ROTC at American University
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Yes, through cross-town: American University students join Army ROTC at Georgetown University and Air Force ROTC at Howard University.
Cross-town & partner options
American University students can also join these branches. They travel to the partner school for training.
Army ROTCCross-town · 2.1 miCross-enroll students take Military Science courses at Georgetown University.
Air Force/Space Force ROTCCross-town · 3.9 miCross-enroll students take Aerospace Studies courses at Howard University.
ROTC outcomes
Students at American University in ROTC, from any branch and any unit. Averages per academic year, AY2011–AY2021.
- About 13 officers commissioned per year, all services
- About 23 students start ROTC here each year
Officers commissioned, by group
- Men69%
- White75%
Groups under 5 people a year are not shown.
Students starting ROTC, by group
- Women31%
- Men69%
- White67%
Groups under 5 people a year are not shown.
Source: GAO, GAO-23-105857 (campus data, AY2011–AY2021). GAO counted cadets and commissions by the school the student attended. Numbers for recent years can differ.
Admissions
| Admission rate | 62% |
|---|---|
| SAT range (25th–75th) | 1,280–1,460 |
| ACT range (25th–75th) | 29–32 |
| Test policy | Test-optional |
These are the most recent College Scorecard figures. The school decides admission. An ROTC scholarship board judges your academics on its own, in a separate process.
Cost & financial aid (with ROTC)
| In-state tuition | $58,771 |
|---|---|
| Out-of-state tuition | $58,771 |
| Average net price | $32,000 |
| 6-year graduation rate | 75% |
Tuition and net price: College Scorecard. You can usually combine an ROTC scholarship with other aid from American University. Ask the unit and the financial aid office to confirm how the aid combines.
Academic programs
American University has 7,266 undergraduates. ROTC cadets can study almost any major. Some scholarships and commissioning options prefer certain fields.
Yellow Ribbon & veteran support
Yellow Ribbon is a GI Bill benefit for veterans and eligible dependents, not an ROTC scholarship. The school pays part of the tuition above the GI Bill cap, and VA matches it.
Yellow Ribbon: American University takes part.
| Level | Program | School pays (per year) |
|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate | All programs | Up to $33,222 |
| All | Washington School of Law | Up to $20,086 |
| Graduate | Graduate | Up to $8,839 |
Source: VA GI Bill Comparison Tool, checked Oct 14, 2026. Confirm amounts with the school's veterans office before you enroll.
ROTC at American University: FAQ
Does American University have ROTC?
Yes, through cross-town: American University students join Army ROTC at Georgetown University and Air Force ROTC at Howard University.
Which ROTC branches can American University students join?
Army ROTC (cross-town at Georgetown University, 2 mi) and Air Force ROTC (cross-town at Howard University, 4 mi).
Is ROTC at American University on campus or cross-town?
Army and Air Force ROTC are cross-town: cadets enroll at American University and train with the unit at Georgetown University and Howard University.
School links and location
These links belong to American University. To ask about an ROTC program, open that program above and use the unit's own contact details. ROTCScholar is not the school and not the unit.
- Official site
american.edu
- Admissions
american.edu
- Apply
american.edu
- Financial aid
american.edu
- Net price calculator
Estimate your cost before ROTC money is applied
- Veteran & military services
Campus office for GI Bill, Yellow Ribbon, and military students
Location: Washington, DC 20016-8001
IPEDS UNITID: 131159
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ROTCScholar is an independent directory. We are not an ROTC unit, and we are not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Department of Defense or any branch of the U.S. military. Check details with the unit before you act on them.