ROTC Programs
The Reserve Officer’s Training Corps is a means for interested students to earn a degree while preparing to commission as an officer into one of the branches of military service. Officers in today’s military must have a four-year college degree so typically students that complete their ROTC requirements commission shortly after earning their Illinois degree. All programs have options that serve both undergraduate and graduate students.
The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign began as a land grant university in 1867 and military training was mandatory for all male undergraduates until the program became entirely voluntary in 1964. U. of I. expanded its curriculum to add Naval ROTC in 1945 and Air Force ROTC in 1949. Since then, all three departments have been represented at Illinois.
Participation in the ROTC is open to all university students, regardless of their academic majors or levels. During your courses of study, each department has a requirement that interested students must contract with the Department of Defense to continue towards an officer’s commission.
Along with earning an officer’s commission, ROTC is an elective program that provides career opportunities, hands-on leadership experience, adventure training, and financial assistance to participating students. The program is a consecutive series of elective courses and other training, including leadership laboratories designed to prepare students for leadership positions as officers on active duty or in the reserves. The leadership principles and management techniques presented are equally applicable to any career field. Financial support is provided both by the federal government and the State of Illinois.
Financial Assistance
Enrollment in ROTC can provide significant financial support to interested students. All ROTC departments offer merit scholarships, not need based. Also, all contracted cadets and midshipmen receive some financial assistance while attending college. See specific military branch ROTC departments for more information on these financial opportunities.
Illinois State Tuition Waiver
One of the financial assistance options that is available for all ROTC departments is the Illinois State Tuition Waiver. The ISTW covers the cost tuition for enrolling and participating in ROTC. Unlike a military scholarship, this benefit comes with no military commitment so it is a means to determine whether serving as a military officer after graduation is right for you. Each ROTC department has specific requirements to earn this waiver but in general, you acquire it by (1) being an Illinois resident, (2) registering and attending ROTC courses, (3) have a minimum of 2.5 cumulative GPA at college or a 3.0 cumulative High School GPA for incoming Freshmen, (4) you must be a full-time student, (4) and maintain a 2.0 cumulative GPA to retain. You must also reapply every semester.
For more information about a specific ROTC department, click the corresponding tab on the left.
Air Force ROTC Department website
airforce-rotc@illinois.edu
(217) 333-1927
Air Force ROTC Detachment 190
505 East Armory Ave., Ste 229
Champaign, IL 61820
Air Force ROTC
The Air Force ROTC program is a professional educational opportunity in which a student can earn a commission in the U.S. Air Force or Space Force while pursuing a baccalaureate degree, and in some cases a Master’s degree. This professional foundation is then developed and broadened during active service as a commissioned officer after graduation and commissioning.
A student may be enrolled as a scholarship selectee (Scholarship Program) or non-scholarship (College Program). Students may receive a scholarship prior to arrival as a freshman via the High School Scholarship Program (HSSP) or they may be awarded a scholarship during their freshman or sophomore year via the In-College Scholarship Program (ICSP). There are also other programs for those currently serving in the military to join AFROTC via the Enlisted Commissioning Program (ECP). Non-scholarship students in good standing in the program will have an annual opportunity to compete for scholarship boards.
For Scholarship Program students, no military obligation is incurred until the beginning of sophomore year. College Program students selected to continue in the curriculum incur the military obligation at the commencement of their junior year. The instructors understand unusual cases exist. Please speak with the staff to best understand your particular case.
Aerospace studies courses are open to ALL students, upon consent of the Department of Air Force cadre, even if they are not enrolled in either of these programs.
Requirements for an Officer's Commission
In addition to mental, physical and aptitude requirements, each potential student in the Air Force ROTC program must:
- Be at least the age of 17 with a maximum age of 39* depending on the specific program; if younger than the age of 18, the student must receive the consent of his or her parents (*Scholarships have varying age limits)
- Be a citizen of the United States (provide proof of citizenship)
- Enroll as a full-time student
- Enroll, participate and pass Air Force Aerospace Studies (AFAS) classes, Leadership Laboratory (LLAB) and Physical Training (PT)
- Complete a sports physical
- Be able to complete at least three years of ROTC
- Have no moral obligations or personal convictions that will prevent him or her from executing the oath of office
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| All Semesters | ||
| Leadership Laboratory (must take each semester) | ||
| First Year | ||
| Department of Air Force Professionalism | ||
| Heritage and Values of the United States Air Force II | ||
| Second Year | ||
| Team and Leadership Fundamentals I | ||
| Team and Leadership Fundamentals II | ||
Summer Field Training | ||
| Third Year | ||
| Leading People and Effective Communication I | ||
| Leading People and Effective Communication II | ||
| Fourth Year | ||
| Nat Sec Afrs/Prep Actv Duty I | ||
| Nat Sec Afrs/Prep Actv Duty II | ||
Scholarship Programs, Types, and Categories
AFROTC scholarships are offered through three primary programs consisting of the High School Scholarship Program (HSSP), the In-College Scholarship Program (ICSP) and the Enlisted Commissioning Program (ECP). Scholarship cadets must major in an academic discipline that qualifies for an Air Force Specialty Code (AFSC) as listed in the Air Force Officer Classification Directory (AFOCD). A scholarship cadet must major in the category for which the scholarship was awarded. AFROTC scholarship programs may offer various types and categories of scholarships to balance recruitment incentives, production requirements and funding availability.
The first type of scholarship that may be offered is a Type 1, covering full tuition and fees (no cap). Type 2 is the next scholarship that may be offered, covering up to $18,000 per year ($9,000 per semester) toward tuition and fees. If tuition and fees are over the scholarship cap, students must cover the difference. Cadets not previously awarded a scholarship and allowed to continue in AFROTC in their junior and senior years will automatically be awarded the General Charles McGee Leadership Award (CMLA). This scholarship has the same characteristics as the Type 2 scholarship previously described. All scholarship types can be converted into a $10,000/year housing scholarship. The housing scholarship covers up to $10,000/year in University-owned housing and only covers room; board is not included. Additionally, all scholarships include a book stipend (as of 2024: $900 per academic year) and subsistence allowance (as of 2024: between $300–$500 per month). For further details on scholarships, visit the AFROTC.com/scholarships website.
A student in good standing and enrolled in a degree program that requires longer than four years for completion may apply for, but is not guaranteed, an extra year of scholarship benefits. Upon graduation, scholarship students are commissioned in the U.S. Air Force or U.S. Space Force and typically serve four years on active-duty dependent upon the career field they have selected.
Out-of-state scholarship students in their first year at the university have the opportunity to compete for a University Room and Board (R&B) Scholarship, as funds are available on an annual basis. The University R&B ROTC Scholarship is awarded on a competitive basis, determined by the Professor of Aerospace Studies.
College Program
A College Program non-scholarship student receives all required uniforms while undertaking the same training and education as Scholarship Program students. The College Program students can then use this valuable experience to gain advantage for selection into the Scholarship Program. If not selected for scholarship but allowed to continue (receiving an Enrollment Allocation) into their junior and senior years, students will be awarded the CMLA scholarship as previously described. College Program students (and Scholarship Program students) selected to continue by receiving an Enrollment Allocation (EA) usually attend one summer training session before their junior year. Upon graduation, these students are still commissioned in the U.S. Air Force or Space Force and serve a minimum obligation similar to scholarship students, dependent upon the career field they have selected.
In addition to gaining opportunities for scholarship and future Service, College Program students who are residents of Illinois are eligible to receive the Illinois State Tuition Waiver (ISTW). These waivers are awarded annually by the Professor of Aerospace Studies on a competitive basis and cover tuition only. Generally, those on scholarship will not be considered for the ISTW.
A student may apply for admission to the College Program through the Department of Aerospace Studies. The Professor of Aerospace Studies makes the final selection based on academic, physical and military aptitude criteria.
Army ROTC Department website
arotc@illinois.edu
(217) 244-1407
Department of Military Science
113 Armory Building
505 East Armory Ave.
Champaign, IL 61820
Army ROTC
ARMY ROTC is an elective program that develops a student’s leadership potential and prepares them to serve after college graduation as an officer in the U.S. Army, Army Reserve, and Army National Guard. Students typically take a military science class and a corresponding leadership laboratories each semester. These classes along with other military training opportunities, evaluates students' leadership potential in a variety of leadership roles and provides immediate feedback to students. Emphasis is on hands-on leadership experience. Cadets plan, organize, and evaluate much of the laboratory and field training.
Requirements for an U.S. Army Officer's Commission
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Course (MS-I and MS-II cadets) | ||
| Options for completing the basic course include 1) complete MILS 100 and 200 level coursework described below, 2) graduate from 30-Day Basic Camp 3) Prior or current military service. Contact department for details. | ||
First Year | ||
| Introduction to the Army | ||
| Leadership Laboratory | ||
| Introduction to the Profession of Arms | ||
| Leadership Laboratory | ||
Second Year | ||
| Leadership and Ethics | ||
| Leadership Laboratory | ||
| Leadership and Teamwork | ||
| Leadership Laboratory | ||
| Advanced Course (MS-III and MS-IV cadets) | ||
Third Year | ||
| Training Management and the Warfighting Functions | ||
| Leadership Laboratory | ||
| Leadership and Ethics | ||
| Leadership Laboratory | ||
Advanced Camp- Summer Training | ||
Fourth Year | ||
| Leadership and Management | ||
| Leadership Laboratory | ||
| Officership | ||
| Leadership Laboratory | ||
| Military History Course | ||
| Intro to US Armed Forces | ||
or HIST 251 | Warfare Milit Insts & Soc | |
| Enrollment of the third and fourth year courses and labs require instructor approval, must be a U.S. citizen and the student must be contracted to commission upon graduation from UIUC. Non-U.S. citizens may be enrolled as ROTC students within the Basic Course. | ||
Financial Assistance
Along with the Illinois State Tuition Waiver mentioned on the overview page, Army ROTC has specific financial assistance opportunities that can greater reduce college expenses. Enrollment in Army ROTC can provide significant financial support to interested students. All ROTC scholarships are merit-based. Army ROTC offers three financial aid programs to support Army ROTC cadets earn their college degrees: the Army ROTC Federal Scholarship, the Guaranteed Reserve Forces Duty ROTC Scholarship, and the Simultaneous Membership Program (SMP) with the Illinois Army National Guard or Army Reserve.
Federal Scholarship:
This scholarship covers FULL Tuition and Fees OR Room and Board; a $600/Semester allowance for books; and $420/month stipend for subsistence while college is in session. This is usually 9-10 months each academic year. There are 4-year, 3.5-year, 3-year, 2.5-year and 2-year variations of this scholarship. However, this scholarship may only cover one degree. To accept this scholarship, you are required to sign a contract for military service upon graduation from college. While receiving scholarship benefits, you must register for the Military Science courses, have a minimum of 2.5 to be awarded, and maintain a 2.0 to retain. Freshman Applicants must have a 19 or higher on the ACT or a 920 or higher on the SAT.
GRFD (Guaranteed Reserve Forces Duty) Scholarship:
This scholarship is very similar to the Federal Scholarship except the student must also be a member of the U.S. Army Reserves or the Illinois Army National Guard. Students with a GRFD scholarship are required to sign a contract for Reserve or National Guard duty prior to accepting the scholarship. The student will attend one monthly weekend drill and train for two weeks over the summer with his/her assigned unit while attending college. This scholarship covers FULL Tuition and Fees OR Room and Board; a $600/Semester allowance for books; and $420/month stipend for subsistence while college is in session. This is usually 9-10 months each academic year. There is a 4-year version that must be applied for prior to joining Army ROTC but if you are already an Illinois student, there are still 3-year, 2.5-year and 2-year variations of this scholarship as well. You also receive all of the Simultaneous Membership Program (SMP) benefits listed below.
Nursing Scholarship:
At Illinois, the Nursing program is part of the University of Illinois at Chicago and students apply for entrance into the nursing program during their first semester of their sophomore year. If accepted, Army ROTC has scholarships that will cover the last two years needed to obtain a Nursing degree. Like the two scholarships above, this scholarship covers FULL Tuition and Fees OR Room and Board; a $600/Semester allowance for books; and $420/month stipend for subsistence while college is in session. This is usually 9-10 months each academic year. Should you earn this scholarship, you will sign a contract for military service as an Army nurse upon your graduation.
Simultaneous Membership Program (SMP):
The purpose of the SMP Program is to give eligible enlisted members of the Reserve Component an opportunity to participate in a college-level ROTC Program and earn an officer’s commission upon graduation. The name, SMP, originates from a student simultaneously being under contact with a ILARNG or US Army Reserve contract and an Army ROTC contract. This agreement may be with a GRFD scholarship or with a non-scholarship contract. Once a Illinois student has completed basic training, or an equivalent qualification (Basic Camp through Army ROTC), and is an academic sophomore, he/she can join the SMP and earn an officer’s commission while completing their college degree. While in the SMP, the cadet earns E-5 (Sergeant) pay while attending drill and annual training. Financial assistance includes (1) E-5 pay, typically around $350 per drill weekend; (2) roughly $380 per month GI Bill pay; and (3) $350 per month as a GI Bill college kicker. ILARNG SMP Soldiers also earn four years of paid tuition if they attend a state university in Illinois. The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is one of these colleges.
Other Scholarships:
ROTC awards numerous other cash award scholarships annually to cadets. If interested in learning more about these scholarships, contact the Army ROTC office for further details.
Non-Scholarship Contracts:
A student may contract without a scholarship and still earn $420 per month stipend to help with expenses while the college is in session. A cadet must have a minimum of 30 college credits to qualify for this contract.
ALL contracts (scholarship or non-scholarship) are contingent upon an applicant being medically qualified, physically fit, and participating in Army ROTC training events.
For additional information regarding any of these programs, contact the Professor of Military Science, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 113 Armory Building, 505 East Armory Street, Champaign, IL 61820; (217) 244-1407.