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Golden Gopher Battalion · Golden Gopher
Golden Gopher Battalion runs Army ROTC at University of Minnesota for cadets across Minnesota.
About this program
Operating out of University of Minnesota, Golden Gopher Battalion commissions cadets into the U.S. Army under U.S. Army Cadet Command. Cadre and cadets commonly identify by the unit's nickname — the Golden Gopher.
Cadets from University of Saint Thomas, Augsburg University, Macalester College, and Hamline University cross-enroll into Golden Gopher Battalion on a typical once-per-week schedule, with leadership labs, PT, and Military Science classes held on the University of Minnesota campus.
Funding paths into this battalion include AROTC 4-Year National and AROTC 3-Year Advanced, with Minuteman (Reserve/Guard) also available. University of Minnesota's academic strengths in nursing and health professions and history and the humanities give contracted cadets flexible major options on either side of the technical/non-technical line.
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 Golden Gopher Battalion by commuting to University of Minnesota.
Cross-enroll students take Military Science courses at University of Minnesota.
Cross-enroll students take Military Science courses at University of Minnesota.
Cross-enroll students take Military Science courses at University of Minnesota.
Cross-enroll students take Military Science courses at University of Minnesota.
Cross-enroll students take Military Science courses at University of Minnesota.
Cross-enroll students take Military Science courses at University of Minnesota.
Cross-enroll students take Military Science courses at University of Minnesota.
Cross-enroll students take Military Science courses at University of Minnesota.
Contact & location
Located at: University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 56716-5001
Army ROTC FAQ
Where is Golden Gopher Battalion located?
Golden Gopher Battalion is hosted at University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The battalion's training events, classes, and PT all run on the University of Minnesota campus.
Which colleges and universities can attend Golden Gopher Battalion?
In addition to University of Minnesota, students enrolled at University of Saint Thomas, Augsburg University, Macalester College, Hamline University, Saint Catherine University, Bethel University, North Central University, and Concordia University Saint Paul can contract through Golden Gopher Battalion 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 Golden Gopher Battalion?
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 Golden Gopher Battalion?
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 Golden Gopher Battalion?
Yes — Golden Gopher Battalion accepts cross-town and partner students from 8 other institutions, including North Central University, Augsburg University, Hamline University, University of Saint Thomas. See the cross-town options for distance and enrollment paths.
Can I commission through Golden Gopher Battalion as any major?
Army programs accept students from most academic majors at University of Minnesota. Some scholarships and commissioning options (e.g., nursing, engineering, foreign-language) carry major requirements — confirm with the unit before declaring.
How do I contact Golden Gopher Battalion?
See the contact section for current cadre information.
Interested in Golden Gopher Battalion?
Send your details and the cadre can reach out about visits, scholarships, and next steps.
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