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Patriot Battalion (UMASS Lowell) · River Hawk
Patriot Battalion (UMASS Lowell) trains cadets at University of Massachusetts Lowell for service in the U.S. Army.
About this program
Run by cadre at University of Massachusetts Lowell, Patriot Battalion (UMASS Lowell) is the Army ROTC battalion for Lowell and surrounding Massachusetts. Cadets and alumni use the unit's nickname, the River Hawk, on guidons and class shirts.
Cross-town agreements bring Merrimack College, Endicott College, Salem State University, and Northern Essex Community College into the battalion's footprint. Most cross-town cadets keep their primary academics at the partner school and travel to University of Massachusetts Lowell for ROTC class and lab.
The battalion runs all standard Army ROTC scholarship channels: AROTC 4-Year National, AROTC 3-Year Advanced, Minuteman (Reserve/Guard). 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
Scholarship route obligating service in the Army Reserve or National Guard rather than active duty.
Service obligation: 8 years
Active-duty enlisted soldiers transition to officer via ROTC with several scholarship options (2-year, 3-year, 4-year).
Service obligation: 8 years
On-campus scholarship awarded to enrolled cadets at the start of their MS-II year.
Service obligation: 6 years
Covers full tuition and fees OR room and board (your choice), plus a $420/month stipend (10 months/yr) and $1,200/yr book allowance. Merit-based board score with PT assessment and SAT/ACT. Application opened June 14, 2026; final deadline to start an application is March 4, 2027. Three selection boards (Oct, Jan, Mar). 8-year total service obligation; you can exit after freshman year with no obligation.
Service obligation: 8 years
Cross-town & partner schools served
Students at these schools can commission through Patriot Battalion (UMASS Lowell) by commuting to University of Massachusetts Lowell.
Cross-enroll students take Military Science courses at University of Massachusetts Lowell.
Cross-enroll students take Military Science courses at University of Massachusetts Lowell.
Cross-enroll students take Military Science courses at University of Massachusetts Lowell.
Cross-enroll students take Military Science courses at University of Massachusetts Lowell.
Contact & location
Located at: University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA 01854
Army ROTC FAQ
Where is Patriot Battalion (UMASS Lowell) located?
Patriot Battalion (UMASS Lowell) is hosted at University of Massachusetts Lowell in Lowell, Massachusetts. The battalion's training events, classes, and PT all run on the University of Massachusetts Lowell campus.
Which colleges and universities can attend Patriot Battalion (UMASS Lowell)?
In addition to University of Massachusetts Lowell, students enrolled at Merrimack College, Endicott College, Salem State University, and Northern Essex Community College can contract through Patriot Battalion (UMASS Lowell) 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 Patriot Battalion (UMASS Lowell)?
Army ROTC cadets at this battalion compete for AROTC 4-Year National, AROTC 3-Year Advanced, Minuteman (Reserve/Guard), Green-to-Gold (prior-enlisted). National awards apply out of high school; on-campus side-loads kick in once a cadet is enrolled and contracted.
What's the Army ROTC summer training for cadets at Patriot Battalion (UMASS Lowell)?
After the MS-III year, cadets ship to Cadet Summer Training (Advanced Camp) at Fort Knox for the 31-day capstone evaluation that drives branching and order-of-merit standing.
Can students at other schools join Patriot Battalion (UMASS Lowell)?
Yes — Patriot Battalion (UMASS Lowell) accepts cross-town and partner students from 4 other institutions, including Merrimack College, Northern Essex Community College, Salem State University, Endicott College. See the cross-town options for distance and enrollment paths.
Can I commission through Patriot Battalion (UMASS Lowell) as any major?
Army programs accept students from most academic majors at University of Massachusetts Lowell. Some scholarships and commissioning options (e.g., nursing, engineering, foreign-language) carry major requirements — confirm with the unit before declaring.
How do I contact Patriot Battalion (UMASS Lowell)?
See the contact section for current cadre information.
Interested in Patriot Battalion (UMASS Lowell)?
Send your details and the cadre can reach out about visits, scholarships, and next steps.
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