ROTC at The Pennsylvania State University
University Park, PA · public
Yes — The Pennsylvania State University hosts Army, Navy and Air Force ROTC on campus.
ROTC programs hosted on campus
The Pennsylvania State University hosts 3 ROTC programs on its own campus. Open a program to see its full profile, scholarships, and partner schools.
Navy/Marine ROTCHostedVerifiedNROTC at The Pennsylvania State University trains midshipmen for the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps in Pennsylvania.
Scholarships: NROTC Navy Option 4-Year Scholarship, NROTC Marine Option 4-Year Scholarship
View full Navy
Air Force/Space Force ROTCHostedVerifiedNittany Lions is the AFROTC detachment at Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus in Pennsylvania.
Scholarships: AFROTC HSSP Type 2 ($18k cap), AFROTC In-College Scholarship Program, AFROTC HSSP Type 4 ($36k cap) +1 more
Also serves 2 cross-town schools.
View full Air Force
Army ROTCHostedVerifiedLion Battalion (Penn State) trains cadets at The Pennsylvania State University for service in the U.S. Army.
Scholarships: AROTC Minuteman (Reserve/Guard), AROTC Green-to-Gold, AROTC 3-Year Advanced +1 more
Also serves 1 cross-town school.
View full ArmyCross-town & partner options
The Pennsylvania State University students commission through the on-campus program above.
ROTC outcomes
Students at The Pennsylvania State University in ROTC, from any branch and any unit. Averages per academic year, AY2011–AY2021.
- About 99 officers commissioned per year, all services
- About 193 students start ROTC here each year
Officers commissioned, by group
- Women18%
- Men82%
- White87%
Groups under 5 people a year are not shown.
Students starting ROTC, by group
- Women23%
- Men78%
- White82%
- Hispanic6%
- Asian6%
- Black4%
- Other or unknown4%
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 | 61% |
|---|---|
| SAT range (25th–75th) | 1,240–1,420 |
| ACT range (25th–75th) | 27–32 |
| 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 | $20,644 |
|---|---|
| Out-of-state tuition | $41,790 |
| Average net price | $32,875 |
| 6-year graduation rate | 86% |
Tuition and net price: College Scorecard. You can usually combine an ROTC scholarship with other aid from The Pennsylvania State University. Ask the unit and the financial aid office to confirm how the aid combines.
Academic programs
The Pennsylvania State University has 42,284 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: The Pennsylvania State University takes part.
| Level | Program | School pays (per year) |
|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate | All programs | Up to $15,000 |
| Graduate | All programs | Up to $15,000 |
| Doctorate | All programs | Up to $15,000 |
Source: VA GI Bill Comparison Tool, checked Oct 14, 2026. Confirm amounts with the school's veterans office before you enroll.
ROTC at The Pennsylvania State University: FAQ
Does The Pennsylvania State University have ROTC?
Yes — The Pennsylvania State University hosts Army, Navy and Air Force ROTC on campus.
Which ROTC branches can The Pennsylvania State University students join?
Army ROTC (on campus, Lion Battalion (Penn State)), Navy ROTC (on campus, NROTC Pennsylvania State University) and Air Force ROTC (on campus, Detachment 720 Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus).
Is ROTC at The Pennsylvania State University on campus or cross-town?
Army, Navy and Air Force ROTC are on campus: the unit is based at The Pennsylvania State University.
Can I use an ROTC scholarship at The Pennsylvania State University?
Yes. The on-campus Army, Navy and Air Force ROTC units list 10 scholarship types, including NROTC Navy Option 4-Year Scholarship and NROTC Marine Option 4-Year Scholarship.
School links and location
These links belong to The Pennsylvania State 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
psu.edu
- Admissions
admissions.psu.edu
- Apply
admissions.psu.edu
- Financial aid
studentaid.psu.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: University Park, PA 16563-0001
IPEDS UNITID: 214777
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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.