STUDENTS INTERESTED IN JOINING THE NROTC UNIT WHO HAVE NOT BEEN SELECTED FOR THE NATIONAL SCHOLARSHIP ARE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY FOR THE COLLEGE PROGRAM.
Each year students who were not awarded a National NROTC Scholarship are provided the opportunity to apply for the NROTC College Program. A College Program Midshipman does not receive scholarship benefits or attend summer training, but is otherwise treated and held to the same standards of conduct and participation of a scholarship student. The goal of the College Program is to help qualified Midshipmen earn a 3, 2, or 1-year Scholarship, or Advanced Standing.
Application Instructions
What are the requirements to apply for the College Program at the University of Minnesota NROTC?
All applicants must meet the basic requirements for the program. These requirements are summarized below:
- Applicant must be admitted to or be a current student at the University of Minnesota- Twin Cities, the University of St. Thomas or Macalester College. There are no exceptions to this policy.
- Applicant must be an American citizen or be in process of becoming a naturalized American citizen.
- Applicant must not be older than 27 years old by December 31st of year in which graduation and commissioning is anticipated.
- Applicants already in college must be in their Freshman or Sophomore year.
- Applicant must meet the Navy height and weight standards and must be able to be physically qualified for admittance into the armed forces.
If I meet all the basic requirements am I guaranteed acceptance into the College Program?
No. Acceptance into the College Program is a competitive process. The NROTC staff at the University of Minnesota carefully review each application in order to evaluate whether the candidate is likely to complete the program and be selected for a 3, 2, or 1-year scholarship, or Advanced Standing. Competition for the College Program is keen.
What credentials do I need in order to make myself a competitive candidate for the NROTC College Program at the University of Minnesota?
We evaluate our applicants using the same criteria as the 4-year National Scholarship Board. In general, successful applicants at the Univeristy of Minnesota (Note that these are NOT minimum required scores):
- Participated in one or more varsity sports in high school and demonstrate exceptional physical fitness
- Have a high school GPA of 3.5 or greater on 4.0 scale
- Achieved SAT scores of 1200 or above (math and verbal sections only) or a composite ACT score of 26 or above
- Have a track record of leadership and participation in extracurricular activities
- Are knowledgeable and motivated about a career in the Navy or Marine Corps
- Are pursuing or will be pursuing an engineering or technical major (i.e. Tier 1 or Tier 2) or a critical language (Russian, Arabic, Chinese, ect.) major. This does not rule out students pursuing a non-technical major with strong math and science skills. There is no major restriction for Marine College Program applicants.
What is the process for applying for the College Program at the University of Minnesota?
A complete application will consist of the following:
- Completed College Program Application
- Completed Report of Medical History DD2807-1
- High school or college transcript (students who have completed one year at the host institution need not submit HS transcripts)
- Personal Statement (1/2 page in length)
- Please indicate why you want to join the NROTC program and pursue a commssion as a Navy or Marine Corps Officer
- A copy of SAT or ACT results
- Completed Drug and Alcohol Statement of Understanding
Application Submission
Completed applications can be sent to the address below or scanned via email to [email protected].
Freshmen Advisor – College Program
NROTC Unit University of Minnesota
15 Church Street Southeast
Room 203
Minneapolis, MN 55455
If a candidate is accepted, he or she will be required to provide a sports physical clearing the student for physical activity prior to the first day of New Student Orientation. During orientation, students will be required to perform a Navy or Marine physical fitness test. This test is intended to familiarize the student with the physical standards required. An unsatisfactory result on this initial test will NOT result in disenrollment from the program.
When do College Program midshipmen become eligible to apply for scholarships?
During their freshman year, College Program Midshipmen may apply for a 4-year national scholarship. At the end of each academic year, College Program Midshipmen apply for a 3 or 2-year scholarship. If awarded, a 3 or 2-year scholarship provides the same benefits as the 4-year National Scholarship for the specified period of time. Candidates for these scholarships are evaluated based on the same criteria as the 4-year scholarship students with college GPA and aptitude as primary factors.
Freshmen in college (provided they have achieved less than 30 college credit hours) are eligible to re-apply for the National 4-year Scholarship even if they were previously denied! It is HIGHLY recommended that each Midshipman apply if he or she has less than the 30 college credit hours.
What happens if a College Program Midshipman is never awarded a scholarship?
All College Program students must either be on scholarship or be accepted into the “Advanced Standing” by the start of their Junior year in school. If not, that student is required to be disenrolled from the NROTC program. Students selected for Advanced Standing do not receive tuition benefits but do receive a monthly stipend and participate in one summer of training before graduation. Advanced Standing students commission in the Navy as Ensigns and have a 3-year active duty obligation.
College Program Application Resources
