ROTC at Northwestern University
Evanston, IL · private nonprofit
Yes — Northwestern University hosts Navy ROTC on campus, and students join Army ROTC at Loyola University Chicago and Air Force ROTC at University of Chicago through cross-town agreements.
ROTC programs hosted on campus
Northwestern University hosts 1 ROTC program on its own campus. Open a program to see its full profile, scholarships, and partner schools.
Navy/Marine ROTCHostedVerifiedNROTC Northwestern University draws midshipmen from Northwestern University and surrounding Illinois campuses.
Scholarships: NROTC Navy Option 4-Year Scholarship, NROTC Marine Option 4-Year Scholarship
Also serves 4 cross-town schools.
View full NavyCross-town & partner options
Northwestern University students can also join these branches. They travel to the partner school for training.
Air Force/Space Force ROTCCross-town · 18.6 miCross-enroll students take Aerospace Studies courses at University of Chicago.
Army ROTCCross-town · 3.6 miCross-enroll students take Military Science courses at Loyola University Chicago.
ROTC outcomes
Students at Northwestern University in ROTC, from any branch and any unit. Averages per academic year, AY2011–AY2021.
- About 3.4 officers commissioned per year, all services
- About 6.6 students start ROTC here each year
Students starting ROTC, by group
- Men76%
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 | 8% |
|---|---|
| SAT range (25th–75th) | 1,510–1,570 |
| ACT range (25th–75th) | 33–35 |
| 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 | $68,322 |
|---|---|
| Out-of-state tuition | $68,322 |
| Average net price | $32,000 |
| 6-year graduation rate | 95% |
Tuition and net price: College Scorecard. You can usually combine an ROTC scholarship with other aid from Northwestern University. Ask the unit and the financial aid office to confirm how the aid combines.
Academic programs
Northwestern University has 9,201 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: Northwestern University takes part.
| Level | Program | School pays (per year) |
|---|---|---|
| Graduate | J.L. Kellogg School of Management | Up to $22,000 |
Source: VA GI Bill Comparison Tool, checked Oct 14, 2026. Confirm amounts with the school's veterans office before you enroll.
ROTC at Northwestern University: FAQ
Does Northwestern University have ROTC?
Yes — Northwestern University hosts Navy ROTC on campus, and students join Army ROTC at Loyola University Chicago and Air Force ROTC at University of Chicago through cross-town agreements.
Which ROTC branches can Northwestern University students join?
Army ROTC (cross-town at Loyola University Chicago, 4 mi), Navy ROTC (on campus, NROTC Northwestern University) and Air Force ROTC (cross-town at University of Chicago, 19 mi).
Is ROTC at Northwestern University on campus or cross-town?
Navy ROTC is on campus: the unit is based at Northwestern University. Army and Air Force ROTC are cross-town: cadets enroll at Northwestern University and train with the unit at Loyola University Chicago and University of Chicago.
Can I use an ROTC scholarship at Northwestern University?
Yes. The on-campus Navy ROTC unit lists 2 scholarship types, including NROTC Navy Option 4-Year Scholarship and NROTC Marine Option 4-Year Scholarship.
School links and location
These links belong to Northwestern 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
northwestern.edu
- Admissions
northwestern.edu
- Financial aid
undergradaid.northwestern.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: Evanston, IL 60208
IPEDS UNITID: 147767
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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.