Air Force/Space Force ROTCVerifiedDrill TeamColor GuardAir Force ROTC at University of Colorado Boulder
Yes — University of Colorado Boulder hosts Air Force ROTC on campus through Detachment 105 University of Colorado Boulder. Students from 9 partner schools also join it cross-town.
Detachment 105 University of Colorado Boulder · Buffaloes · 105
AFROTC at University of Colorado Boulder trains cadets for the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force in Colorado.
About this program
Known as the Thunderchiefs, the Air Force ROTC detachment at the University of Colorado Boulder is one of the largest in the country: on its own site it describes itself as the nation's fourth-largest AFROTC detachment and the biggest in the Northwest Region. That scale gives cadets an unusually large and diverse Cadet Wing in which to learn to lead.
A defining feature of the program is its reach beyond CU Boulder. The detachment draws cadets from ten different college campuses across Colorado, so students at a range of nearby schools can train toward an Air Force or Space Force commission through this one unit. Leading peers from so many institutions helps cadets grow into well-rounded citizens and adaptable leaders.
While completing their degrees, cadets explore leadership, scholarship, and career opportunities as they prepare to serve as officers in the Air Force and Space Force.
Scholarships at this unit
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 and partner schools
Students at these schools can join Detachment 105 University of Colorado Boulder. They travel to University of Colorado Boulder for training.
Cross-enroll students take Aerospace Studies courses at University of Colorado Boulder.
Cross-enroll students take Aerospace Studies courses at University of Colorado Boulder.
Cross-enroll students take Aerospace Studies courses at University of Colorado Boulder.
Cross-enroll students take Aerospace Studies courses at University of Colorado Boulder.
Contact this unit
ROTCScholar is an independent directory. We do not run Detachment 105 University of Colorado Boulder, and we cannot answer questions about it. The details below belong to the unit. Use them to reach the unit directly.
Unit email
Det105@colorado.eduThis is the address Detachment 105 University of Colorado Boulder publishes. You can email the unit directly. Or use the form below, and we will forward your message to that same address.
Phone: 303-735-1121
Official site: https://www.colorado.edu/afrotc
Location: University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80309-0017
Air Force ROTC FAQ
Does University of Colorado Boulder have Air Force ROTC?
Yes — University of Colorado Boulder hosts Air Force ROTC on campus through Detachment 105 University of Colorado Boulder. Students from 9 partner schools also join it cross-town.
Is Detachment 105 University of Colorado Boulder a host unit or cross-town?
Detachment 105 University of Colorado Boulder is the host unit, based at University of Colorado Boulder. Students at 9 partner schools join it cross-town and train at University of Colorado Boulder.
Where is Detachment 105 University of Colorado Boulder located?
Detachment 105 University of Colorado Boulder is hosted at University of Colorado Boulder in Boulder, Colorado. The detachment's training events, classes, and PT all run on the University of Colorado Boulder campus.
Which colleges and universities can attend Detachment 105 University of Colorado Boulder?
In addition to University of Colorado Boulder, students enrolled at University of Colorado Denver, Colorado School of Mines, Metropolitan State University of Denver, Regis University, Front Range Community College, and Naropa University can contract through Detachment 105 University of Colorado Boulder 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 105 University of Colorado Boulder?
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 105 University of Colorado Boulder?
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 large is the Air Force ROTC program at CU Boulder?
The detachment, known as the Thunderchiefs, describes itself as the nation's fourth-largest AFROTC detachment and the largest in the Northwest Region.
Can students from other Colorado colleges join through CU Boulder?
Yes. The detachment includes cadets from ten different college campuses across Colorado in addition to CU Boulder, so students at partner schools can participate.
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