Air Force/Space Force ROTCDrill TeamColor GuardAir Force ROTC at Rochester Institute of Technology
Detachment 535B Rochester Institute of Technology · Rams · 535B
AFROTC in Rochester, NY runs out of Rochester Institute of Technology as the Detachment 535B Rochester Institute of Technology.
About this program
Operating out of Rochester Institute of Technology, Detachment 535B Rochester Institute of Technology commissions cadets into the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force under Air Force ROTC (Holm Center). Cadre and cadets commonly identify by the unit's nickname — the Rams. The program traces its lineage on this campus to 1972.
Cadets from University of Rochester, Saint John Fisher College, Nazareth College, and Roberts Wesleyan College cross-enroll into Detachment 535B Rochester Institute of Technology on a typical once-per-week schedule, with leadership labs, PT, and Military Science classes held on the Rochester Institute of Technology campus. AFROTC General Military Course (GMC) and Professional Officer Course (POC) blocks both flow through the host detachment, with consortium shuttles or carpools handling the commute.
Funding paths into this detachment include AFROTC HSSP Type 1 (full tuition) and AFROTC HSSP Type 2 ($18k cap), with AFROTC HSSP Type 7 (in-state) also available. Rochester Institute of Technology's academic strengths in nursing and health professions and international affairs and language study give contracted cadets flexible major options on either side of the technical/non-technical line.
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 535B Rochester Institute of Technology by commuting to Rochester Institute of Technology.
Cross-enroll students take Aerospace Studies courses at Rochester Institute of Technology.
Cross-enroll students take Aerospace Studies courses at Rochester Institute of Technology.
Cross-enroll students take Aerospace Studies courses at Rochester Institute of Technology.
Cross-enroll students take Aerospace Studies courses at Rochester Institute of Technology.
Cross-enroll students take Aerospace Studies courses at Rochester Institute of Technology.
Contact & location
Located at: Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY 14623-5603
Air Force ROTC FAQ
Where is Detachment 535B Rochester Institute of Technology located?
Detachment 535B Rochester Institute of Technology is hosted at Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, New York. The detachment's training events, classes, and PT all run on the Rochester Institute of Technology campus.
Which colleges and universities can attend Detachment 535B Rochester Institute of Technology?
In addition to Rochester Institute of Technology, students enrolled at University of Rochester, Saint John Fisher College, Nazareth College, Roberts Wesleyan College, and Monroe Community College can contract through Detachment 535B Rochester 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 535B Rochester 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 535B Rochester 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 535B Rochester 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.
Can students at other schools join Detachment 535B Rochester Institute of Technology?
Yes — Detachment 535B Rochester Institute of Technology accepts cross-town and partner students from 5 other institutions, including Monroe Community College, University of Rochester, Roberts Wesleyan University, Nazareth University. See the cross-town options for distance and enrollment paths.
Can I commission through Detachment 535B Rochester Institute of Technology as any major?
Air Force programs accept students from most academic majors at Rochester Institute of Technology. Some scholarships and commissioning options (e.g., nursing, engineering, foreign-language) carry major requirements — confirm with the unit before declaring.
When was Detachment 535B Rochester Institute of Technology founded?
Detachment 535B Rochester Institute of Technology was established in 1972.
Interested in Detachment 535B Rochester Institute of Technology?
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