Cheapest Cost University or College per ROTC Branch

[Herman_Snerd]

There are a number of young people who are now interested in going the college programmer route next year for NROTC, AFROTC, AROTC. Simple question - does anyone know which schools are the most affordable to attend as a college programmer with either in-state or out-of-state tuition rates? Seeking to help those who are regrouping on exploring options.

Overall, people can speak with the university financial aid and admissions teams for any university they were admitted to, to ask if there's any additional support that can be offered. As an example a couple of weeks ago I wrote a letter to the admissions team at the school my DD is attending next year, asking for a reconsideration of her merit scholarship offer. I included a summary of the >1 million dollars in scholarships that were offered by less than 10 other schools but noted she wants to go to their outstanding program - they literally doubled the funding they are offering her for the next four years. Doesn't hurt to ask.

Please share details on cost effective programs if you can help.

 

[unkown1961]

There are a number of young people who are now interested in going the college programmer route next year for NROTC, AFROTC, AROTC. Simple question - does anyone know which schools are the most affordable to attend as a college programmer with either in-state or out-of-state tuition rates? Seeking to help those who are regrouping on exploring options.

Overall, people can speak with the university financial aid and admissions teams for any university they were admitted to, to ask if there's any additional support that can be offered. As an example a couple of weeks ago I wrote a letter to the admissions team at the school my DD is attending next year, asking for a reconsideration of her merit scholarship offer. I included a summary of the >1 million dollars in scholarships that were offered by less than 10 other schools but noted she wants to go to their outstanding program - they literally doubled the funding they are offering her for the next four years. Doesn't hurt to ask.

Please share details on cost effective programs if you can help.

Will she be a freshman or was this her merit package as a returning college student?

 

[glen]

Good topic. Public institutions especially increase the amount of financial aid available to upper classes in an effort to retain students and help them graduate. The key is you have to ask as noted above - as few institutions will automatically notify students of additional aid. I know for example at my undergraduate college, the Provost Office sponsors a number of merit grants to enccourage enrollment in STEM and other majors. Upperclass must apply each year for these grants.

 

[cb7893]

For starters, a number of in states offer no tuition to either in state of out of state Merit Scholar finalists. Many states waive tuition for in state students that finish in the top ~10% of their HS graduating class. Some specific examples are Georgia's Hope Scholarship https://finaid.gatech.edu/hope-scholarship or Nebraska's Susan Buffet Scholarship https://buffettscholarships.org/ which has a 2.0 GPA requirement.

My DS was a NMSQT Finalist. He applied to a number of schools. Bored one afternoon, he searched "Free College Applications". On a lark, he filled out the App for U of Minnesota--we are OOS, but Big 10. The next week, the Dean of the College of Science and Engineering called him at home an offered him admission and a scholarship covering tuition. Later he applied for an AROTC scholarship, which he received.

Better to just go do the research than wait for an applicable experience from an SAF poster.

 

[thibaud]

Generally speaking, the cheapest four-year colleges and universities in this nation are either
- about 7-8 tippy-top universities that offer extraordinary financial aid -- as much as 100% of tuition--to families earning less than $150k per year; or
- flagship state universities, located mainly in the deep South, Appalachia and the prairie states, that are seeking to attract more young, high-achieving ambitious students from around the country in hopes that they'll continue on and add to these states' (lagging) economies.

The former include the usual suspects. The latter include flagship universities in Nebraska, Oklahoma, Mississippi, Kentucky, Maine.
In addition, Minnesota, Kansas, Alabama, Montana State and a few other flagships offer generous aid.

Exceptions to the rules above include a few outlier state universities in high-growth Florida, Texas, Georgia: Florida State, Texas Tech, Texas A&M, U. Georgia.

 

[Boymomof3]

I agree with @cb7893 .... just keep researching and researching. For our DS, he applied to the U of I as literally “Plan G-ish” then found out that as an in-state student, his tuition is taken care just for participating in any of the (3) ROTC programs, while the students try to either get a 2 or 3 yr scholarship or advanced standing. It’s tuition only, so doesn’t include everything an ROTC scholarship covers but how can one complain about free tuition? He ended up loving the school (our own walking tour) & has been impressed w/ all of the NRTOC folks he’s been in contact with. He’ll be joining as a Programmer. Yes, you may end up going down some rabbit holes w/ the research but chances are you may find some hidden gems .... good luck !

