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Bay State Battalion · Bay State
Bay State Battalion runs Army ROTC at Worcester Polytechnic Institute for cadets across Massachusetts.
About this program
Operating out of Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Bay State 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 Bay State.
Cadets from College of the Holy Cross, Worcester State University, Anna Maria College, and Assumption University cross-enroll into Bay State Battalion on a typical once-per-week schedule, with leadership labs, PT, and Military Science classes held on the Worcester Polytechnic Institute campus.
Funding paths into this battalion include AROTC 4-Year National and AROTC 3-Year Advanced, with Minuteman (Reserve/Guard) also available. Worcester Polytechnic Institute's academic strengths in nursing and health professions and business and political science 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 Bay State Battalion by commuting to Worcester Polytechnic Institute.
Cross-enroll students take Military Science courses at Worcester Polytechnic Institute.
Cross-enroll students take Military Science courses at Worcester Polytechnic Institute.
Cross-enroll students take Military Science courses at Worcester Polytechnic Institute.
Cross-enroll students take Military Science courses at Worcester Polytechnic Institute.
Cross-enroll students take Military Science courses at Worcester Polytechnic Institute.
Cross-enroll students take Military Science courses at Worcester Polytechnic Institute.
Contact & location
Located at: Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, MA 01609-2280
Army ROTC FAQ
Where is Bay State Battalion located?
Bay State Battalion is hosted at Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Worcester, Massachusetts. The battalion's training events, classes, and PT all run on the Worcester Polytechnic Institute campus.
Which colleges and universities can attend Bay State Battalion?
In addition to Worcester Polytechnic Institute, students enrolled at College of the Holy Cross, Worcester State University, Anna Maria College, Assumption University, Clark University, and Fitchburg State University can contract through Bay State 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 Bay State 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 Bay State 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.
How big is the corps at Bay State Battalion?
Public corps-size figures aren't always published year-to-year; Army ROTC battalions in this size class generally carry between several dozen and a few hundred contracted cadets depending on host enrollment.
Can students at other schools join Bay State Battalion?
Yes — Bay State Battalion accepts cross-town and partner students from 6 other institutions, including Assumption University, Worcester State University, Clark University, Anna Maria College. See the cross-town options for distance and enrollment paths.
Can I commission through Bay State Battalion as any major?
Army 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.
How do I contact Bay State Battalion?
See the contact section for current cadre information.
Interested in Bay State Battalion?
Send your details and the cadre can reach out about visits, scholarships, and next steps.
Not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Department of Defense or any branch of the U.S. military.