Air Force/Space Force ROTCDrill TeamColor GuardAir Force ROTC at Cornell University
Detachment 536 Cornell University · Big Red · 536
AFROTC at Cornell University commissions officers alongside Ithaca College cross-town students.
About this program
AFROTC at Cornell University runs as Detachment 536 Cornell University (Det 536), an officer-accessions detachment for the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force.
Partner schools — Ithaca College and Tompkins Cortland Community College — round out the corps. The detachment runs one training schedule for the consortium, so a cross-town cadet sees the same cadre and contracting boards as a host-school student.
Most contracted cadets at Detachment 536 Cornell University ride a national scholarship — AFROTC HSSP Type 1 (full tuition) for the high-school awards, plus on-campus side-loads for college programmers. Cornell University is academically strong in business and political science, which is well-aligned with the services' branching priorities.
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 536 Cornell University by commuting to Cornell University.
Cross-enroll students take Aerospace Studies courses at Cornell University.
Cross-enroll students take Aerospace Studies courses at Cornell University.
Contact & location
Email: afrotc@cornell.edu
Phone: 607-255-4004
Site: https://www.afrotc.cornell.edu
Located at: Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853
Air Force ROTC FAQ
Where is Detachment 536 Cornell University located?
Detachment 536 Cornell University is hosted at Cornell University in New York. The detachment's training events, classes, and PT all run on the Cornell University campus.
Which colleges and universities can attend Detachment 536 Cornell University?
In addition to Cornell University, students enrolled at Ithaca College and Tompkins Cortland Community College can contract through Detachment 536 Cornell 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 536 Cornell 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 536 Cornell 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 536 Cornell 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 536 Cornell 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 536 Cornell University?
Yes — Detachment 536 Cornell University accepts cross-town and partner students from 2 other institutions, including Ithaca College, Tompkins Cortland Community College. See the cross-town options for distance and enrollment paths.
Can I commission through Detachment 536 Cornell University as any major?
Air Force programs accept students from most academic majors at Cornell University. Some scholarships and commissioning options (e.g., nursing, engineering, foreign-language) carry major requirements — confirm with the unit before declaring.
Interested in Detachment 536 Cornell University?
Send your details and the cadre can reach out about visits, scholarships, and next steps.
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