Buckeye Battalion
Hosted at The Ohio State University · Columbus, OH
Buckeye Battalion runs Army ROTC from The Ohio State University in Columbus, OH.
Quick facts
About this program
Buckeye Battalion sits inside The Ohio State University as the campus's Army ROTC battalion. The mission is straightforward — produce U.S. Army officers — and the cadre run a four-year curriculum to do exactly that.
Capital University, Ohio Dominican University, Otterbein University, and Franklin University are the cross-town partner schools feeding Buckeye Battalion. All ROTC-side curriculum runs at the host; partner-school students typically attend twice a week and full PT three to five mornings.
Cadets compete for the AROTC 4-Year National Scholarship as high-school seniors and the 3-Year Advanced board on contract. Minuteman seats route Reserve and National Guard contracts, and Green-to-Gold opens the door for prior-enlisted soldiers transitioning to officer. On the academic side, The Ohio State University draws cadets into history and the humanities as well as computer science and cybersecurity, and the cadre work directly with academic advising on time-conflict resolution between ROTC and major requirements.
Cross-town partners
| Institution | Relationship | Distance | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Otterbein University Westerville, OH | cross-town | 69.7 mi | — |
| Ohio Dominican University Columbus, OH | cross-town | 76.1 mi | — |
| Capital University Columbus, OH | cross-town | 77.9 mi | — |
| Columbus State Community College Columbus, OH | cross-town | 79.0 mi | — |
| Franklin University Columbus, OH | cross-town | 79.6 mi | — |
Scholarships available
Scholarship route obligating service in the Army Reserve or National Guard rather than active duty.
Service obligation: 8 years
Active-duty enlisted soldiers transition to officer via ROTC with several scholarship options (2-year, 3-year, 4-year).
Service obligation: 8 years
On-campus scholarship awarded to enrolled cadets at the start of their MS-II year.
Service obligation: 6 years
Covers full tuition and fees OR room and board (your choice), plus a $420/month stipend (10 months/yr) and $1,200/yr book allowance. Merit-based board score with PT assessment and SAT/ACT. Application opened June 14, 2026; final deadline to start an application is March 4, 2027. Three selection boards (Oct, Jan, Mar). 8-year total service obligation; you can exit after freshman year with no obligation.
Service obligation: 8 years
Academic programs at The Ohio State University
Cadets at Buckeye Battalion pursue degrees across The Ohio State University's undergraduate catalog. Branch-preferred fields (engineering, foreign language, nursing, computer science) often carry scholarship benefits. See The Ohio State University's profile →
Training & summer
Army cadets attend Cadet Summer Training (CST) at Fort Knox between their MS-III and MS-IV years for Advanced Camp, plus optional CULP overseas, Airborne, and Air Assault schools.
Contact & location
Address: Columbus, OH 44691-4000
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Photos
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Frequently asked questions
- Where is Buckeye Battalion located?
- Buckeye Battalion is hosted at The Ohio State University in Columbus, OH 44691-4000.
- Can students at other schools join Buckeye Battalion?
- Yes — Buckeye Battalion accepts cross-town and partner students from 5 other institutions, including Otterbein University, Ohio Dominican University, Capital University, Columbus State Community College. See the cross-town partners table for distance and enrollment paths.
- Can I commission through Buckeye Battalion as any major?
- Army programs accept students from most academic majors at The Ohio State University. Some scholarships and commissioning options (e.g., nursing, engineering, foreign-language) carry major requirements — confirm with the unit before declaring.
- How do I contact Buckeye Battalion?
- See the contact section for current cadre information.
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