Air Force/Space Force ROTCDrill TeamColor GuardAir Force ROTC at Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Detachment 380 Worcester Polytechnic Institute · Engineers · 380
AFROTC at Worcester Polytechnic Institute commissions officers alongside College of the Holy Cross cross-town students.
About this program
Air Force ROTC at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, the Aerospace Studies program, sets out to develop quality leaders for the U.S. Air Force and Space Force. Guided by active-duty Air Force officers, cadets build and lead their own cadet corps, gaining hands-on leadership experience alongside their WPI degrees.
The program is organized around a clear year-by-year progression. Freshmen learn Air Force customs and courtesies; sophomores prepare for field training, which resembles basic training with a heavier emphasis on group leadership; juniors apply their leadership skills; and seniors lead the cadet wing while making final preparations to become Air Force officers.
Throughout, cadets learn and live by the Air Force and Space Force core values, Integrity first, Service before self, and Excellence in all we do, as they prepare to enter one of the more than 160 officer career specialties the Air Force offers.
Scholarships available here
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 & partner schools served
Students at these schools can commission through Detachment 380 Worcester Polytechnic Institute by commuting to Worcester Polytechnic Institute.
Cross-enroll students take Aerospace Studies courses at Worcester Polytechnic Institute.
Cross-enroll students take Aerospace Studies courses at Worcester Polytechnic Institute.
Cross-enroll students take Aerospace Studies courses at Worcester Polytechnic Institute.
Cross-enroll students take Aerospace Studies courses at Worcester Polytechnic Institute.
Cross-enroll students take Aerospace Studies courses at Worcester Polytechnic Institute.
Cross-enroll students take Aerospace Studies courses at Worcester Polytechnic Institute.
Cross-enroll students take Aerospace Studies courses at Worcester Polytechnic Institute.
Cross-enroll students take Aerospace Studies courses at Worcester Polytechnic Institute.
Contact & location
Email: afrotc@wpi.edu
Phone: 508-831-5747
Site: https://airforce.wpi.edu
Located at: Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, MA 01609-2280
Air Force ROTC FAQ
Where is Detachment 380 Worcester Polytechnic Institute located?
Detachment 380 Worcester Polytechnic Institute is hosted at Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Worcester, Massachusetts. The detachment's training events, classes, and PT all run on the Worcester Polytechnic Institute campus.
Which colleges and universities can attend Detachment 380 Worcester Polytechnic Institute?
In addition to Worcester Polytechnic Institute, students enrolled at College of the Holy Cross, Clark University, Worcester State University, Anna Maria College, Assumption University, Becker College, Nichols College, and Fitchburg State University can contract through Detachment 380 Worcester Polytechnic Institute 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 380 Worcester Polytechnic Institute?
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 380 Worcester Polytechnic Institute?
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 is the AFROTC program structured year by year at WPI?
Freshmen focus on Air Force customs and courtesies, sophomores prepare for field training, juniors apply leadership skills, and seniors lead the cadet wing while preparing to commission as officers.
What core values guide cadets at WPI's detachment?
Cadets live by the Air Force and Space Force core values: Integrity first, Service before self, and Excellence in all we do.
Can students at other schools join Detachment 380 Worcester Polytechnic Institute?
Yes — Detachment 380 Worcester Polytechnic Institute accepts cross-town and partner students from 8 other institutions, including Becker College, Assumption University, Clark University, Worcester State University. See the cross-town options for distance and enrollment paths.
Can I commission through Detachment 380 Worcester Polytechnic Institute as any major?
Air Force programs accept students from most academic majors at Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Some scholarships and commissioning options (e.g., nursing, engineering, foreign-language) carry major requirements — confirm with the unit before declaring.
Interested in Detachment 380 Worcester Polytechnic Institute?
Send your details and the cadre can reach out about visits, scholarships, and next steps.
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