Does Airforce ROTC cover graduate program tuition if finishing both undergraduate and graduate programs in 4 years?

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mjlpearce

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My son is a sophomore on Air Force ROTC program. Because he earned a lot of AP credits from high school and has been classes during his summer and winter breaks in the past year, he will be able to complete his undergraduate program in his Junior year and graduate program in his Senior year. AROTC covers 4 years tuition in college while pursuing undergraduate program and completing ROTC training. He told me that the AROTC will not cover his senior year tuition for his graduate program while he goes through the 4th year ROTC training.

Is this true?

Thank you!
 
Following, I have the same question. I was told at the university he is going to that it would cover the fourth year graduate program because the graduate classes are the same price as the undergrad if taken in the first four years. This wasn't an official source though, so I would love to hear others opinions. He will ask contact AROTC command and ask, he just hasn't got around to it yet.
 
My son told me that if someone has to take 5 years to complete the undergraduate program, AROTC would cover the 5th year tuition. But if you finish undergraduate program in three years then AROTC won't cover the 4th year graduate program. You brought up a good point about the cost. If the cost is the same, I can't think of any reason why AROTC won't cover it. @Texark147 Please let me know what your son finds out.
 
This seems like something that he needs to get with his detachment to confirm. My guess would be that there might be a rule about a cadet not getting a masters while in the AFROTC scholarship program. NROTC has limits of how many credits a Midn can take going into college, but it can be waived in some situations. I'm not sure if AFRTOC as the same requirement. Army doesn't I believe. So it depends on how the detachment follows the rule. Do they follow the "the letter of the law, or the spirit of the law". He might be able to get a waiver through the detachment to get around it. Did he speak with the detachment about his plans for masters before he was in the unit or freshman year?
 
I am not sure of the details of my son's conversation with the detachment. I will find out. my impression is that they follow the law strictly :)
 
I know we have been told for Army ROTC it does NOT cover graduate course work. My son will enter his freshman year with 70 credits. We've also been advised he needs to be there the full 4 years and they don't pay for a second degree. (Our plan is to make sure the credits he takes beyond what he needs for BS degree #1, could add towards a BS degree #2. Might as well get the best bang for the buck.)
 
AFROTC experience: My dd had ~1.5 years of dual enrollment credit when she started. She ended up finishing her degree requirements (chem major/math minor) in 2.5 years. She wanted to take graduate courses, but she was denied. I can't remember the exact reason, but I do know she and her cadre tried multiple avenues without success.

Additionally, her scholarship would not pay for her to take any classes other than those needed for the degree, so no fun classes like art classes/fun PE classes, etc. her last 3 semesters. She doubled her ROTC classes junior year second semester taking 2nd semester junior and senior ROTC classes. Then, her senior year she took her remaining first semester senior ROTC class and graduated in Dec, one semester early.

Something to be aware of if your student has Tricare insurance: She lost her Tricare insurance after she turned 21 because she was no longer considered full-time. Yes, she could have paid for Tricare Young Adult, but there is a monthly premium for that.
 
HawkeyeMom said:
AFROTC experience: My dd had ~1.5 years of dual enrollment credit when she started. She ended up finishing her degree requirements (chem major/math minor) in 2.5 years. She wanted to take graduate courses, but she was denied. I can't remember the exact reason, but I do know she and her cadre tried multiple avenues without success.

Additionally, her scholarship would not pay for her to take any classes other than those needed for the degree, so no fun classes like art classes/fun PE classes, etc. her last 3 semesters. She doubled her ROTC classes junior year second semester taking 2nd semester junior and senior ROTC classes. Then, her senior year she took her remaining first semester senior ROTC class and graduated in Dec, one semester early.

Something to be aware of if your student has Tricare insurance: She lost her Tricare insurance after she turned 21 because she was no longer considered full-time. Yes, she could have paid for Tricare Young Adult, but there is a monthly premium for that.
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Thank you for this info.
 
I assume you could just not take a key course till last semester. Example history is required then don’t take it till then. It seems to save the government money in the long run.

I know a buddy of mine got his MBA while he was doing his BA. No issues. Granted it was in the 90s.

Usually you have to apply to graduate and file some paperwork it’s not just automatically done. So if your working on both at same time I imagine it will work out.
 
HawkeyeMom said:
AFROTC experience: My dd had ~1.5 years of dual enrollment credit when she started. She ended up finishing her degree requirements (chem major/math minor) in 2.5 years. She wanted to take graduate courses, but she was denied. I can't remember the exact reason, but I do know she and her cadre tried multiple avenues without success.