 

[unkown1961]

You can add most of the Jesuit universities as offering solid merit aid, such as St. Louis U, Loyola, U of San Francisco, Gonzaga, Portland, etc. Not all of them though.
Of the selective schools that offer good aid, we've found Southern Cal, MIT, Rice and Princeton.
Boston U also offered excellent additional money to ROTC scholarship award winners.

 

[Herman_Snerd]

Will she be a freshman or was this her merit package as a returning college student?

She will be a freshman next year/ is graduating HS this year. Thanks

 

[PeacockRaj]

Generally speaking, the cheapest four-year colleges and universities in this nation are either
- about 7-8 tippy-top universities that offer extraordinary financial aid -- as much as 100% of tuition--to families earning less than $150k per year; or
- flagship state universities, located mainly in the deep South, Appalachia and the prairie states, that are seeking to attract more young, high-achieving ambitious students from around the country in hopes that they'll continue on and add to these states' (lagging) economies.

The former include the usual suspects. The latter include flagship universities in Nebraska, Oklahoma, Mississippi, Kentucky, Maine.
In addition, Minnesota, Kansas, Alabama, Montana State and a few other flagships offer generous aid.

Exceptions to the rules above include a few outlier state universities in high-growth Florida, Texas, Georgia: Florida State, Texas Tech, Texas A&M, U. Georgia.

I'm from a fast growing area that has left my price range, a flagship university in somewhere cheaper sounds perfect, I'm already considering Kansas, Maine, and a few others as states to settle in (though my goal being an officer's commission, I suppose any home is necessarily part time).

May I ask for more information on a few of these?

 

[Newport122]

According to our FAFSA, we are expected to pay $41,000, so we don’t qualify for much…so…

My DD was offered a $12,000 merit scholarship to Oregon State. With her tuition and fees covered by NROTC and a few smaller scholarships she’s already received - we’d be looking at about $250 in expenses (and the end of the year scholarships haven’t even come out).

Madison and Boulder didn’t offer a lot (about $5000) but Missouri offered about the same at OSU….and they give free room and board to freshman on scholarships.

Money is out there (we provide for my mom, FAFSA doesn’t have a column with that expense ‍♀).

 

[JohnMcLane]

Generally speaking, the cheapest four-year colleges and universities in this nation are either
- about 7-8 tippy-top universities that offer extraordinary financial aid -- as much as 100% of tuition--to families earning less than $150k per year; or
- flagship state universities, located mainly in the deep South, Appalachia and the prairie states, that are seeking to attract more young, high-achieving ambitious students from around the country in hopes that they'll continue on and add to these states' (lagging) economies.

The former include the usual suspects. The latter include flagship universities in Nebraska, Oklahoma, Mississippi, Kentucky, Maine.
In addition, Minnesota, Kansas, Alabama, Montana State and a few other flagships offer generous aid.

Exceptions to the rules above include a few outlier state universities in high-growth Florida, Texas, Georgia: Florida State, Texas Tech, Texas A&M, U. Georgia

I'm from a fast growing area that has left my price range, a flagship university in somewhere cheaper sounds perfect, I'm already considering Kansas, Maine, and a few others as states to settle in (though my goal being an officer's commission, I suppose any home is necessarily part time).

May I ask for more information on a few of these?

 

[PeacockRaj]

According to our FAFSA, we are expected to pay $41,000, so we don’t qualify for much…so…

My DD was offered a $12,000 merit scholarship to Oregon State. With her tuition and fees covered by NROTC and a few smaller scholarships she’s already received - we’d be looking at about $250 in expenses (and the end of the year scholarships haven’t even come out).

Madison and Boulder didn’t offer a lot (about $5000) but Missouri offered about the same at OSU….and they give free room and board to freshman on scholarships.

Money is out there (we provide for my mom, FAFSA doesn’t have a column with that expense ‍♀).

Good to know, I'm in a lower income bracket as well.

Honestly, this forum has assuaged my fears of paying for college more than anything else. Thanks to you all.

 

[JohnMcLane]

I'm from a fast growing area that has left my price range, a flagship university in somewhere cheaper sounds perfect, I'm already considering Kansas, Maine, and a few others as states to settle in (though my goal being an officer's commission, I suppose any home is necessarily part time).

May I ask for more information on a few of these?

My DS and several friends got 4YR national ROTC scholarships from every service good anywhere in the country. They all chose Kansas. As a frugal parent, thinking that with a blank check, they should all pick the most expensive college they could, it felt like leaving money on the table. But I think it's a good choice as it's an excellent university and will fit them well.

