Air Force/Space Force ROTCDrill TeamColor GuardAir Force ROTC at Montana State University
Detachment 450 Montana State University · Bobcats · 450
AFROTC at Montana State University contracts cadets on national scholarships into the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force.
About this program
AFROTC at Montana State University runs as Detachment 450 Montana State University (Det 450), an officer-accessions detachment for the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force.
Partner schools — Rocky Mountain College and University of Montana — 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 450 Montana State University ride a national scholarship — AFROTC HSSP Type 1 (full tuition) for the high-school awards, plus on-campus side-loads for college programmers. Montana State 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 450 Montana State University by commuting to Montana State University.
Cross-enroll students take Aerospace Studies courses at Montana State University.
Cross-enroll students take Aerospace Studies courses at Montana State University.
Contact & location
Located at: Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59101-0298
Air Force ROTC FAQ
Where is Detachment 450 Montana State University located?
Detachment 450 Montana State University is hosted at Montana State University in Bozeman, Montana. The detachment's training events, classes, and PT all run on the Montana State University campus.
Which colleges and universities can attend Detachment 450 Montana State University?
In addition to Montana State University, students enrolled at Rocky Mountain College and University of Montana can contract through Detachment 450 Montana 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 450 Montana 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 450 Montana 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 450 Montana 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.
Can students at other schools join Detachment 450 Montana State University?
Yes — Detachment 450 Montana State University accepts cross-town and partner students from 2 other institutions, including Rocky Mountain College, University of Montana. See the cross-town options for distance and enrollment paths.
Can I commission through Detachment 450 Montana State University as any major?
Air Force programs accept students from most academic majors at Montana State University. Some scholarships and commissioning options (e.g., nursing, engineering, foreign-language) carry major requirements — confirm with the unit before declaring.
When was Detachment 450 Montana State University founded?
Detachment 450 Montana State University was established in 1947.
Interested in Detachment 450 Montana State University?
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