How hard is it to win the NROTC national scholarship?

The NROTC 4-year national scholarship is one of the most selective ROTC awards. Winners usually pair a tough course load and strong test scores with a sport and leadership roles. The Marine option runs its own board. It is about as selective, and it puts more weight on physical fitness. Students who do not win the national award can join as college-program midshipmen. They can then compete for a sideload scholarship once they are in the unit.

What service obligation comes with Navy ROTC?

Navy-option scholarship midshipmen usually owe at least 5 years of active duty after they commission. Aviation training adds more years. Marine-option and nurse-option graduates usually owe 4 years. College-program midshipmen, who have no scholarship, take on their obligation only when they accept advanced standing or a scholarship.

What does NROTC look like week to week?

Midshipmen take 1 naval science class each semester, go to a weekly leadership lab or drill period, and do unit physical training several times a week. Summers are the biggest difference from the other branches. Each year, midshipmen go on a training cruise or CORTRAMID. They train on ships, on submarines, in aviation squadrons, or with Marine units.

Is there a Marine Corps ROTC program?

Not as a separate program. Marine Corps officers come through NROTC as Marine-option midshipmen. They belong to an NROTC unit, take the same naval science classes, and add Marine-specific training such as Officer Candidates School (OCS) before their senior year. Any college that hosts or partners with an NROTC unit is a path to a Marine commission.

What does an NROTC scholarship cover?

The national scholarship pays full tuition and required fees at the host or cross-town school. It also pays a book stipend and a monthly allowance that rises each class year. It does not cover room and board. Many partner universities add their own housing grants for NROTC scholarship students. Check each school to be sure.

Navy/Marine ROTC

NROTC Colleges: Full List of 2026 Navy & Marine ROTC Schools

Naval Service Training Command (NSTC)

71 colleges in 39 states host a Navy ROTC (NROTC) unit, and 94 more are cross-town partner schools whose students train with a nearby unit. The full list of Navy ROTC schools is below, grouped by state. Check Navy ROTC scholarship deadlines before you apply.

There is no separate Marine Corps ROTC. Future Marine officers join an NROTC unit as Marine-option midshipmen, so this list of NROTC colleges is also the list of Marine ROTC colleges.

Full list of colleges Scholarships Deadlines

About Navy

The Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps (NROTC) prepares officers for the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps via Navy Option, Marine Option, and (at select units) Navy Nurse Option commissioning paths. Approximately 76 host university programs operate nationwide.