Air Force/Space Force ROTCDrill TeamColor GuardAir Force ROTC at New Jersey Institute of Technology
Detachment 490 New Jersey Institute of Technology · Highlanders · 490
Highlanders is the AFROTC detachment at New Jersey Institute of Technology in New Jersey.
About this program
Headquartered on the New Jersey Institute of Technology campus in New Jersey, Detachment 490 New Jersey Institute of Technology is the local accession point into the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force. Founded in 1949, the unit has graduated officers across every major service era since.
Sister-school participation is a real piece of this detachment. Cadets from Rutgers University-Newark, Seton Hall University, Stevens Institute of Technology, and Saint Peter's University contract through Detachment 490 New Jersey Institute of Technology and travel to New Jersey Institute of Technology for the military-side requirements while keeping their core degree at the partner.
On the scholarship side: AFROTC HSSP Type 1 (full tuition), AFROTC HSSP Type 2 ($18k cap), AFROTC HSSP Type 7 (in-state) are all live channels at Detachment 490 New Jersey Institute of Technology. Academically, New Jersey Institute of Technology is well-regarded for international affairs and language study — a track that pairs well with ROTC's emphasis on technical and leadership majors.
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 490 New Jersey Institute of Technology by commuting to New Jersey Institute of Technology.
Cross-enroll students take Aerospace Studies courses at New Jersey Institute of Technology.
Cross-enroll students take Aerospace Studies courses at New Jersey Institute of Technology.
Cross-enroll students take Aerospace Studies courses at New Jersey Institute of Technology.
Cross-enroll students take Aerospace Studies courses at New Jersey Institute of Technology.
Cross-enroll students take Aerospace Studies courses at New Jersey Institute of Technology.
Cross-enroll students take Aerospace Studies courses at New Jersey Institute of Technology.
Cross-enroll students take Aerospace Studies courses at New Jersey Institute of Technology.
Cross-enroll students take Aerospace Studies courses at New Jersey Institute of Technology.
Cross-enroll students take Aerospace Studies courses at New Jersey Institute of Technology.
Cross-enroll students take Aerospace Studies courses at New Jersey Institute of Technology.
Contact & location
Located at: New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, NJ 07102
Air Force ROTC FAQ
Where is Detachment 490 New Jersey Institute of Technology located?
Detachment 490 New Jersey Institute of Technology is hosted at New Jersey Institute of Technology in New Jersey. The detachment's training events, classes, and PT all run on the New Jersey Institute of Technology campus.
Which colleges and universities can attend Detachment 490 New Jersey Institute of Technology?
In addition to New Jersey Institute of Technology, students enrolled at Rutgers University-Newark, Seton Hall University, Stevens Institute of Technology, Saint Peter's University, Montclair State University, Kean University, William Paterson University of New Jersey, Fairleigh Dickinson University, Bloomfield College, and Felician University can contract through Detachment 490 New Jersey Institute of Technology 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 490 New Jersey Institute of Technology?
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 490 New Jersey Institute of Technology?
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 490 New Jersey Institute of Technology?
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 490 New Jersey Institute of Technology?
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 490 New Jersey Institute of Technology?
Yes — Detachment 490 New Jersey Institute of Technology accepts cross-town and partner students from 10 other institutions, including Rutgers University-Newark, Seton Hall University, Bloomfield College, Kean University. See the cross-town options for distance and enrollment paths.
Can I commission through Detachment 490 New Jersey Institute of Technology as any major?
Air Force programs accept students from most academic majors at New Jersey Institute of Technology. Some scholarships and commissioning options (e.g., nursing, engineering, foreign-language) carry major requirements — confirm with the unit before declaring.
Interested in Detachment 490 New Jersey Institute of Technology?
Send your details and the cadre can reach out about visits, scholarships, and next steps.
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