Additionally, her scholarship would not pay for her to take any classes other than those needed for the degree, so no fun classes like art classes/fun PE classes, etc. her last 3 semesters. She doubled her ROTC classes junior year second semester taking 2nd semester junior and senior ROTC classes. Then, her senior year she took her remaining first semester senior ROTC class and graduated in Dec, one semester early.

Something to be aware of if your student has Tricare insurance: She lost her Tricare insurance after she turned 21 because she was no longer considered full-time. Yes, she could have paid for Tricare Young Adult, but there is a monthly premium for that.
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That's very helpful to know. Thank you!
 
ASKMEAGAINDAD said:
I assume you could just not take a key course till last semester. Example history is required then don’t take it till then. It seems to save the government money in the long run.

I know a buddy of mine got his MBA while he was doing his BA. No issues. Granted it was in the 90s.

Usually you have to apply to graduate and file some paperwork it’s not just automatically done. So if your working on both at same time I imagine it will work out.
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I talked about this with my son too. He said he needs to get his BS first before applying for master, even though he has been taking graduate courses in his sophomore year. So this won't work.

I would imagine that AFROTC would encourge students to get as much education as possible in 4 years, especially if the cost for graduate program is the same as undergraduate courses.
 
It's possible, but they need to know and get it approved before next semester if you're saying they're an AS200 since it has to be approved before POC entry (AS300 year). It'll have to be approved by AFROTC HQ and that'll take a while, so start working on it and let Cadre know ASAP (like tomorrow). Here are the regs straight from AFROTCI 36-2011 Vol 3 (google it if you want more info)
4.9.3. Funding Graduate Courses. Scholarship funding ceases upon completion of an undergraduate degree regardless of the original award length. Use of scholarship funds towards graduate courses is authorized by exception only, when funding is available. Requires AFROTC/CC approval no earlier than POC entry. If approved, only remaining entitlements from the original scholarship award will be authorized for use towards graduate courses.
4.9.3.1. Approved graduate funding may be applied only to courses taken at the cadet's detachment host institution or one of its affiliated crosstown institutions.
4.9.3.2. Graduate funding will not be authorized for cadets that choose to consolidate a four- or five-year program to complete all undergraduate requirements early.
4.9.3.3. Funding requests must submitted via Cadet Personnel Action Request (CPAR) to AFROTC/RRU at afrotc.rrue.icsp@us.af.mil and must be received NLT 31 Aug of the academic year in which the cadet will complete their undergraduate work, but no earlier than enrollment in the POC. Requests should include any supporting documentation as applicable to help evaluate merit for approval. Late requests will not be processed and will be automatically disapproved.
4.9.3.4. Scholarship cadets who are not having their graduate courses funded may be eligible to receive the housing conversion.

Also, someone else had mentioned 2 bachelor's degrees, but be careful as it's not allowed and I don't want anyone to accidentally have to pay back a scholarship.
4.9.4. Funding Additional Degree Courses. AFROTC will not extend scholarship entitlements for courses taken after first undergraduate degree is completed. In the case of cadets who have completed their first undergraduate degree but have not completed all AS academic requirements, scholarship entitlements will cover only AS academic requirements.
 
The mission of ROTC is to produce officers. Since a bachelor's degree is required for a commission, ROTC pays for that degree. Once a cadet earns their degree and fulfills all the other commissioning requirements, ROTC has completed the mission.

That being said, there are plenty of graduate studies opportunities, including service graduate schools, tuition assistance, ROTC instructor, and assignment to civilian graduate programs.
 
@so7 and @Physicsguru: Thank you very much! I got why they only cover bachelor's degree now. My son has talked to his detachment and submitted the plan on how he will complete the master in the 4th year. His detachment will submit it to the higher up. We are hopeful!
 
Physicsguru said:
The mission of ROTC is to produce officers. Since a bachelor's degree is required for a commission, ROTC pays for that degree. Once a cadet earns their degree and fulfills all the other commissioning requirements, ROTC has completed the mission.

That being said, there are plenty of graduate studies opportunities, including service graduate schools, tuition assistance, ROTC instructor, and assignment to civilian graduate programs.
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And I'll add to that, if it's a highly desired masters like meteorology the AF will most likely pay for it.
 
WMSMOM said:
And I'll add to that, if it's a highly desired masters like meteorology the AF will most likely pay for it.
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My son's major is computer science with concentration on cyber security. Hopefully he will get it. Still waiting for the decision...
 
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