ROTC at Columbia University
New York, NY · private nonprofit
Yes, through cross-town: Columbia University students join Army ROTC at Fordham University, Navy ROTC at SUNY Maritime College and Air Force ROTC at Manhattan University.
Cross-town & partner options
Columbia University students can also join these branches. They travel to the partner school for training.
Navy/Marine ROTCCross-town · 8.7 miCross-enroll students take Naval Science courses at SUNY Maritime College.
Air Force/Space Force ROTCCross-town · 6.4 miHost institution.
Army ROTCCross-town · 5.4 miROTC outcomes
Students at Columbia University in ROTC, from any branch and any unit. Averages per academic year, AY2011–AY2021.
- About 3 officers commissioned per year, all services
- About 6 students start ROTC here each year
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 | 4% |
|---|---|
| SAT range (25th–75th) | 1,510–1,580 |
| ACT range (25th–75th) | 34–35 |
| 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 | $71,845 |
|---|---|
| Out-of-state tuition | $71,845 |
| Average net price | $18,000 |
| 6-year graduation rate | 96% |
Tuition and net price: College Scorecard. You can usually combine an ROTC scholarship with other aid from Columbia University. Ask the unit and the financial aid office to confirm how the aid combines.
Academic programs
Columbia University has 8,973 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: Columbia University takes part. Undergraduate contributions have no dollar cap.
| Level | Program | School pays (per year) |
|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate | Columbia College/Undergraduate Engineering | Unlimited |
| Undergraduate | General Studies | Unlimited |
| Certificate Program | Dental Medicine | Up to $10,000 |
| Graduate | Arts | Up to $10,000 |
| Graduate | Business | Up to $30,000 |
| Graduate | Climate School | Up to $11,000 |
And 13 more programs on the VA page.
VA caution
- School has an accreditation issue
Source: VA GI Bill Comparison Tool, checked Oct 14, 2026. Confirm amounts with the school's veterans office before you enroll.
ROTC at Columbia University: FAQ
Does Columbia University have ROTC?
Yes, through cross-town: Columbia University students join Army ROTC at Fordham University, Navy ROTC at SUNY Maritime College and Air Force ROTC at Manhattan University.
Which ROTC branches can Columbia University students join?
Army ROTC (cross-town at Fordham University, 5 mi), Navy ROTC (cross-town at SUNY Maritime College, 9 mi) and Air Force ROTC (cross-town at Manhattan University, 6 mi).
Is ROTC at Columbia University on campus or cross-town?
Army, Navy and Air Force ROTC are cross-town: cadets enroll at Columbia University and train with the unit at Fordham University, SUNY Maritime College and Manhattan University.
School links and location
These links belong to Columbia 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
columbia.edu
- Admissions
columbia.edu
- Apply
columbia.edu
- Financial aid
sfs.columbia.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: New York, NY 10027
IPEDS UNITID: 190150
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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.