High School Seniors
The Four-Year National Scholarship provides full tuition and educational fees or room and board (up to $11,500 per year), stipends, uniforms, and summer training cruises. Students complete courses leading to a Baccalaureate degree in a traditional college environment, preparing to commission and serve as a U.S. Navy or U.S. Marine Corps Officer. Students interested in applying for the 4 year National Scholarship can find more information via the official NSTC portal here.
Service Obligation by Community:
- Navy Option Scholarship Midshipmen (excluding Nurses or Marines) must serve a minimum of five years of active military service.
- Marine Corps Option Scholarship Midshipmen must serve at least four years on active duty.
- Navy Nurse Corps Option Scholarship Midshipmen must serve at least four years on active duty.
Current Students – Freshmen and Sophomores
At UMBC, you can seek a Navy or Marine Corps commission in our program—even if you are currently a freshman or sophomore. You can apply to join UMBC NROTC as a College Programmer. Students must have more than two years remaining of coursework at UMBC to be eligible to apply for the College Program.
The NROTC College Program is offered to college students who wish to serve their country as commissioned officers, but who have not been awarded any form of an NROTC scholarship. College Program 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). While in the Basic Course, students have the status of civilians. The Basic Course of the College Program is designed for those students with more than two years of college coursework remaining. Students in this course compete for either the 3 year/2 year sideload scholarship or Advanced Standing.
NROTC College Program students are considered to be in Advanced Standing if they are selected by NSTC N92 or Marine Corps Recruiting Command (MCRC) for Advanced Standing, accepted in the Advanced Course by the PNS, found physically qualified by the Department of Defense Medical Review Board (DoDMERB) and attend the third year of the Naval Science Course. NROTC College Program Advanced Standing includes the third and fourth year of Naval Science classes and First Class (1/C) summer training. Every student selected for the Advanced Course must enlist in the Naval or Marine Corps Reserve prior to commencing the Advanced Course. In return for enlistment and acceptance into the Advanced 2-4 NSTC M-1533.2F 5 February 2025 Course, the Navy will provide each Advanced Standing student uniforms, Naval Science textbooks, and a subsistence allowance for a maximum of 20 months. The NROTC College Program Advanced Standing student, upon graduation and completion of Naval Science requirements, will be commissioned as an Ensign in the Navy or as a Second Lieutenant in the Marine Corps.
Requirements for the Navy
- At minimum a 3.0 cumulative GPA (collegiate).
Requirements for Marine Corps
- A minimum of 1000 SAT (Math and Critical Reading, score from latest and same test), or 22 ACT Composite or 74 AFQT.
- Within height/weight/body fat standard per Marine Corps Order.
- At minimum a 3.0 cumulative GPA (collegiate).
- No Probation or LOA.
- Must achieve a minimum score of 235 on Marine Corps Physical Fitness Test.
- No less than 12 dead hang pullups or 50 seconds of flexed arm hang (females only).
- 90 crunches in two Minutes.
- 22 minute (males) 25 minute (females) or faster three-mile run.
- Academically a second semester freshman or second semester sophomore.
- If you are going to pursue an aviation contract you need to take the ASTB. We can administer the exam on campus with early notification. Required scores are 5 on Academic Qualification Rating (AQR), 6 on Pilot Flight Officer Rating (PFAR).
- Eyesight for pilots can be 20/40 uncorrected and correctable to 20/20.
College Program Application
• College Program Application
• College Program Application – Essays
• Report of Medical History (DD Form 2807-1) – Essentially a sports physical, must be signed by a physician
• Degree Completion Plan (Your 4 year academic major pathway including the naval science curriculum and required courses listed below)
• Unofficial Transcript (High School or College, as applicable)
• NROTC Honor Code
• Statement of Understanding (NSTC 1533-112)
• Drug Statement (NSTC 1533-101)
• Interview with NROTC staff
The NROTC program‘s mission is to develop future officers morally, mentally, and physically, instilling in them the core values of Honor, Courage, and Commitment. Specifically, the program aims to provide officer accessions for the Navy and Marine Corps. NROTC units are established at civilian institutions of higher education. To be eligible, applicants must be motivated to serve as a commissioned officer. They must also meet specific physical, academic, and moral standards. There are different program options including the College Program for students without a scholarship and the National Scholarship Program for students who receive a scholarship.
Academics:
NROTC students must maintain a minimum GPA, and academic performance is closely monitored. To ensure NROTC graduates are properly prepared academically, each student shall meet the following standards:
Have no failing grade in any subject required for completion of degree or commissioning requirements
Maintain a cumulative GPA on a 4.0 scale of 2.5 and a term GPA of 2.5
Maintain satisfactory overall progress toward completion of degree requirements within established program time limits while maintaining full-time student status per institution regulations (12 credits)
Keep their NROTC class advisors fully informed about all matters pertaining to performance, degree progress, and changes to their degree completion program.
Naval Science courses are a key component of the NROTC curriculum, and they cover a range of topics, including naval warfare, leadership, and ethics. Each course is 3 credits and should be added to your remaining coursework at UMBC. Completion of all Naval Science courses is required to complete the NROTC program. “00” level courses are offered in the Fall and “01” level courses in the Spring. Naval science classes are not taught in the Summer or Winter. This degree plan is essential to verifying your eligibility for the program. Ensure it is accurate and double check that all of the required courses are listed. Curriculum includes:
Navy-option:
NAVY 100 Introduction to Naval Science
NAVY 101 Sea Power and Maritime Affairs
NAVY 200 Leadership and Management
NAVY 201 Navigation
NAVY 300 Naval Weapons
NAVY 301 Naval Engineering
NAVY 400 Naval Operations and Seamanship
NAVY 401 Leadership and Ethics
NAVY 105 Naval Science Lab (1 credit, taken every semester)
NAVY 101 Sea Power and Maritime Affairs
NAVY 200 Leadership and Management
NAVY 302 Evolution of Warfare
NAVY 402 Fundamentals of Maneuver Warfare
NAVY 400 Naval Operations and Seamanship
NAVY 401 Leadership and Ethics
NAVY 105 Naval Science Lab (1 credit, taken every semester)
If you are not a National NROTC Scholarship Recipient, and wish to join the UMBC NROTC unit as a non-scholarship “College Program” student, please contact us at (410) 455-1513 / 1439 or nrotc@umbc.edu.