ROTC Scholarships Available with College Credit

Hi, I'm a school counselor at an early college high school. Our kids graduate with a high school degree and an associate's degree at the same time, so about 60-64 college credits.

In steering students in the right direction for ROTC scholarships, I have done lots of reading on the ROTC websites but am still a little confused as to what they would need to apply for.

Am I correct in assuming they would not be eligible for 4 year scholarships?Because they are still considered Freshmen when they enter their 4 year college does that change the possibilities?

Sometimes they need more than the traditional 2 years (60 credits) to complete a degree, especially things like Sciences and Engineering that require prerequisites that we might not have here before they get to their 4 year school. So I'm wondering if they can apply for a 3 year scholarship?

Obviously, I will advise them to contact the person in charge of the unit at the school they are interested, but I was wondering if anyone here could give some insight. Especially insight when all branches might be different and some students are interested in the Air Force while others might want to apply for NROTC or AROTC.

Thanks in advance!

From the Navy ROTC website... (http://www.nrotc.navy.mil/scholarship_criteria.html)

Students w/30 or more semester hours or 45 or more quarter hours of college credit upon application are not eligible for four-year NROTC Scholarships; these students should see professors of naval science at host university's NROTC unit to discuss other scholarship opportunities.

The "other scholarship opportunities" are found here... (http://www.nrotc.navy.mil/scholarships.html#Other)

The NROTC 4-year National scholarship (both Navy and Marine option) is open to those students with less than 30 credit hours. HOWEVER, in calculating eligibility, the Navy/Marine Corps ignore all credits earned (AP, dual enrollment, etc.) during high school, before a student actually starts day 1 at college (the credits still count towards a degree obviously, they just don't use them to prevent a student from applying for the scholarship). So bottom line, even if you have high school students with 30+ credits, they can still apply for the NROTC National scholarship. Technically, it will be a 4-year award, but when they arrive at their assigned school/unit, the staff there will work on a degree plan with them to figure out when it is feasible for them to graduate. In cases like this, a 4-year National winner might end up graduating in about 3 years.

Hope that helps.

rocatlin said:

From the Navy ROTC website... (http://www.nrotc.navy.mil/scholarship_criteria.html)

Students w/30 or more semester hours or 45 or more quarter hours of college credit upon application are not eligible for four-year NROTC Scholarships; these students should see professors of naval science at host university's NROTC unit to discuss other scholarship opportunities.

The "other scholarship opportunities" are found here... (http://www.nrotc.navy.mil/scholarships.html#Other)

Click to expand...

Only applies to those students who are already in college. Yes, I know it's worded poorly.

NavyNOLA said:

The NROTC 4-year National scholarship (both Navy and Marine option) is open to those students with less than 30 credit hours. HOWEVER, in calculating eligibility, the Navy/Marine Corps ignore all credits earned (AP, dual enrollment, etc.) during high school, before a student actually starts day 1 at college (the credits still count towards a degree obviously, they just don't use them to prevent a student from applying for the scholarship). So bottom line, even if you have high school students with 30+ credits, they can still apply for the NROTC National scholarship. Technically, it will be a 4-year award, but when they arrive at their assigned school/unit, the staff there will work on a degree plan with them to figure out when it is feasible for them to graduate. In cases like this, a 4-year National winner might end up graduating in about 3 years.

Hope that helps.

Click to expand...

Awesome! Thanks so much for your help! I was hoping that was the case.

I received an AFROTC scholarship. I have 90 college credits through a dual enrollment program. These kids still count as high school students, but they will need to do a little extra paperwork in order to graduate in three years after HS. If they have two years of college credits, then they will still have to stay in AFROTC at least three years.

Just to throw in my 2 cents.... NavyNOLA is correct in everything stated, but I can't really see anyone completing it in less than 3 years since it's really designed to be a 4 year program. To do it in three years as a Navy Option one will need to double up on Naval Science classes two semesters and work out doing their First Class Cruise (final summer training) in less than 4 years. Marine Options will need to work out their summer training as well and in particular their final summer cruise aboard OCS Quantico, VA. These things CAN be done but I wanted to help set expectations. The kid who comes in with 60 hours as part of their Associate's Degree shouldn't expect to graduate in two years (although there may be a small handful of exceptions).

By all means, they ought to apply in any case. They can work the details out later.

kinnem said:

I can't really see anyone completing it in less than 3 years since it's really designed to be a 4 year program. To do it in three years as a Navy Option one will need to double up on Naval Science classes two semesters and work out doing their First Class Cruise (final summer training) in less than 4 years.

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For AFROTC I am doubling up on AF classes and doing Field Training my first summer (2017 after starting fall 2016). They said I have to do it for at least 3 yrs. I know of people who are either doing part of a masters or a double major to stay at school for three years even though they graduated HS with 2 yrs of their bachelor's degree done.

NavyNOLA said:

Only applies to those students who are already in college. Yes, I know it's worded poorly.

Click to expand...

You are so correct, sir. It is worded poorly. DS is finishing year 1 at RPI tomorrow, and as a 25 year high school teacher and veteran, I was thoroughly confused by the wording. DS finished HS with 27 semester hours, and we discussed and ultimately decided not to pursue any more, as it may impact his eligibility for a scholarship.

Thanks for clarifying this.

You guys have been VERY helpful. Thank you so very much. I would assume Army ROTC scholarships work the same.

Most of our kids take longer than 2 years anyway to finish because they have need prerequisites and to get into the school for their major (college of engineering, etc). So it's probably still a great option for them if they are looking to become leaders and officers in the military.

I appreciate so much all of your input!