High School Seniors | Air Force ROTC

The High School Scholarship Program is now open! You must DOWNLOAD AND READ THE APPLICATION GUIDE to confirm eligibility for the 2026 school year. Prospective applicants must intend to enroll college and enter the AFROTC program beginning in the 2026-2027 academic year.
The scholarship application window will be open July 1, 2025 through December 12, 2025. Completion of your junior year of high school is required for all ROTC applications. Please do not start an application before that.
IMPORTANT: Prospective applicants planning to take one or more gap years between high school graduation and college entrance must apply during the cycle for the academic year in which they intend to enroll in college and begin the AFROTC program.

The Air Force ROTC High School Scholarship Program (HSSP) offers competitive, merit-based scholarships to high school seniors and eligible enlisted Airmen who plan to attend college and commission as second lieutenants in the U.S. Air Force or Space Force. Scholarships cover up to full tuition and fees at participating universities, plus a monthly living stipend and an annual book allowance. Whether you're aiming for a career in aviation, engineering, intelligence, or beyond, HSSP is your launchpad to leadership and service.

(Note: Cadets have the option to convert their awarded ROTC scholarship to a $10k per academic year 'housing scholarship'. This scholarship will then be applied to campus housing. Board is not included, and the conversion must begin at start of the fall term, if used. )

Eligibility:

Program Entrance - Intend to begin an undergraduate program at an institution with an AFROTC affiliation and enter the AFROTC program beginning in the 2026-2027 academic year. Applicants planning to take one or more gap years following high school graduation should apply for an HSSP during the selection cycle prior to the academic year in which they intend to start an undergraduate program and enter the AFROTC program.
Age - Be at least 17 years of age at the time of the scholarship activation and enlistment, and no more than 30 years of age by 31 December of the commissioning year.
Citizenship - Be a United States citizen or able to obtain citizenship by the last day of first term of the freshman year for 4-year offers. Important: Applicants cannot contract/activate scholarships until becoming a U.S. citizen.
Standardized Testing - Must have a minimum SAT score of 1310 or a minimum ACT score of 28. Multiple tests may be submitted and AFROTC/RRUC will use the most competitive single score report for the board application received as of the submission deadline. Super scoring from multiple tests is NOT authorized.
Grade Point Average - Must have a minimum unweighted Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 3.3 as measured at the end of your last full academic year. (ex. A current high school senior applicant will use their freshman – junior year unweighted CGPA, a high school graduate applicant will report their freshmen – senior unweighted CGPA). If the applicant’s school uses a weighted CGPA, their school counselor must convert it to an unweighted CGPA.
Prior Service - Active-duty military members without any full-time college experience may apply for the HSSP if they have an established date of separation and meet the eligibility requirements outlined in the Scholarship Application Guide. If the member intends to separate early from the military, the member must apply through one of the Enlisted Commissioning Programs - visit https://www.afrotc.com/scholarships/enlisted/ascp-soar/ for more info. Guard and Reserve members may apply, but must obtain a signed DD Form 368, Request for Conditional Release, from their component to contract with AFROTC by the scholarship’s activation deadline.

Interested in applying or learning more? Please visit afrotc.com/scholarships .

The Rutgers University-New Brunswick ROTC Award is a four-year renewable scholarship designed to support first-year fall applicants demonstrating strong leadership, persistence, and commitment to participating in an ROTC program while attending Rutgers. Each year, $15,000 Trustee Scholarships are awarded to five students across Army, Air Force, and Navy ROTC programs.

Eligibility is limited to first-year fall applicants admitted to specific New Brunswick schools, including the School of Arts and Sciences, the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences, the School of Engineering, and the Rutgers Business School. Transfer and continuing ROTC students are not eligible.

The selection process involves collaboration between Undergraduate Admissions and ROTC programs. Candidates are ranked based on academic merit. Students must maintain a minimum GPA of 2.0, complete 24 degree credits annually, and remain in good standing with their ROTC program to renew the scholarship.

All incoming freshmen who commit to Rutgers and complete AFROTC enrollment by April 25th of their senior year of high school will be considered for the ROTC Trustee Scholarship. For questions, please contact the Recruiting Officer.