Air Force/Space Force ROTCDrill TeamColor GuardAir Force ROTC at Ball State University
Detachment 027 Ball State University · Cardinals · 027
AFROTC Detachment 027 sits at Ball State University and serves cadets across Indiana.
About this program
Operating out of Ball State University, Detachment 027 Ball State University commissions cadets into the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force under Air Force ROTC (Holm Center). Cadre and cadets commonly identify by the unit's nickname — the Cardinals. The program traces its lineage on this campus to 1972.
Cadets from Anderson University, Taylor University, and Ivy Tech Community College-Muncie cross-enroll into Detachment 027 Ball State University on a typical once-per-week schedule, with leadership labs, PT, and Military Science classes held on the Ball State University campus. AFROTC General Military Course (GMC) and Professional Officer Course (POC) blocks both flow through the host detachment, with consortium shuttles or carpools handling the commute.
Funding paths into this detachment include AFROTC HSSP Type 1 (full tuition) and AFROTC HSSP Type 2 ($18k cap), with AFROTC HSSP Type 7 (in-state) also available. Ball State University's academic strengths in nursing and health professions and history and the humanities give contracted cadets flexible major options on either side of the technical/non-technical line.
Scholarships available here
Tuition + fees capped at $18,000/yr, plus $900/yr textbook allowance and monthly stipend ($300-$500); may convert to a housing scholarship (up to $10,000/yr). AY27-28 minimums: SAT 1310 / ACT 28 / CLT 93, GPA 3.3. Window: July 1 - December 11, 2026. Award type is fixed at selection - no upgrades.
Service obligation: 4 years
In-College Scholarship Program for freshmen/sophomores already enrolled in AFROTC. Merit-based with fall and spring selection phases; same capped/uncapped structure as HSSP plus the $10,000/yr housing conversion. The General Charles McGee Leadership Award (CMLA) covers non-scholarship cadets who receive an enrollment allocation.
Service obligation: 4 years
Tuition + fees capped at $36,000/yr, plus $900/yr textbook allowance and monthly stipend ($300-$500); may convert to a housing scholarship (up to $10,000/yr). Type 4 replaced the old in-state Type 7 award in the current HSSP structure. AY27-28 minimums: SAT 1310 / ACT 28 / CLT 93, GPA 3.3. Window: July 1 - December 11, 2026.
Service obligation: 4 years
Full tuition with no cap + $900/yr textbook allowance + monthly stipend ($300 freshman to $500 senior); may convert to a housing scholarship (up to $10,000/yr). Most competitive tier. AY27-28 minimums: SAT 1310 / ACT 28 / CLT 93, unweighted GPA 3.3, single test sitting. Window: July 1 - December 11, 2026; two boards (Oct 2026, Mar 2027). 4-year active-duty obligation (longer for rated career fields).
Service obligation: 4 years
Cross-town & partner schools served
Students at these schools can commission through Detachment 027 Ball State University by commuting to Ball State University.
Cross-enroll students take Aerospace Studies courses at Ball State University.
Cross-enroll students take Aerospace Studies courses at Ball State University.
Cross-enroll students take Aerospace Studies courses at Ball State University.
Contact & location
Located at: Ball State University, Muncie, IN 47306
Air Force ROTC FAQ
Where is Detachment 027 Ball State University located?
Detachment 027 Ball State University is hosted at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana. The detachment's training events, classes, and PT all run on the Ball State University campus.
Which colleges and universities can attend Detachment 027 Ball State University?
In addition to Ball State University, students enrolled at Anderson University, Taylor University, and Ivy Tech Community College-Muncie can contract through Detachment 027 Ball State University via cross-town agreements. Cross-town cadets keep their primary academics at the partner school and travel to the host for ROTC-side coursework.
What scholarships are available through Detachment 027 Ball State University?
AFROTC cadets at this detachment compete for AFROTC HSSP Type 1 (full tuition), AFROTC HSSP Type 2 ($18k cap), AFROTC HSSP Type 7 (in-state), ICSP (in-college). National awards apply out of high school; on-campus side-loads kick in once a cadet is enrolled and contracted.
What's the AFROTC summer training for cadets at Detachment 027 Ball State University?
Between sophomore and junior year, cadets compete for slots at AFROTC Field Training at Maxwell AFB — the gate that converts a GMC cadet into a POC contracted cadet.
How big is the corps at Detachment 027 Ball State University?
Public corps-size figures aren't always published year-to-year; AFROTC detachments in this size class generally carry between several dozen and a few hundred contracted cadets depending on host enrollment.
What's the commissioning path through Detachment 027 Ball State University?
Cadets who complete the four-year AFROTC curriculum and meet medical, fitness, and academic standards commission as officers in the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force. The detachment reports through Air Force ROTC (Holm Center).
Can students at other schools join Detachment 027 Ball State University?
Yes — Detachment 027 Ball State University accepts cross-town and partner students from 3 other institutions, including Ivy Tech Community College-Muncie, Taylor University, Anderson University. See the cross-town options for distance and enrollment paths.
Can I commission through Detachment 027 Ball State University as any major?
Air Force programs accept students from most academic majors at Ball State University. Some scholarships and commissioning options (e.g., nursing, engineering, foreign-language) carry major requirements — confirm with the unit before declaring.
Interested in Detachment 027 Ball State University?
Send your details and the cadre can reach out about visits, scholarships, and next steps.
Not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Department of Defense or any branch of the U.S. military.