Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps Scholarship Requirements

The Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps (NROTC) program offers outstanding high school students the opportunity to seek a commission in the Navy or Marine Corps. It is a rigorous and rewarding program that provides tuition, books, fees, uniforms, and a monthly stipend. The Texas A&M Corps of Cadets coupled with our NROTC unit has long been considered one of the top leadership training grounds in the world. You could be a part of it!

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for the NROTC scholarship, applicants must meet several requirements:

Citizenship: Be a U.S. citizen or have submitted naturalization papers.
Age: Be at least 17 years old by September 1 of the first year of college and younger than 27 on June 30 of the year in which you are eligible for graduation and commissioned status. Those with prior or current active duty in the Armed Forces may be granted age waivers equal to the number of months served.
Education: Be a high school graduate or possess an equivalency certificate by August. Apply for and gain admission to NROTC colleges.
Physical Requirements: Meet physical requirements for the NROTC Program. Have no apparent physically disqualifying factors based on a review of the Report of Medical History. Have the ability to meet the height/weight requirements.
Moral Character: Have no felony conviction or conviction by courts-martial. Not be awaiting criminal trial or sentencing, or be under any other type of military or civil restraint as a result of violation of law or regulation, or have been convicted of an offense, the nature of which renders the applicant unfit for commissioned service. Meet Department of the Navy requirements concerning the use of drugs and alcohol. Have no body piercings and tattoos that violate Navy or Marine Corps policy.
College Coursework: Have more than two years of college coursework remaining until you receive a degree from UMD.
Academic Requirements: Minimum scores must be obtained on the same test.

Medical Requirements

The NROTC program is physically challenging. All candidates are required to undergo a thorough medical examination because NROTC graduates are commissioned in a wide variety of exciting career fields with strict medical standards. The medical examination process begins once an applicant has been offered a NROTC scholarship. Certain medical conditions can disqualify an applicant. Below is a listing of those eye and vision disqualifications that are the most prevalent. This listing, while comprehensive, does not contain all possible disqualifications for eyes and vision.

Eyes and Vision

Vision not correctable to 20/20 in both eyes is disqualifying. Spherical equivalent exceeding 8.00 diopters or astigmatism exceeding 3.00 diopters is disqualifying.
Substandard color vision is disqualifying.
Many chronic eye diseases/conditions such as keratoconus, glaucoma, optic atrophy, cataracts and retinal detachment are disqualifying.
Refractive surgery within the previous 6 months is disqualifying.

Heart and Vascular System

Among the disqualifying conditions are: uncorrected septal defect, hypertension, severe or symptomatic varicose veins, valvular stenosis, and mitral valve prolapse which has either caused symptoms or been associated with rhythm disturbance or regurgitation.

Ears and Hearing

Both ears must be free of tympanic membrane perforation and acute or chronic disease. The average of the hearing loss at 500, 1000 and 2000 Hz in either ear may not exceed 30 decibels (ISO), and the loss at any one of these three frequencies may not exceed 35 decibels. The maximum acceptable loss in either ear is 45 decibels at 3000 Hz and 55 decibels at 4000 Hz.

Read also: Understanding USNA Expenses

Respiratory System

Asthma, exercise-induced bronchospasm, or reactive airway disease by any name is disqualifying.

Musculoskeletal System

Recent bone/joint injuries that have not fully healed, or any history of non-union fractures, shoulder, hip, or knee instability, internal derangement of a major joint not successfully repaired, compartment syndrome, spondylolisthesis, severe scoliosis, herniated nucleus pulposus, or spinal surgery are disqualifying.

Genitourinary System

Chronic protein, sugar, or blood in the urine is disqualifying, as is history of recurrent or bilateral kidney stones. Severe congenital or developmental anomalies, neoplastic conditions, persistent or recurrent infections, and certain complications of infections are cause for rejection. A current undescended testicle is disqualifying, as are current pregnancy or severe dysmenorrhea.

Gastrointestinal System

History of chronic esophagitis, malabsorption syndromes, liver disease, Crohn’s Disease, ulcerative colitis, or functional bowel disease is disqualifying.

