ROTC at Harvard University
Cambridge, MA · private nonprofit
Yes, through cross-town: Harvard University students join Army and Air Force ROTC at Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Navy ROTC at Boston University.
Cross-town & partner options
Harvard University students can also join these branches. They travel to the partner school for training.
Air Force/Space Force ROTCCross-town · 1.7 miCross-enroll students take Aerospace Studies courses at Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Army ROTCCross-town · 1.7 miCross-enroll students take Military Science courses at Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Navy/Marine ROTCCross-town · 1.7 miCross-enroll students take Naval Science courses at Boston University.
ROTC outcomes
Students at Harvard University in ROTC, from any branch and any unit. Averages per academic year, AY2011–AY2021.
- About 6 officers commissioned per year, all services
- About 15 students start ROTC here each year
Students starting ROTC, by group
- Women35%
- Men65%
- White61%
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 | 4% |
|---|---|
| SAT range (25th–75th) | 1,510–1,580 |
| ACT range (25th–75th) | 34–36 |
| Test policy | Tests required |
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 | $61,676 |
|---|---|
| Out-of-state tuition | $61,676 |
| Average net price | $32,000 |
| 6-year graduation rate | 98% |
Tuition and net price: College Scorecard. You can usually combine an ROTC scholarship with other aid from Harvard University. Ask the unit and the financial aid office to confirm how the aid combines.
Academic programs
Harvard University has 7,601 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: Harvard University takes part. Undergraduate contributions have no dollar cap.
| Level | Program | School pays (per year) |
|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate | Arts and Sciences | Unlimited |
| Undergraduate | Business | Up to $20,000 |
| Undergraduate | College | Up to $6,000 |
| Undergraduate | Dental | Up to $5,000 |
| Undergraduate | Design | Unlimited |
| Undergraduate | Education | Unlimited |
And 21 more programs on the VA page.
VA caution
- School placed on Heightened Cash Monitoring
Source: VA GI Bill Comparison Tool, checked Oct 14, 2026. Confirm amounts with the school's veterans office before you enroll.
ROTC at Harvard University: FAQ
Does Harvard University have ROTC?
Yes, through cross-town: Harvard University students join Army and Air Force ROTC at Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Navy ROTC at Boston University.
Which ROTC branches can Harvard University students join?
Army ROTC (cross-town at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2 mi), Navy ROTC (cross-town at Boston University, 2 mi) and Air Force ROTC (cross-town at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2 mi).
Is ROTC at Harvard University on campus or cross-town?
Army, Navy and Air Force ROTC are cross-town: cadets enroll at Harvard University and train with the unit at Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Boston University.
School links and location
These links belong to Harvard 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
harvard.edu
- Admissions
college.harvard.edu
- Apply
college.harvard.edu
- Financial aid
college.harvard.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: Cambridge, MA 02138
IPEDS UNITID: 166027
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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.