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NROTC Virginia Military Institute
NROTC at Virginia Military Institute trains midshipmen for the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps in Virginia.
About this program
Virginia Military Institute is a top-ranked public liberal arts college and senior military college that houses one of the nation's leading ROTC programs. Uniquely, VMI offers ROTC options in five services -- Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Space Force -- and every member of the Corps of Cadets participates in an ROTC leadership program to complete their degree.
As a senior military college, VMI can deliver military training at a higher level than typical civilian campuses, giving cadets access to active-duty bases, field training exercises, and senior military officials on post. Its Army program, the Blue Ridge Battalion, commissions more officers than any ROTC program in the nation. Naval ROTC at VMI opens the Navy's unrestricted line communities -- Surface Warfare, Submarines, and Aviation -- with a select few competing for Special Warfare (SEAL) or EOD, while Marine-option midshipmen consistently earn the highest honors at Officer Candidates School.
Significant financial support is available: ROTC scholarships administered through each branch cover tuition and may include allowances for books, fees, and living expenses, and VMI adds its own Call to Duty Scholarships. Cadets also benefit from a legendary alumni network and the advantage of having trained alongside multiple service branches before commissioning.
Scholarships available here
Full tuition + select fees OR room and board up to $11,500/yr, plus $750/yr book stipend and a monthly stipend rising $250 (freshman) to $400 (senior). Uniforms and three summer training cruises included. SAT/ACT required (code 0565), Tier-1 STEM majors preferred. FY2027 application opened April 1, 2026; deadline January 31, 2027. 5-year active-duty obligation.
Service obligation: 5 years
Same NROTC national application (opened April 1, 2026; deadline January 31, 2027) with a Marine-specific fitness and board track. Single test sitting used (no superscore), code 0565. Covers full tuition or room & board up to $11,500/yr plus stipends. 4-year active-duty obligation after commissioning as a USMC second lieutenant.
Service obligation: 4 years
Cross-town & partner schools served
Students at these schools can commission through NROTC Virginia Military Institute by commuting to Virginia Military Institute.
Cross-enroll students take Naval Science courses at Virginia Military Institute.
Contact & location
Email: admissions@vmi.edu
Phone: 540-464-7230
Site: https://www.vmi.edu/nrotc
Located at: Virginia Military Institute, Lexington, VA 24450-0304
Navy ROTC FAQ
Where is NROTC Virginia Military Institute located?
NROTC Virginia Military Institute is hosted at Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, Virginia. The unit's training events, classes, and PT all run on the Virginia Military Institute campus.
Is Virginia Military Institute a Senior Military College?
Yes — Virginia Military Institute is one of the six Senior Military Colleges recognized in 10 U.S. Code §2111a. The corps of cadets is the dominant ROTC delivery model on campus, and midshipmen live in the corps rather than commuting in for ROTC events.
Which colleges and universities can attend NROTC Virginia Military Institute?
In addition to Virginia Military Institute, students enrolled at Washington and Lee University can contract through NROTC Virginia Military Institute via cross-town agreements. Cross-town midshipmen keep their primary academics at the partner school and travel to the host for ROTC-side coursework.
What scholarships are available through NROTC Virginia Military Institute?
NROTC midshipmen at this unit compete for NROTC Navy Option (4-year), NROTC Marine Option, NROTC Nurse Option (where offered). National awards apply out of high school; on-campus side-loads kick in once a cadet is enrolled and contracted.
What's the NROTC summer training for midshipmen at NROTC Virginia Military Institute?
Each summer carries a different block: CORTRAMID after 4/C year, an enlisted-side fleet cruise after 3/C, and a junior-officer cruise after 2/C — Marine-Option mids ride MOUI and OCS-style training instead.
Which military branches can I train with at VMI?
VMI is one of very few colleges offering ROTC in five services -- Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Space Force. Every member of the Corps of Cadets participates in an ROTC leadership program, and cadets train alongside other branches on post.
What Navy careers does VMI's NROTC lead to?
VMI's Naval ROTC opens the Navy's unrestricted line communities -- Surface Warfare, Submarines, and Aviation -- with a select few competing for Special Warfare (SEAL) or EOD. Marine-option midshipmen from VMI consistently earn the highest honors at Officer Candidates School.
Can students at other schools join NROTC Virginia Military Institute?
Yes — NROTC Virginia Military Institute accepts cross-town and partner students from 1 other institution, including Washington and Lee University. See the cross-town options for distance and enrollment paths.
Interested in NROTC Virginia Military Institute?
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Not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Department of Defense or any branch of the U.S. military.