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Air Force ROTC at University of South Carolina

Yes — University of South Carolina hosts Air Force ROTC on campus through Detachment 775 University of South Carolina-Columbia. Students from 9 partner schools also join it cross-town.

Detachment 775 University of South Carolina-Columbia · Gamecocks · 775

Det 775 at University of South Carolina-Columbia serves a 5-school AFROTC consortium in South Carolina.

Detachment 775 University of South Carolina-Columbia
Founded1947
FY2012: 14 officers commissioned2012: 76 cadets enrolledSource: GAO, GAO-14-93 (published 2013). Later years are not public.

About this program

For cadets at University of South Carolina-Columbia, the path to a commission runs through Detachment 775 University of South Carolina-Columbia. The unit goes by the Gamecocks. The detachment reports up through Air Force ROTC (Holm Center), and graduates pin on as second lieutenants in the Air Force or Space Force.

Beyond University of South Carolina-Columbia, the unit serves cadets from Allen University, Benedict College, Columbia College, and Midlands Technical College under cross-enrollment agreements. Field training, drill, and Military Science classes run at the host; partner-school cadets manage the commute.

Scholarship-wise, expect the full AFROTC menu: AFROTC HSSP Type 1 (full tuition), AFROTC HSSP Type 2 ($18k cap), AFROTC HSSP Type 7 (in-state), ICSP (in-college). Academically, University of South Carolina-Columbia is known for mathematics and applied analytics alongside nursing and health professions, which gives cadets a meaningful range of degree paths under the same commissioning umbrella.

Scholarships at this unit

AFROTC HSSP Type 2 ($18k cap)

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

AFROTC In-College Scholarship Program

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

AFROTC HSSP Type 4 ($36k cap)

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

AFROTC HSSP Type 1 (Full Tuition)

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 775 University of South Carolina-Columbia. They travel to University of South Carolina for training.

Cross-town · 1.2 mi
Benedict College

Cross-enroll students take Aerospace Studies courses at University of South Carolina-Columbia.

Cross-town · 6.1 mi
Midlands Technical College

Cross-enroll students take Aerospace Studies courses at University of South Carolina-Columbia.

Cross-town · 35.8 mi
Claflin University
Cross-town · 36.0 mi
South Carolina State University

Contact this unit

ROTCScholar is an independent directory. We do not run Detachment 775 University of South Carolina-Columbia, and we cannot answer questions about it. The details below belong to the unit. Use them to reach the unit directly.

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Use the phone number or official site below if we have one. If not, look for the Air Force ROTC program on the University of South Carolina website. If you know the unit's email, tell us and we will add it.

Location: University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208

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Air Force ROTC FAQ

Does University of South Carolina have Air Force ROTC?

Yes — University of South Carolina hosts Air Force ROTC on campus through Detachment 775 University of South Carolina-Columbia. Students from 9 partner schools also join it cross-town.

Is Detachment 775 University of South Carolina-Columbia a host unit or cross-town?

Detachment 775 University of South Carolina-Columbia is the host unit, based at University of South Carolina. Students at 9 partner schools join it cross-town and train at University of South Carolina.

Where is Detachment 775 University of South Carolina-Columbia located?

Detachment 775 University of South Carolina-Columbia is hosted at University of South Carolina-Columbia in Columbia, South Carolina. The detachment's training events, classes, and PT all run on the University of South Carolina-Columbia campus.

Which colleges and universities can attend Detachment 775 University of South Carolina-Columbia?

In addition to University of South Carolina-Columbia, students enrolled at Allen University, Benedict College, Columbia College, and Midlands Technical College can contract through Detachment 775 University of South Carolina-Columbia 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 775 University of South Carolina-Columbia?

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 775 University of South Carolina-Columbia?

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 775 University of South Carolina-Columbia?

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 775 University of South Carolina-Columbia?

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).

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