Cardinal Battalion (Louisville)
Hosted at University of Louisville · Louisville, KY
Cardinal Battalion (Louisville) draws cadets from University of Louisville and surrounding Kentucky campuses.
Quick facts
About this program
For cadets at University of Louisville, the path to a commission runs through Cardinal Battalion (Louisville). The unit goes by the Cardinal. The battalion reports up through U.S. Army Cadet Command, and graduates pin on as second lieutenants.
Beyond University of Louisville, the unit serves cadets from Bellarmine University, Spalding University, Jefferson Community and Technical College, and Indiana University Southeast under cross-enrollment agreements. Field training, drill, and Military Science classes run at the host; partner-school cadets manage the commute.
Scholarship-wise, expect the full Army ROTC menu: AROTC 4-Year National, AROTC 3-Year Advanced, Minuteman (Reserve/Guard), Green-to-Gold (prior-enlisted). Academically, University of Louisville is known for mathematics and applied analytics alongside biology and pre-health programs, which gives cadets a meaningful range of degree paths under the same commissioning umbrella.
Cross-town partners
| Institution | Relationship | Distance | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indiana University Southeast , KY | cross-town | 0.0 mi | — |
| Bellarmine University Louisville, KY | cross-town | 180.8 mi | — |
| Jefferson Community and Technical College Louisville, KY | cross-town | 183.9 mi | — |
| Spalding University Louisville, KY | cross-town | 184.0 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 Louisville
Cadets at Cardinal Battalion (Louisville) pursue degrees across University of Louisville's undergraduate catalog. Branch-preferred fields (engineering, foreign language, nursing, computer science) often carry scholarship benefits. See University of Louisville'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: Louisville, KY 40223-1520
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Frequently asked questions
- Where is Cardinal Battalion (Louisville) located?
- Cardinal Battalion (Louisville) is hosted at University of Louisville in Louisville, KY 40223-1520.
- Can students at other schools join Cardinal Battalion (Louisville)?
- Yes — Cardinal Battalion (Louisville) accepts cross-town and partner students from 4 other institutions, including Indiana University Southeast, Bellarmine University, Jefferson Community and Technical College, Spalding University. See the cross-town partners table for distance and enrollment paths.
- Can I commission through Cardinal Battalion (Louisville) as any major?
- Army programs accept students from most academic majors at University of Louisville. Some scholarships and commissioning options (e.g., nursing, engineering, foreign-language) carry major requirements — confirm with the unit before declaring.
- How do I contact Cardinal Battalion (Louisville)?
- See the contact section for current cadre information.
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