 

[Aglahad]

My DS and several friends got 4YR national ROTC scholarships from every service good anywhere in the country. They all chose Kansas. As a frugal parent, thinking that with a blank check, they should all pick the most expensive college they could, it felt like leaving money on the table. But I think it's a good choice as it's an excellent university and will fit them well.

Depends a lot on the desired major, proximity to military bases and class sizes etc. My family is from Kansas, there are some fine schools out there.
My school was very expensive but it also specialized in getting folks into medical school. Massive state schools with 500+ student biology classes Freshman year make getting into med school a lot harder than a pricey private school with 50 students. However, part of me regrets not going to a big state school. I got to participate in NCAA sports but the D1 atmosphere is fun time that can never be replicated.

TLDR: Having the govt fork out the most money may not be in the student's best interest

 

[ArmyOfOne81]

My DS was offered about $40k in campus based academic scholarships for Norwich University. We only qualify for $5500 in student loans a year. Norwich is definitely a school that can help piece this all together. We visited twice and liked the school.

Another hidden gem is the University of North Georgia. They offer in state tuition to out of state students that join their corp of cadets. In state tuition per year is about $5k! Located an hour North of Atlanta in a beautiful safe small town. We visited and loved it.

He applied to both and was accepted. He has since received an AROTC Scholarship and chosen The Citadel but if he had not received that scholarship we would have been choosing from Norwich or UNG, both SMCs that he liked and we could make work.

 

[glen]

My DS was offered about $40k in campus based academic scholarships for Norwich University. We only qualify for $5500 in student loans a year. Norwich is definitely a school that can help piece this all together. We visited twice and liked the school.

Another hidden gem is the University of North Georgia. They offer in state tuition to out of state students that join their corp of cadets. In state tuition per year is about $5k! Located an hour North of Atlanta in a beautiful safe small town. We visited and loved it.

He applied to both and was accepted. He has since received an AROTC Scholarship and chosen The Citadel but if he had not received that scholarship we would have been choosing from Norwich or UNG, both SMCs that he liked and we could make work.

ArmyOfOne81 - if your DS was awarded an ROTC scholarship by a national board he should also have been eligible for the room and board scholarships offered to these incoming cadets at The Citadel. Has he pursued this additional award offered by the college? For incoming cadets awarded 3 year AROTC scholarships, I believe The Citadel offers the first year tuition in lieu of room and board for that year. If eligible these make the college very affordable.

 

[ArmyOfOne81]

ArmyOfOne81 - if your DS was awarded an ROTC scholarship by a national board he should also have been eligible for the room and board scholarships offered to these incoming cadets at The Citadel. Has he pursued this additional award offered by the college? For incoming cadets awarded 3 year AROTC scholarships, I believe The Citadel offers the first year tuition in lieu of room and board for that year. If eligible these make the college very affordable.

Yes he’s received those additional benefits already. He’s only applied to colleges that offered free room and board. There are some really good deals out there. Texas A and M offers in state tuition to out of state cadets also.

 

[SVfather]

From what I understand University of Oklahoma offers in state tuition for college programmers. I have some xperience with the school and while it's not a top Big 10/Pac 12 school academics-wise it's in the class of Kansas, easier to maintain grades. Ironically Kansas is considered the "cool bohemian" school in that part of the country.

 

[BJD16]

I know many of the Catholic schools offer free room and board. Marquette, my alma mater, and University of San Diego for sure. Private schools have more of a pot of money to offer free room and board to get kids to come. States schools are limited, but check and see if merit aid can be shifted to room and board. I think Ohio State, Iowa State, Auburn and many others allow it. As SVfather mentioned, the top Big 10 and Pac 12 schools probably don't offer free room and board.

 

[Boymomof3]

I know many of the Catholic schools offer free room and board. Marquette, my alma mater, and University of San Diego for sure. Private schools have more of a pot of money to offer free room and board to get kids to come. States schools are limited, but check and see if merit aid can be shifted to room and board. I think Ohio State, Iowa State, Auburn and many others allow it. As SVfather mentioned, the top Big 10 and Pac 12 schools probably don't offer free room and board.

Good info! Just to clarify, they may not offer free R&B but UIUC overs 40 tuition waivers for in-state students - for each of the 3 branches (it’s a competitive process if there are more than 40 requesting the waiver). For NROTC this year, my DS will use the waiver & $ for R&B from his NROTC scholarship. This land grant designation & tuition waiver for UIUC is not well known - that’s why I keep bringing it up. It really was a game changer for him once we figured it out. If I remember correctly, UIUC started out as a military college a long time ago…