Neuropsychiatric Disorders

Seizure disorders (other than remote history of childhood febrile seizures), neurodegenerative conditions, recent or severe traumatic brain injuries, recurrent or severe headaches, and severe motion sickness are disqualifying. History of psychosis or affective illness, personality disorder, eating disorders such as bulimia and anorexia, some mood and anxiety disorders, bedwetting or sleepwalking persisting into adolescence are disqualifying. Academic skills defects treated past age 14, (including learning disabilities or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) are disqualifying, but potentially waive-able if academically successful without the use of accommodations or medications.

Read also: History at Alumni Hall

Skin

Chronic diseases such as psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, and eczema are disqualifying.

Application Process

Applications may be submitted from 1 April until 31 January of the following year. Completed applications will be processed as they are received. All Scholarship nominees will be notified by 30 April.

After you have completed your 4-Year National Scholarship application, contact your recruiter to forward the application to an NROTC Instructor and request an interview. Preferably you should visit your prospective NROTC Instructor in person for the interview. You may also conduct your interview with your closest NROTC unit (even if it is not your preferred University). If it is not feasible to conduct an in-person interview, you are more than welcome to schedule a Zoom interview with your instructor.

College Program

If you do not receive a scholarship, you may join the NROTC unit as part of the College Program. The College Program provides no monetary benefits but you would participate fully in the unit. You will not be adversely ranked against scholarship students.

You can apply to join the unit while enrolled (as a full time, on campus, undergraduate-seeking student) at UMD with two or more years until graduation. If you are graduating within the next two years, you should explore a commission through the Officer Candidate School.

Read also: Demographics at Annapolis

To apply for the College Program at the University of Maryland (UMD), you must submit the following forms in person to the NROTC Office in Reckord Armory:

College Program Application (sign using a pen, not electronically)
Report of Medical History, DD Form 2807-1 (signed by your primary care physician) You may submit a copy of your DoDMERB physical (DD Form 2351, 2492, 2808, 2807-2) in lieu of this physical
A copy of any DoDMERB qualification letter for ROTC and/or service academy (if you have one). However, you must still submit a physical (either a copy of your DoDMERB physical or the Report of Medical History) that has been signed by a physician to be considered for entry into the College Program
Results of a medical test specifying if you have Sickle Cell Trait (SCT). Note: having SCT is not a disqualifying condition from the NROTC program. Most infants are tested for SCT at birth; this test is acceptable.
Degree Completion Plan showing your intended major (not Letters and Sciences) with no more than 19 credits per term to accomplish your degree at UMD. You must specify exactly which electives and Gen-Ed classes you will be taking (i.e. don’t write Tech Elect).

Additional Requirements for Current UMD Students:

You must include one class from the Regional Studies list and one class from the National Security list of classes. These two classes can count for your Gen-Ed requirements. Marine options do not have to include a Regional Studies class.
Include ENGL 101 and ENGL 39X, unless equivalent classes have been taken at another college or you have AP credit for ENGL 101.
Navy option: You must include MATH140, MATH141, PHYS161, and PHYS260, unless prior credit has been granted. In that case, 3 credits must be taken at UMD in both calculus and physics. Majors that do not have a specified DSNL class must also take PHYS 261 in the same semester as 260.
Each semester you will take 4 credits in Naval Science, so we recommend you create a degree plan with no more than 15 credits per semester to avoid taking more than 19 credits in a semester in total. You must include all eight naval science courses on your degree plan (FAQ, question 35) and NAVY108 every fall/spring semester.
Do not take any courses in the summer between your junior and senior year.
This plan must be reviewed and signed by an advisor in your major at the top of the form, indicating you have accounted for all required major and Gen-Ed requirements.

Additional Requirements for Current High School students, or Transfer students not yet completed initial advising:

Degree Completion Plan showing your intended major (not Letters and Sciences) and the classes you intend to take in your first semester in the program. This must include appropriate naval science classes (NAVY100 and NAVY108) and have at least 16 total credits (4 of which are naval science)
Unofficial high school transcript (if a current high school student or graduated this past May)
Unofficial UMD transcript from Testudo (if completed UMD initial advising or a current UMD student)
Unofficial college transcripts from other colleges/universities (if applicable)
Letter of acceptance from UMD
Copy of birth certificate (unofficial/scanned version is fine), naturalization papers, or proof of naturalization being in process

Note: if you are planning on applying as a sophomore, you will need to double-up your naval science courses on your degree completion plan. Bring physical copies as well to your interview.

Currently accepting applications for Spring 2025 on a rolling basis. However, you should submit all application materials as early as possible to be given priority consideration for the program.

