Army ROTC Scholarships


Wether you are a first time college student, a member of the National Guard, or an active-duty member wanting to get your degree, there are options tailored to all.

ROTC is a competitive college program. One of the best ways to look at ROTC compared to the civilian world is as a competitive junior executive training and hiring program. We are very selective as to who receives a scholarship as that automatically puts them on a path to becoming a commissioned officer in the U.S. Army. We look at individuals in terms of three key aspects; Scholastics, Athletics AND Leadership Potential.

To help students complete their degrees and earn a commission, we offer 2 year, 3 year and 4 year scholarships. The type of scholarship that we offer varies depending on how many years of college that a student has left to complete and on whether that student wants to go directly into a reserve component or to compete for an Active Duty officer slot.

Who are selected for scholarships?

It is important to note that being selected for an ROTC scholarship and contract is not guaranteed for a student that starts in the program. A student must show us excellent performance academically, be in excellent physical shape and show great leadership potential as well as and be medically and administratively qualified for service to be selected.

Students often have to start in army ROTC without a scholarship or any type of ROTC financial assistance before they are selected for contracting. If that is the case with you, you must be prepared to pay for college yourself and if you are not selected for contracting, to continue to pay for college using other means such as financial aid. Army ROTC scholarships and contracts are based on merit and your potential for becoming an army officer…they are not awarded based on financial need.

All Scholarships, no matter their type, pay for the following:
  • Full Tuition and Fees at CWU (for in-state, out of state, or graduate tuition) OR Room and Board ($10,000 per year)...each student must choose, on a quarterly basis, whether to have the Army pay for tuition and fees or to receive the room and board payment
  • $400 per quarter for books (total of $1200 per year for fall, winter and spring)
  • Monthly living stipend (only for the months in school) $420 per month ($4,200 per year)
All scholarships requires a service commitment of 8 years. This commitment can be served in one of three ways:
  • Entirety on Active Duty
  • Entirely in the Reserves
  • A combination of four years (or more) on Active Duty and 4 years in the Reserves for a total of 8 years

Here is a breakdown of what a freshmen tuition rate looks like with a 16 credit workload: 

tuition

Options


What scholarship is the right fit for you? Look below to explore scholarship options
  • 4-Year National Army ROTC Scholarship

    Upon receiving a 4-Year scholarship and passing their Army ROTC medical physical, the scholarship recipient will be started on the scholarship in the fall of their Freshmen year. This is the most competitive scholarship for a high school student.

    For more information on this scholarship or to start an application, go to the Army ROTC 4-Year National Scholarship Website

  • 3 Year Advance Designee (AD) Army ROTC Scholarship

    Upon receiving a 3-year scholarship (AD), students will receive a contract and will be started on the scholarship in the fall of their Sophomore year after passing the Army Medical Physical. The scholarship recipient must get good grades in their Freshman year and pass the Army Physical Fitness Test to start the scholarship. Student apply for the 3-year Advanced Designee scholarship through the same Army ROTC National High School Scholarship Application. The national board chooses which students receive full 4-year scholarships and which students are awarded 3-year advanced designee scholarships.

    For more information or to start an application please go to the National High School Scholarship Application Site

  • Scholarships for Students out of High School

    Campus based ROTC Scholarships are for students who have graduated high school, are a current Freshmen or Sophomore student or plan to transfer to CWU. A campus based scholarship is less competitive in the sense that an applicant is competing with only students who attend or plan to attend Central. Awardees have demonstrated superior attributes in the Scholar, Athlete, Leader categories.

    We offer 4, 3, and 2-year Campus based Scholarships.

    4-year and 3-year Advanced Designee Campus based Scholarship

    The 4-year and 3-year Advanced Designee Campus Based Scholarship is awarded to an incoming Freshmen who may not have known about the 4-Year National Scholarship and missed the deadline to apply, but is competitive for a scholarship. If awarded a 4-year scholarship the scholarship recipient will start receiving scholarship benefits in fall quarter of their Freshman year after passing the Army Medical Physical and Army Physical Fitness Test. If awarded a 3-year Advanced Designee then scholarship benefits will not start till the sophomore year.

    For more information on the 4-year and 3-year Advanced Designee Campus Based Scholarship please fill out a Prospective Cadet Information Card.

  • Scholarships for Students Already at CWU and Transfer Students



    3-year Campus based Scholarship

    A 3-year Campus based Scholarship is awarded to a current Freshmen OR a transfer student who has three years of college remaining. The scholarship will be in effective starting the fall quarter of the Sophomore year.

    For more information on the 3-year Campus Based Scholarship please fill out a Prospective Cadet Information Card.

    2-Year Campus based Scholarship

    A 2-year Campus based scholarship is awarded to a current Sophomore OR a transfer student who has two years of college remaining or their Associates degree. The scholarship will be in effective starting the fall quarter of the Junior year.

    For more information on the 2-year Campus Based Scholarship please fill out a Prospective Cadet Information Card.

    Army Reserve (USAR) and Army National Guard Scholarships

    4-Year Minuteman Scholarship

    A 4-year Minuteman Scholarship is awarded to a student with 4 years of college remaining who wishes to immediately serve in the National Guard or Army Reserve after completing their degree. Same standards for selection apply to the 4-year minuteman that apply to the 4-year campus based scholarship.

    For more information on the 4-year Minuteman Scholarship please fill out a Prospective Cadet Information Card.

    3-Year Dedicated Army Reserve Scholarship

    A 3-year Dedicated Army Reserves Scholarship is awarded to a current Freshmen OR a transfer student who has three years of college remaining. It requires the student to serve in the Army Reserve after college. The scholarship will start Fall Quarter of a recipients Sophomore year.

    For more information on the 3-year Dedicated Army Reserves Scholarship please fill out a Prospective Cadet Information Card.

    3-Year Dedicated Army National Guard Scholarship

    A 3-year Dedicated Army National Guard Scholarship is awarded to a current Freshmen OR a transfer student who has three years of college remaining. It requires the student to serve in the Army National Guard after college. The scholarship start fall quarter of the recipients Sophomore year.

    For more information on the 3-year Dedicated Army National Guard Scholarship please fill out a Prospective Cadet Information Card.

    2-Year Guaranteed Reserve Forces Duty Scholarship

    A 2-year Guaranteed Reserve Forces Duty Scholarship is awarded to a current Sophomore OR a transfer student who has two years of college remaining or who has earned their Associates degree. It requires the student to serve in either the Army Reserve or National Guard after graduation. The scholarship will be in effective starting the fall quarter of the Junior year.

    For more information on the 2-year Guaranteed Reserve Forces Duty Scholarship please fill out Prospective Cadet Information Card.

  • CWU Funded Local Scholarships

    Cratsenberg Army ROTC Scholarship

    The Cratsenberg Scholarship is dedicated in memory of Captain David Alan Cratsenberg. Captain Cratsenberg was an Infantry Officer who earned his commission at Central Washington University Army ROTC. He served as a phenomenal role model to the other cadets in the program. The Cratsenberg Award is given to the top MS IV (senior cadet) who possess similar scholastic, athletic and leadership attributes as Captain Cratsenberg.

    The Cratsenberg Scholarship can be awarded to any cadet in the program. To date it has been awarded to a cadet who otherwise would not have been able to continue his education at CWU without it. For more information about the Cratsenberg Army ROTC Scholarship, please email us at armyrotc@cwu.edu or call us at 509-963-3520.

    Braden-Dodd Senior ROTC Cadet Scholarship

    The Bradon-Dodd Scholarship is awarded to an academic senior (135 credits or more) that is enrolled in Army ROTC and exemplifies the scholastic, athletic and leadership qualities that make up the foundation for a future great Army leader.

    Eligibility Requirements:

    • Must be an academic senior (135 credits or greater)
    • Must be a contracted cadet in Army ROTC
    • Should exemplify the qualities of a scholar, athlete and leader
    • Must go before the scholarship board and be chosen for the scholarship
    Application Process:

    For a senior cadet to apply for this scholarship, please contact the Scholarship and Enrollment Manager for Army ROTC or the Department of Military Science Program Coordinator.

CWU News

Five prospective CWU students receive diversity scholarships

March 27, 2024

by

CWU awards eight scholarships at Regional Art Show

March 27, 2024

by

More News