Cougar Battalion
Hosted at University of Houston · Houston, TX
Cougar Battalion trains cadets at University of Houston for service in the U.S. Army.
Quick facts
About this program
Headquartered on the University of Houston campus in Texas, Cougar Battalion is the local accession point into the U.S. Army.
Sister-school participation is a real piece of this battalion. Cadets from Rice University, University of St. Thomas, Houston Christian University, and Texas Southern University contract through Cougar Battalion and travel to University of Houston for the military-side requirements while keeping their core degree at the partner.
On the scholarship side: AROTC 4-Year National, AROTC 3-Year Advanced, Minuteman (Reserve/Guard) are all live channels at Cougar Battalion. Academically, University of Houston is well-regarded for international affairs and language study — a track that pairs well with ROTC's emphasis on technical and leadership majors.
Cross-town partners
| Institution | Relationship | Distance | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas Southern University Houston, TX | cross-town | 1.1 mi | — |
| University of St. Thomas Houston, TX | cross-town | 3.2 mi | — |
| University of Houston-Downtown Houston, TX | cross-town | 3.3 mi | — |
| Rice University Houston, TX | cross-town | 3.5 mi | — |
| Houston Christian University Houston, TX | cross-town | 10.5 mi | — |
| University of Houston-Clear Lake Houston, TX | cross-town | 17.5 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 University of Houston
Cadets at Cougar Battalion pursue degrees across University of Houston's undergraduate catalog. Branch-preferred fields (engineering, foreign language, nursing, computer science) often carry scholarship benefits. See University of Houston'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
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Photos
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Frequently asked questions
- Where is Cougar Battalion located?
- Cougar Battalion is hosted at University of Houston in Houston, TX 77204-2018.
- Can students at other schools join Cougar Battalion?
- Yes — Cougar Battalion accepts cross-town and partner students from 6 other institutions, including Texas Southern University, University of St. Thomas, University of Houston-Downtown, Rice University. See the cross-town partners table for distance and enrollment paths.
- Can I commission through Cougar Battalion as any major?
- Army programs accept students from most academic majors at University of Houston. Some scholarships and commissioning options (e.g., nursing, engineering, foreign-language) carry major requirements — confirm with the unit before declaring.
- How do I contact Cougar Battalion?
- Phone: 713-743-3883. Official site: https://www.uh.edu/rotc.
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Not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Department of Defense or any branch of the U.S. military.