Air Force/Space Force ROTCVerifiedDrill TeamColor GuardAir Force ROTC at University of Iowa
Detachment 255 University of Iowa · Hawkeyes · 255
The Hawkeyes has commissioned U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force officers from University of Iowa since 1951.
About this program
Run by cadre at University of Iowa, Detachment 255 University of Iowa is the AFROTC detachment for Iowa City and surrounding Iowa. The program dates to 1951. Cadets and alumni use the unit's nickname, the Hawkeyes, on guidons and class shirts.
Cross-town agreements bring Cornell College, Coe College, Mount Mercy University, and Kirkwood Community College into the detachment's footprint. Most cross-town cadets keep their primary academics at the partner school and travel to University of Iowa for ROTC class and lab.
The detachment runs all standard AFROTC scholarship channels: AFROTC HSSP Type 1 (full tuition), AFROTC HSSP Type 2 ($18k cap), AFROTC HSSP Type 7 (in-state). Major-wise, cadets here cluster around engineering and physical sciences and business and political science, with cadre encouraging technical degrees where the cadet's career interests fit.
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 255 University of Iowa by commuting to University of Iowa.
Cross-enroll students take Aerospace Studies courses at University of Iowa.
Cross-enroll students take Aerospace Studies courses at University of Iowa.
Cross-enroll students take Aerospace Studies courses at University of Iowa.
Cross-enroll students take Aerospace Studies courses at University of Iowa.
Contact & location
Email: ui-ivets@uiowa.edu
Phone: 319-384-2626
Site: https://www.uiowa.edu/afrotc
Located at: University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242-1316
Air Force ROTC FAQ
Where is Detachment 255 University of Iowa located?
Detachment 255 University of Iowa is hosted at University of Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa. The detachment's training events, classes, and PT all run on the University of Iowa campus.
Which colleges and universities can attend Detachment 255 University of Iowa?
In addition to University of Iowa, students enrolled at Cornell College, Coe College, Mount Mercy University, and Kirkwood Community College can contract through Detachment 255 University of Iowa 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 255 University of Iowa?
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 255 University of Iowa?
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 255 University of Iowa?
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 255 University of Iowa?
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).
Which schools can students attend to join Detachment 255 at Iowa?
Cadets can be enrolled full-time (at least 12 credit hours) at the University of Iowa, Coe College, or Kirkwood Community College.
What is Detachment 255's guiding motto?
The detachment's motto is "Developing Leaders of Character for Tomorrow's Air Force and Space Force to Fight and Win Our Nation's Wars."
Interested in Detachment 255 University of Iowa?
Send your details and the cadre can reach out about visits, scholarships, and next steps.
Not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Department of Defense or any branch of the U.S. military.