Air Force/Space Force ROTCVerifiedDrill TeamColor GuardAir Force ROTC at University of Kentucky
Yes — University of Kentucky hosts Air Force ROTC on campus through Detachment 290 University of Kentucky. Students from 8 partner schools also join it cross-town.
Detachment 290 University of Kentucky · Wildcats · 290
AFROTC in Lexington, KY runs out of University of Kentucky as the Detachment 290 University of Kentucky.
About this program
Detachment 290 University of Kentucky is the AFROTC detachment hosted at University of Kentucky in Lexington, Kentucky. Cadre have commissioned U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force officers from this campus since 1947.
The detachment pulls cadets from Transylvania University, Bluegrass Community and Technical College, Asbury University, and Eastern Kentucky University 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). University of Kentucky brings academic depth in computer science and cybersecurity, and the unit aligns major selection with branch-board competitiveness.
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 290 University of Kentucky. They travel to University of Kentucky for training.
Cross-enroll students take Aerospace Studies courses at University of Kentucky.
Cross-enroll students take Aerospace Studies courses at University of Kentucky.
Cross-enroll students take Aerospace Studies courses at University of Kentucky.
Cross-enroll students take Aerospace Studies courses at University of Kentucky.
Contact this unit
ROTCScholar is an independent directory. We do not run Detachment 290 University of Kentucky, and we cannot answer questions about it. The details below belong to the unit. Use them to reach the unit directly.
Unit email
AFROTC@uky.eduThis is the address Detachment 290 University of Kentucky publishes. You can email the unit directly. Or use the form below, and we will forward your message to that same address.
Phone: 859-257-7115
Official site: https://afrotc.uky.edu
Location: University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506-0032
Air Force ROTC FAQ
Does University of Kentucky have Air Force ROTC?
Yes — University of Kentucky hosts Air Force ROTC on campus through Detachment 290 University of Kentucky. Students from 8 partner schools also join it cross-town.
Is Detachment 290 University of Kentucky a host unit or cross-town?
Detachment 290 University of Kentucky is the host unit, based at University of Kentucky. Students at 8 partner schools join it cross-town and train at University of Kentucky.
Where is Detachment 290 University of Kentucky located?
Detachment 290 University of Kentucky is hosted at University of Kentucky in Lexington, Kentucky. The detachment's training events, classes, and PT all run on the University of Kentucky campus.
Which colleges and universities can attend Detachment 290 University of Kentucky?
In addition to University of Kentucky, students enrolled at Transylvania University, Bluegrass Community and Technical College, Asbury University, and Eastern Kentucky University can contract through Detachment 290 University of Kentucky 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 290 University of Kentucky?
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 290 University of Kentucky?
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.
Can students at other schools join Detachment 290 University of Kentucky?
Yes. Detachment 290 University of Kentucky takes cross-town and partner students from 8 other schools, including Transylvania University, Bluegrass Community and Technical College, Georgetown College, Midway University. See the cross-town section above for distances and how to enroll.
Can I commission through Detachment 290 University of Kentucky as any major?
Air Force programs take students from most majors at University of Kentucky. Some scholarships and commissioning options require a specific major, such as nursing, engineering, or a foreign language. Ask the unit before you declare a major.
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