NROTC Curriculum

The NROTC academic program consists of three parts:

Midshipmen in the Navy Scholarship program are strongly encouraged to pursue majors in engineering and hard science curricula in order to meet the technical demands of today's Navy.
All NROTC Midshipmen must take the courses listed in the VMI Academic Catalog according to their option. These courses all fall under the Department of Naval Science.
Physics (Calc.

Naval Science Courses

Naval Science is a field of study that offers university students an introduction to the operations, technology and culture of the United States Navy and Marine Corps. Naval Science courses are available for all university students but are designed to operate in conjunction with the Pennsylvania State University NROTC program to provide professional development and service knowledge to perspective officers. All students must complete at least 18 credits of Naval Science (NAVSC) courses; subjects and credits appear under course descriptions (ROTC/NAVSC) later in this bulletin.

NAVY100 is an introduction to the naval profession and concepts of sea power. Navy and Marine Corps. Navy and Marine Corps Junior Officer. NAVY101 introduces the student to the key themes of naval and maritime history. Curriculum presents an analysis through lectures, reading, and student discussion of the relationship of sea power to American history.

Summer Training

Scholarship program midshipmen are trained for approximately four to six weeks during each summer between academic years. During the third summer, candidates for Navy commissions cruise aboard fleet operational ships, at home and abroad, serving in the capacity of junior officers. Summer training is a critical facet of the four year NROTC curriculum, continuing at sea the lessons introduced in the classroom. This opportunity to participate in current operations around the world is unparalleled. College Program students must participate in one active duty training period (cruise) during the summer between junior and senior years.

Financial Benefits

Selected applicants for the Navy ROTC Scholarship Program are awarded scholarships through a highly competitive national selection process, and receive full tuition, books stipend, educational fees and other financial benefits at many of the country's leading colleges and universities.

Tuition: Full tuition is covered.
Book stipend: This amounts to $375 a semester.
Uniforms: Provided to students.
Monthly allowance: All scholarship students will receive $250 a month. Summer training pay(approx. increases as midshipmen progress through the academic years. after the Fall term has started. of 250 dollars per month for freshmen.

The Scholarship does not pay for: Parking, Meal Plans. If you elect for the scholarship to be applied to your tuition and fees, at other schools, this means that you will pay for your room and board.

Once you are found medically qualified by DoDMERB or waived by BUMED, UMD NROTC will transmit your information to Third Party Billing in the Office of Student Financial Services. This will provide a financial credit to cover all required fees and tuition from your student billing account. This occurs 15 calendar days prior to the start of the semester.

Commissioning

Students who receive their baccalaureate degree and complete the NROTC Program are commissioned as either Navy Ensigns or Marine Corps Second Lieutenants. A midshipman is appointed a Second Lieutenant in the Marine Corps.

Post-commission career paths for Navy option students include Surface Warfare Officer, Submarine Warfare Officer, Naval Aviator, Naval Flight Officer, or Special Operations Warfare Officer. Marine Corps option students can serve as either Ground or Aviation Marine Corps Officers. Marine Corps with fulfillment of your five year service commitment.

Additional Programs

Two-Year College Program Advanced Standing or Two-Year Scholarship Programs

Qualified sophomores, either in attendance or planning to commence studies at University Park Campus during their junior year, may compete for the special Two-Year College Program Advanced Standing or Two-Year Scholarship Programs.

NROTC Sideload Scholarship

This program offers the same benefits as the National Scholarship, and is offered directly from the NROTC at VMI. This program has the same application process as the NROTC Sideload Scholarship.

Marine Corps Enlisted Commissioning Programs

The following information pertains to enlisted Marines seeking commissioning through NROTC:

Eligibility: Be a U. S. citizen. Be at least one (1) year Time in Service as of 1 October 2025. No record of military or civil offenses.
Testing: Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT). test. ACT and SAT scores must be from the most recent test.
Application Process: Interested Marines should contact their Career Planner or Commanding Officer. Applications can be found at command/nrotc/apply/. The completed package must be forwarded to a local RS XO for processing by 31 January 2026.
Financial Information: Marines selected for NROTC may be eligible for the Montgomery G.I. Bill. Marines must be released from any SMCR obligation prior to being eligible for the board.
Command Responsibilities: Commands are responsible for disseminating this information to all enlisted Marines in their command.

tags: #Naval #Reserve #Officer #Training #Corps #scholarship