Eligibility Requirements for Navy ROTC

FacebookXPinterestEmailEmailEmailShare
NROTC general eligibility spring ship selection
Surface Warfare Officer (SWO) detailer Lt. Pamela Goly, assigned to Navy Personnel Command, video-chats with midshipmen during the 2020 NROTC spring ship selection. (Mass Communication Specialist 3rd class Jared Catlett/U.S. Navy)

The following is a list of the NROTC general eligibility requirements:

  • U.S. citizenship or national.
  • Not less than 17 years old by Sept. 1 of year starting college and no more than 23 on Dec. 31 of that year.
  • Must not have reached 27th birthday by Dec. 31 of year in which graduation and commissioning are anticipated.
  • Applicants with previous military service may be eligible for age adjustments for amount of time equal to their prior service, on month-by-month basis, for maximum of 36 months, if they will not reach 30th birthday by Dec. 31 of year graduation and commissioning are anticipated
  • High school graduation or equivalency certificate by Aug. 1 of year of entrance into four-year NROTC scholarship program.
  • No moral obligations or personal convictions that prevent conscientious bearing of arms and supporting and defending the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign or domestic, or to taking an oath to perform such acts.
  • Physically qualified by Navy or Marine Corps standards.
  • You must not have any body piercing or tattoos that violate Navy or Marine Corps policy.
  • Students with 30 or more semester hours or 45 or more quarter hours of college credit upon application or students already enrolled in the NROTC college program are not eligible for four-year NROTC scholarships. These students should see professors of naval science at host university's NROTC unit to discuss other scholarship opportunities.
  • Students may apply for only one of three program options --Navy, Marine Corps or nurse.
  • Active-duty Navy applicants are ineligible to apply for the NROTC program through COMNAVCRUITCOM. Active members of other branches of the military may apply if granted a conditional release. Individuals who are scheduled for boot camp may apply, provided they complete all required application evolutions (i.e. strong interest inventory, officer interview, etc.). NSTC will accept teacher evaluations, transcripts and ACT/SAT scores dated after the applicants ship date.
  • Navy and nurse-option applicants should apply online or through Navy recruiting offices
  • Marine Corps applicants should apply online or through Marine Corps recruiting offices
  • You may start the process of applying during the second semester of your junior year of high school. Before the application can be finalized and forward for selection consideration, you must ensure that a copy of your complete transcript, including your entire junior year, is forwarded to your recruiter.

Ready to Join the Military?

We can put you in touch with recruiters from the different military branches. Learn about the benefits of serving your country, paying for school, military career paths, and more: sign up now and hear from a recruiter near you.

Story Continues