Air Force/Space Force ROTCVerifiedDrill TeamColor GuardAir Force ROTC at University of Chicago
Detachment 205 University of Chicago · Maroons · 205
AFROTC at University of Chicago commissions officers alongside Illinois Institute of Technology cross-town students.
About this program
AFROTC at University of Chicago runs as Detachment 205 University of Chicago (Det 205), an officer-accessions detachment for the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force.
Partner schools — Illinois Institute of Technology, DePaul University, Northwestern University, and University of Illinois Chicago — round out the corps. The detachment runs one training schedule for the consortium, so a cross-town cadet sees the same cadre and contracting boards as a host-school student.
Most contracted cadets at Detachment 205 University of Chicago ride a national scholarship — AFROTC HSSP Type 1 (full tuition) for the high-school awards, plus on-campus side-loads for college programmers. University of Chicago is academically strong in business and political science, which is well-aligned with the services' branching priorities.
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 205 University of Chicago by commuting to University of Chicago.
Cross-enroll students take Aerospace Studies courses at University of Chicago.
Cross-enroll students take Aerospace Studies courses at University of Chicago.
Cross-enroll students take Aerospace Studies courses at University of Chicago.
Cross-enroll students take Aerospace Studies courses at University of Chicago.
Cross-enroll students take Aerospace Studies courses at University of Chicago.
Cross-enroll students take Aerospace Studies courses at University of Chicago.
Cross-enroll students take Aerospace Studies courses at University of Chicago.
Contact & location
Located at: University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637
Air Force ROTC FAQ
Where is Detachment 205 University of Chicago located?
Detachment 205 University of Chicago is hosted at University of Chicago in Chicago, Illinois. The detachment's training events, classes, and PT all run on the University of Chicago campus.
Which colleges and universities can attend Detachment 205 University of Chicago?
In addition to University of Chicago, students enrolled at Illinois Institute of Technology, DePaul University, Northwestern University, University of Illinois Chicago, Roosevelt University, Saint Xavier University, and North Park University can contract through Detachment 205 University of Chicago 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 205 University of Chicago?
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 205 University of Chicago?
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 205 University of Chicago?
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 205 University of Chicago?
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 205 University of Chicago?
Yes — Detachment 205 University of Chicago accepts cross-town and partner students from 7 other institutions, including DePaul University, Roosevelt University, University of Illinois Chicago, Illinois Institute of Technology. See the cross-town options for distance and enrollment paths.
Can I commission through Detachment 205 University of Chicago as any major?
Air Force programs accept students from most academic majors at University of Chicago. Some scholarships and commissioning options (e.g., nursing, engineering, foreign-language) carry major requirements — confirm with the unit before declaring.
Interested in Detachment 205 University of Chicago?
Send your details and the cadre can reach out about visits, scholarships, and next steps.
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