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Detachment 520 Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute · Engineers · 520
Since 1947, Detachment 520 Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute has run AFROTC at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in New York.
About this program
Detachment 520 Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is the AFROTC detachment hosted at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in New York. Cadre have commissioned U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force officers from this campus since 1947.
The detachment pulls cadets from Siena College, Russell Sage College, University at Albany SUNY, and Hudson Valley Community College alongside its host enrollment. GMC and POC coursework is taught in the host classrooms; cross-town cadets ride consortium shuttles or self-commute to PT and labs.
Cadets can pursue AFROTC HSSP Type 1 (full tuition) or, once on contract, AFROTC HSSP Type 2 ($18k cap). Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute brings academic depth in computer science and cybersecurity, and the unit aligns major selection with branch-board competitiveness.
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 520 Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute by commuting to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
Cross-enroll students take Aerospace Studies courses at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
Cross-enroll students take Aerospace Studies courses at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
Cross-enroll students take Aerospace Studies courses at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
Cross-enroll students take Aerospace Studies courses at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
Cross-enroll students take Aerospace Studies courses at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
Cross-enroll students take Aerospace Studies courses at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
Contact & location
Site: https://afrotc.rpi.edu
Located at: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY 12180-3590
Air Force ROTC FAQ
Where is Detachment 520 Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute located?
Detachment 520 Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is hosted at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in New York. The detachment's training events, classes, and PT all run on the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute campus.
Which colleges and universities can attend Detachment 520 Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute?
In addition to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, students enrolled at Siena College, Russell Sage College, University at Albany SUNY, Hudson Valley Community College, Skidmore College, and Union College can contract through Detachment 520 Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 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 520 Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute?
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 520 Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute?
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 520 Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute?
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 520 Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute?
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 520 Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute?
Yes — Detachment 520 Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute accepts cross-town and partner students from 6 other institutions, including Russell Sage College, Hudson Valley Community College, Siena College, University at Albany. See the cross-town options for distance and enrollment paths.
Can I commission through Detachment 520 Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute as any major?
Air Force programs accept students from most academic majors at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Some scholarships and commissioning options (e.g., nursing, engineering, foreign-language) carry major requirements — confirm with the unit before declaring.
Interested in Detachment 520 Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute?
Send your details and the cadre can reach out about visits, scholarships, and next steps.
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