What ROTC Programs Are and How They Work

Students with a desire to lead and serve while earning a college degree may want to consider the Reserve Officers' Training Corps, or ROTC. The programs are offered at more than 1,700 colleges nationwide by the Army, Air Force, Space Force and Navy.

The Army introduced the first ROTC program under the National Defense Act of 1916. Of all the branches, the Army ROTC is the largest officer-producing organization with more than 600,000 men and women earning a commission through the program.

"ROTC is a great option for any university student who wants to learn about military leadership principles," says former Marine infantryman David Carlson, senior assistant registrar for Student Veterans Services at the University of Vermont.

While most college students are still asleep, ROTC students are up early training and learning teamwork. Students take military science and regular college classes, and have access to scholarships that cover tuition, fees and living expenses.

ROTC students gain "hands-on experience serving in leadership roles teaching skills that are easily translatable to the civilian sector," Carlson says.

What Is ROTC?

ROTC trains college students to become commissioned officers in the U.S. Armed Forces.

Cadets take part in a range of learning experiences, such as physical fitness trainings, military drills and work as a team to achieve challenging goals under adverse conditions, Carlson says.

"All of that is inside a curriculum tailored to a student's individual university degree program, with after class and some weekend commitments to be successful," he says.

What Do ROTC Cadets Learn?

Each branch designs its ROTC program around its own mission "but the foundation is the same: leadership, discipline and service," says Maj. Shane Joyce, an active-duty major in the Army infantry, assistant professor of military science and director of the leadership development program at the University of North Georgia ROTC. 

Army ROTC cadets learn decision-making and small-unit tactics, and gain exposure to career paths available after commissioning, Joyce says. Whether graduates plan to pursue active duty, the National Guard or the Army Reserve, students can work in roles ranging from infantry and aviation to cyber, medical or military intelligence, he says.

"Professionally, ROTC prepares graduates to step into their first assignment ready to lead soldiers in complex and dynamic environments," Joyce says.

Students not looking to commit to military service can also join some ROTC programs for up to two years and can gain valuable leadership experience. Only those who plan to enlist are eligible for scholarships and must serve at least eight years in the Army, for example, after graduation. However, those awarded scholarships in Army ROTC can choose to leave the program after their first year with no military obligation. Students must apply and compete for scholarships, which are not automatic.

ROTC Program for College Students

ROTC scholarships can be awarded in high school or college, and students get up to four years of funding while in the program. Current college students may qualify for two- or three-year options, experts say.

"Cadets can be eligible for scholarships based on their commitment to the military after commissioning as officers," Carlson says. "Awards can include tuition, room and board, or other living stipends, which can really help with their overall cost of attendance."

Tuition, fees, room and board or a monthly stipend can vary by branch and year in school. For example, all Army ROTC scholarships offer an additional $420 per month living stipend and $1,200 for books.

Applicants for ROTC scholarships must be U.S. citizens and meet academic and physical fitness standards. Scholarship eligibility requires a specified GPA and SAT or ACT score set by the service branch. For example, the Navy ROTC requires that students are high school graduates between 17 and 23 years of age, with minimum SAT scores of 550 for critical reading and 540 for math (ACT scores of 21 for math and 22 for English).

With college coursework in physical training and military science, contracted ROTC cadets complete about a month of summer training that focuses on leadership, physical conditioning, weapons handling and survival skills, experts say.

Career Benefits of ROTC

"While their peers may be entering the civilian work force at entry-level positions or internships, our cadets graduate as second lieutenants in the Department of the Air Force," says Capt. Rachael Parks, U.S. Air Force public affairs officer at Maxwell Air Force Base in Alabama.

Having a second lieutenant rank brings a competitive salary and retirement benefits as well as health care, housing assistance and tuition assistance for higher education, she says.

Why Students Join ROTC

Actor James Earl Jones, Walmart founder Sam Walton and former U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell were all in ROTC programs.

"Cadets are our nation's future military leaders, executives and entrepreneurs," Carlson says.

Students who join and thrive in ROTC are cadets who "embrace servant leadership, discipline and personal accountability – the same traits that define effective leaders in any profession," Joyce says.

All types of students excel in ROTC, he says.

"Our nursing majors are often outstanding tacticians, while some of our criminal justice majors are among our best critical thinkers. Academic major doesn't determine success here. Mindset does," Joyce says.

How Is ROTC Perceived?

In Joyce's experience, the perception of ROTC on college campuses has stayed largely positive and consistent over the years.

"When I was a cadet at Colorado State University nearly two decades ago, our program was well respected and that remains true today," he says.

Though today's cadets navigate a world shaped by technology and social media, "the fundamentals of service, teamwork and duty remain constant," Joyce says.

ROTC Programs by Military Branch

ROTC programs are offered at large research universities to small liberal arts colleges, and participating schools can be found listed on each branch's website.

All U.S. military branches, except for the Coast Guard and Marine Corps, run ROTC programs. However, Navy ROTC graduates can join the Marine Corps. The Coast Guard has a program known as the College Student Pre-Commissioning Initiative that offers scholarships.

Over the past two years, enrollment numbers for Air Force ROTC has increased by 15%, Parks says.

"We have 145 detachments around the United States and commission about 2,000 Air and Space Force officers annually," she says.

The Difference Between ROTC and JROTC

The Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps, or JROTC, is run by the military and is offered to high school students in grades nine through 12. Each branch – Army, Air Force, Marines, Navy and Coast Guard – has a JROTC program.

Does JROTC Require Military Service?

JROTC does not require an obligation to serve in the military. The program teaches leadership, teamwork, discipline and community service. Students take part in military drills and competitions while studying military history and science, technology, engineering and math subjects.

ROTC and JROTC sound similar but have different goals. JROTC focuses on creating good citizens while ROTC commissions officers into the military upon graduation from college.

Participation in JROTC is not required to join ROTC or be awarded a scholarship. However, joining JROTC can give students a head start by introducing military structure, leadership and discipline early on should students decide to join ROTC, experts say.

"For anyone considering ROTC, it's a chance to serve, to lead and to join a legacy larger than themselves," Joyce says.