to your top choices, the advice will be more succinct to your issues because now it is about you personally.
Take the time to visit the ROTC unit.
It could be the best cadre in the country, but if you hate the school, you will not be successful. You have to be emotionally in the game. Success is from motivation, and if you are just passing time to your commission date it will show in your work and attitude.
If you want to be there and the fear of losing friends and that life it will show through your work and attitude. Scholarship or no scholarship.
From an AFROTC mom, I will say the cadets who enter that visit the cadre do better because they have show up knowing what they need to do to accomplish their career goals. Many select because they also talk to cadets, and again they feel that they fit the personality of the cadre.
Caveat: Personality is not meant as clique terms, it is like saying you fit the personality of the college. Some colleges you decide to remove from the list because of the "feel" at the school, in other words the personality of the school.
Old cliche, you can't explain/define it, but you know it when you see/feel it.
Also one thing I would state, again AFROTC Mom, is that you need to weigh the size out. For some colleges the cadre is so large it is too much for them, but they hear has X amt graduating. The number sounds great. The follow up question should be what is the %. In other words Texas A &M can say 200 cadets graduate, that sounds great compared to a smaller unit with 100. However, what if that 100 had 75% and the other had 50% would that impact your decision?
Nobody knows you personally, nobody knows your major, your career field or what you consider as factors for the best/top ROTC program. Heck, nobody knows the level of ROTC involvement you want. There are some great units out there, but don't have ROTC dorms, and that is something the cadet wants. Conversely, there are some great ROTC programs that you are dormed together and that is something the cadet would prefer not to have.
Like I said it is like college selection. Approach it in that manner and you will be fine. You will realize once you narrow it to your top choices, the advice will be more succinct to your issues because now it is about you personally.
Pima
10-Year Member
- Joined
- Nov 28, 2007
- Messages
- 13,900
http://www.armytimes.com/news/2010/02/army_rotc_awards_021510w/
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.
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.
Last edited:
The OC Josh
5-Year Member
- Joined
- Oct 22, 2009
- Messages
- 478
If you are looking for a small, Christian Liberal Arts school with Army ROTC, definitely check Wheaton out. It has great academics and the ROTC Bn is awesome. Although I am biased, it really is a great school
My son will be in Navy ROTC at Oregon State this fall. His scholarship was originally assigned to U. Arizona. When we toured Oregon State in April, the head of the unit said that due to budget cuts if your state has an ROTC unit, you will most likely be assigned there if you get the scholarship. I do not know how/if that applies to private schools such as the Citadel. Part of the reason, he said, is finanical. In-state tuition vs out of state tuition. The government pays, and it wants to pay less. Our state does not have a Navy ROTC program at all, so all appointments are out of state tuition. Things change all the time, and today's policy might not be tomorrow's policy. Plus, there are exceptions. Yet Oregon has excellent programs ... Army, AF and Navy at OSU, and one of them at UO .... check them out ...
Identify what is important to you. Would you be satisfied with a Guard or Reserve spot when you graduated. When you visit the battalions ask the the hard questions. If you are looking at ARTOC, ask how many cadets they send to LDAC and how they do. Ask how many cadets got RA, Reserve and Guard commissions. Ask how many got their 1st branch choice. Those questions are all quality indicators. You can have good academics and a good ROTC program. However, don't go to a school because you are enamored with the cadre as they will likely change between the time you start the application process at the end of your junior year of high school and when you graduate from college.
cisco
5-Year Member
- Joined
- May 11, 2011
- Messages
- 142
Sorry that i was not clear on my question everyone, but I am looking for AROTC and perferably a school with a degree in political science/Government, or History. (like Virginia Military Institute doesn't have a degree for Political Science)
And thanks everyone for all your help! And i'm only a sophomore too. I'm leaning more towards A&M (i live very close to it anyways), Norwich or Citadel. But i'll be looking at all the rest you guys provided me with so again thanks!
Texas A&M is the way to go, in my opinion. Their AROTC got the MacArthur Award. It's the best of both worlds. You get the gung-ho super intense and challenging military college experience coupled with the amazing traditions of A&M and great D-1 sports.
cisco
5-Year Member
- Joined
- May 11, 2011
- Messages
- 142
Texas A&M
NGCSU has a great program also. Often overlooked.
Tuition/fees/R&B @ $24,000 OOS - that is same/less than some schools instate Tuition/fees/R&B...
Beautiful area, nice climate, A Mountain Platoon, 700+ in Corps of Cadets, it's the only all Army SMC.
60% female to 40% male ... oh to be young again
Texas A&M
NGCSU has a great program also. Often overlooked.
Tuition/fees/R&B @ $24,000 OOS - that is same/less than some schools instate Tuition/fees/R&B...
Beautiful area, nice climate, A Mountain Platoon, 700+ in Corps of Cadets, it's the only all Army SMC.
60% female to 40% male ... oh to be young again
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think if you're in the Corps at NGCSU, you get in-state tution.
cisco
5-Year Member
- Joined
- May 11, 2011
- Messages
- 142
I'll take a look at it more, it looks nice!Texas A&M
NGCSU has a great program also. Often overlooked.
Tuition/fees/R&B @ $24,000 OOS - that is same/less than some schools instate Tuition/fees/R&B...
Beautiful area, nice climate, A Mountain Platoon, 700+ in Corps of Cadets, it's the only all Army SMC.
60% female to 40% male ... oh to be young again
I hope so! lol That'd be cool if it's true.
http://www.northgeorgia.edu/Cadet_A..._and_Scholarships/Costs_and_Scholarships.aspx
The cost for a Cadet to attend in School Year 2011-2012
(these costs pertain to out-of-state students as well as Georgia state residents)
Cadet Total for the year is $18,061
Includes everything, Tuition fees, R&B, Uniforms, Books, Rec Fee, Health insurance, etc
http://www.northgeorgia.edu/cadetadmissions/
The cost for a Cadet to attend in School Year 2011-2012
(these costs pertain to out-of-state students as well as Georgia state residents)
Cadet Total for the year is $18,061
Includes everything, Tuition fees, R&B, Uniforms, Books, Rec Fee, Health insurance, etc
http://www.northgeorgia.edu/cadetadmissions/
NGCSU Video Series on Facebook
Corps of Cadets, application deadline is July 1st
GPA of 3.75 and higher 30.00%
GPA between 3.50 and 3.74 24.80%
GPA between 3.25 and 3.49 20.90%
GPA between 3.00 and 3.24 12.80%
GPA between 2.50 and 2.99 8.40%
GPA between 2.0 and 2.49 2.70%
GPA between 1.0 and 1.99 0.40%
ACT Composite
30-36 4.00%
24-29 45.00%
18-23 49.00%
12-17 2.00%
Corps of Cadets, application deadline is July 1st
GPA of 3.75 and higher 30.00%
GPA between 3.50 and 3.74 24.80%
GPA between 3.25 and 3.49 20.90%
GPA between 3.00 and 3.24 12.80%
GPA between 2.50 and 2.99 8.40%
GPA between 2.0 and 2.49 2.70%
GPA between 1.0 and 1.99 0.40%
ACT Composite
30-36 4.00%
24-29 45.00%
18-23 49.00%
12-17 2.00%
Last edited: