National Scholarship Program

Navy and Marine Scholarship NROTC students are selected annually by a national selection board. They are appointed midshipmen at the completion of New Student Indoctrination (NSI) in the U. S. Navy or Marine Corps Reserve and are on inactive duty except while on summer training. Scholarship students receive the benefits provided by law, which include full tuition, uniforms, a book stipend, and a monthly subsistence allowance. Currently, the book stipend is $750 per year and the monthly allowance is as follows: 1styear/ $250, 2nd year/ $300, 3rd year/ $350 and 4th year/ $400. Midshipmen on scholarship will generally complete three summer training sessions. Upon graduation, they will be commissioned as active duty officers in the Navy or Marine Corps, to serve at the pleasure of the President of the United States. Navy Option midshipmen are obligated to serve a minimum of five years active duty after commissioning, while Marine Options must serve a minimum of four years active duty. Additional commitments vary depending on service assignment.

One, Two, or Three Year Scholarship Program (Navy/Nurse Option)

The NROTC One, Two, or Three-Year Scholarship Program is open to any college student (College Program midshipmen or non-affiliated student) with at least 30 college semester hours (45 quarter hours), but no more than 120 college semester hours (180 quarter hours) of credits counting toward their degree, who wishes to compete for Scholarship or Advanced Standing. Only those nominees that are one or two years prior to graduation will be considered for Advanced Standing. Any 1- or 2-Year scholarship nominee who does not get selected for a scholarship will automatically be considered for Advanced Standing. Upon acceptance of appointment, selectees must agree, in writing, to complete all program requirements stipulated in reference (a) for scholarship or Advanced Standing students as appropriate.

Two or Three Year Scholarship Program (Marine Option)

Marine Corps Recruiting Command (MCRC) will convene two selection boards a year (spring and fall) to consider those midshipmen who wish to compete for a Marine Option NROTC Scholarship or Advanced Standing. College Program midshipmen can be considered for scholarship or Advanced Standing after one semester (or equivalent) of observation.

NROTC Preparatory Program (NPP)

NROTC Preparatory Scholarships

NROTC Preparatory Scholarships allow interested high school students, who show great potential via grades, character, and extra-curricular activities but might lack standardized test scores or advanced high school courses, to apply for one-year university, or privately funded scholarships. University NROTC Prep programs are designed to provide students the educational foundation necessary for success in the NROTC program and Navy.

NROTC Preparatory Scholarships Benefits

The Preparatory Scholarship is designed to establish a path for high potential students to gain college experience and strengthen fundamental areas of study, such as Math and English, prior to being put on the 4 Year NROTC Scholarship. Students selected for the Preparatory Scholarship will receive one year’s tuition from the University of Prairie View A&M, while participating in the NROTC program. If the student performs well during this year, they will automatically be granted the 4 Year NROTC Scholarship by the US Navy. During the preparatory year, students will wear the same uniforms as all NROTC Midshipmen and will participate in all the same events. Selected students will be required to attend New Student Indoctrination (NSI) and New Student Orientation (NSO) prior to starting the preparatory year at University of Memphis. NPP is only offered to prospective Navy Option MIDN, so if you are interested in becoming a Marine option Midshipman, please apply for the 4 Year NROTC Scholarship, or apply to be a College Programmer.

Eligibility

To be eligible for the Presidential NROTC Preparatory Scholarship, an applicant must meet the following requirements:

  • Be a United States citizen or national;
  • Have no moral obligations or personal convictions that will prevent bearing of arms and supporting and defending the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic or to taking an oath to perform such acts;
  • Be at least 17 years of age on or before 1 September of the year of enrollment and less than 27 years of age on 31 December of the year an applicant expects to graduate, complete all NROTC training requirements, and be commissioned. Those with prior or current active duty in the Armed Forces may be granted age waivers equal to the number of months served. Those granted the maximum age waiver must not have reached their 30th birthday by 31 December of year graduation and commissioning are anticipated;
  • Meet physical requirements;
  • Have the intention of commissioning as an Officer in the US Navy (Marine Option MIDN are not eligible for this scholarship);
  • Possess a high school diploma or equivalent certificate;
  • Be accepted for admission as a full-time student at Prairie View A&M University.
  • Once the preparatory year is complete, the student will automatically pick up a 4 Year NROTC Scholarship if the following conditions are met:
    • Obtain medical clearance
    • Pass the Navy’s Physical Fitness Assessment (PFA)
    • Achieve a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.8 or higher
    • Agree to the terms of the scholarship contract
    • Receive the Professor of Naval Science’s recommendations
    • Receive Prairie View A&M University’s endorsement.

Who Are We Looking For?

  • Individuals who have demonstrated leadership, integrity, and character but lack standardized test scores and advanced course completions due to a lack of opportunity.
  • ​Demonstrations of future Navy leadership potential include but are not limited to the following:
    • Leadership and participation in a variety of school, extracurricular, community or similar activities, particularly those with a charitable or public service purpose;
    • Receipt of civic or similar awards;
    • Demonstration of a desire to succeed and the ability to overcome barriers by excelling in school, sports, and/or overcoming personal adversity
    • Documentation as a role model by teachers and peers at their high school.
    • Not all the above factors need to be present.
    • ​The intent is to provide additional opportunities to all who, for any of the above or similar reasons, demonstrate the potential for future success as a naval officer.
  • The NROTC Preparatory Program leverages Naval Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps programs to assist universities in identifying high-quality applicants, but not all university programs require NJROTC participation.

Application

The following forms must be completed to be considered for the Preparatory Scholarship. You have to apply and be accepted by the University of Prairie View A&M. All NPP applications will be reviewed for eligibility by the Professor of Naval Science, and eligible applications will be forwarded to the University of Prairie View A&M for final selection. Instructions for filling out the forms can be found on page 1 of the NROTC Preparatory Scholarship Application.

NROTC College Program Advanced Course

Students are considered to be in Advanced Standing if they are selected by NSTC OD2 or MCRC for Advanced Standing, accepted into the Advanced Course by the PNS, found physically qualified by the Department of Defense Medical Review Board and attend the third year of Naval Science courses. NROTC Advanced Standing includes the third and fourth year of Naval Science courses and 1/C Summer Training. Every student selected for Advanced Standing must enlist in the Naval or Marine Corps Reserve prior to commencing the Advanced Course. The Navy will provide accepted students with uniforms, Naval Science textbooks, and a subsistence allowance for a maximum of 20 months. Upon completion of Naval Science coursework and graduation, Advanced Standing college program students will be commissioned as an Ensign in the Navy or as a Second Lieutenant in the Marine Corps.

NROTC College Program Basic Course

This program is offered to college students who wish to serve their country as commissioned officers, but who have not been awarded any form of NROTC Scholarship. College Program Basic students are selected from those who have applied for enrollment at the NROTC unit and sign a contract in which they agree to complete certain Naval Science courses and one summer training period (if selected for Advanced Standing). The Basic Course of the College Program is designed for those students with more than two years of college coursework remaining.

Nurse Corps Program

The Navy Nurse Corps program is available to students interested in pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing (BSN). Upon graduation, Navy Nurse Program midshipmen are commissioned as Regular officers in the Navy Nurse Corps. Nurse NROTC eligibility is the same as the National Scholarship Program requirements. Navy Nurse Corps NROTC scholarship recipients are selected during either the National Scholarship CNSB or during the National 2- or 3-year Scholarship Board. Those interested in a four-year program apply through the National Scholarship Program. Those interested in a 2- or 3-year scholarship in the Navy Nurse Corps Program require a nomination from the local PNS. In the nomination package, the PNS must address the nominee’s nursing school admission status. The Navy Nurse NROTC Program is not for those pursuing any other medical program. Currently, this program is only offered at Houston Baptist University within the Houston Consortium at the discretion of NSTC OD.

Extended Benefits

Scholarship and College Program Students may pursue fields of study requiring up to five years for a baccalaureate degree whose total workload of degree course requirements, Navy specified course requirements, and Naval Science courses exceed a normal four year workload (15-18 hours/semester). Students in this category may apply for additional tuition and subsistence payments or they may elect to take leaves of absence. Leaves of absence are normally taken in the advanced program. During leaves of absence, financial benefits cease. Midshipmen receiving extended financial benefits will participate in normal drill. Applications for extended benefits for engineering students should be made as early as practical.

Seaman to Admiral 21 (STA-21)

STA-21 is a commissioning program that provides an opportunity for highly motivated enlisted Sailors to earn a commission. STA-21 officer candidates apply for and are accepted by a selection board for placement in specific program options (e.g., Nuclear, Civil Engineer Corps, Special Warfare, etc.). STA-21 officer candidates are assigned to specified NROTC colleges and universities and are required to graduate within 36 months. STA-21 participants retain their enlisted salary and benefits while attending school full time. STA-21 students are designated as Officer Candidates and participate in all unit activities while completing their academic program. STA-21 students retain their enlisted status for pay and advancement purposes, retain all privileges and benefits accruing to active members, and are subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ). They wear the Navy uniform with Officer Candidate insignia while a member of the NROTC unit and are addressed as “Officer Candidate.”

Marine Enlisted Commissioning Education Program (MECEP)

MECEP is a commissioning program for specifically selected enlisted Marine Corps personnel leading to baccalaureate degree and a commission in the Marine Corps. Candidates are selected by an annual board series at MCRC. MECEP students are active duty enlisted Marines who, during their tour of duty under instruction, retain their active duty status. As such, they receive full pay and allowances, retain all privileges and benefits accruing to active members, and are subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ). MECEP students wear their Marine enlisted uniform and are referred to by their enlisted rank.