First, I apologize if I came off at all snappish or rude in my previous post.
I'll post how the AFROTC scholarships are generally done (I applied and was rejected) and I believe they are VERY similar to Army and Navy.
3 scholarship types are offered:
The Air Force ROTC College Scholarship ProgramProvides 3- and 4-year scholarships in three different types to high school seniors. provides 4- and 3-year scholarships in three different types. The application process is the same for each type.
* Type 1Pays full college tuition, most fees and $600 per year for books. – pays full college tuition, most fees and $600 per year for books. Approximately 5 percent of our 4-year scholarship winners will be offered a Type-1 scholarship (mostly in technical fieldsFields mostly related to careers in the Air Force that have a scientific basis such as engineering, chemistry and meterology, and that the Air Force considers a need for its officers.).
* Type 2Pays college tuition and most fees up to $15,000, and pays $600 per year for books. – pays college tuition and most fees up to $15,000 and pays $600 per year for books. Approximately 20 percent of our 4-year scholarship winners will be offered a Type-2 scholarship (mostly in technical fields). If a student attends an institution where the tuition exceeds $15,000 per year, then he/she pays the difference. All 3-year scholarships are Type 2.
* Type 7Pays full college tuition, fees and $600 per year for books, but the student MUST attend a college/university where the tuition is less than $9,000 per year, or a public college/university in which the student qualifies for the in-state tuition rate. – pays full college tuition, fees and $600 per year for books, but the student MUST attend a college/university where the tuition is less than $9,000 per year, OR a public college/university in which the student qualifies for the in-state tuition rate.
If a student receives a Type-7 offer but wishes to attend a college/university where they do not qualify under the guidelines above, the student can convert the 4-Year Type-7 scholarship to a 3-Year Type-2 scholarship. You cannot activate a Type-7 scholarship at a non-qualifying school and pay the difference.
Living Expenses
Upon activation, all scholarship cadets receive a nontaxable monthly allowance (stipend) during the academic year. Currently, the monthly stipend is $250 for freshmen, $300 for sophomores, $350 for juniors and $400 for seniors.
Other Details
All 4-year scholarships activate in the fall of your freshman year. All 3-year scholarships activate in the fall of your sophomore year. All 3-year scholarship designees must complete AFROTC training during their freshman year in order to retain eligibility to activate their scholarships at the start of their sophomore year.
Travel Expenses
Upon activation of your 4-year scholarship, the Air Force pays for initial travel from your home to your Air Force ROTC unitA physical location of an ROTC detachment.. The Air Force does not pay for travel for 3-year scholarship designees. Some 4- and 3-year scholarships can be extended an additional year, if necessary, in certain academic majors approved by the Secretary of the Air Force (e.g., most engineering and technical degrees).
http://www.afrotc.com/scholarships/hsschol/types.php
Majors are a large factor. The competition is much tougher for a Poli Sci major or history vs. an engineering major, as they do not really need history majors. So, the chances (speaking in AF terms) of a mechanical or electrical engineering scholarship are much greater than other majors (I believe Army steers towards civil engineering more). I applied at Rose-Hulman for Chemical Engineering which is why I believe I didn't receive a scholarship, the school has a smaller detachment and ChemE is not a desired major so much.
I hope this helps you. Again, I use AF for my explanation because i am familiar with it and the information is easy to get. It should be very similar for the other branches.