Prospective Students

Our purpose is to morally, mentally, and physically develop college students to eventually commission as Navy and Marine Corps officers of the highest caliber who are prepared to succeed as war fighting leaders. In this pursuit, Midshipmen are trained to strive for academic and professional excellence. They are instilled with the Department of the Navy Core Values of honor, courage, and commitment to guide them in their future roles as military leaders.

The national scholarship covers full tuition and all required educational fees at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. In addition, each scholarship student will receive:

• Uniforms
• Initial travel payment if the home of record is more than 50 miles from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (only provided for the first time the student reports to the NROTC unit, subsequent trips are not reimbursed)
• Book stipend of $750 ($375 per semester)
• Monthly stipend during the school year at the following rates:
  • $250 - Freshmen
  • $300 - Sophomore
  • $350 - Junior
  • $400 - Senior

The NROTC Scholarship is able to cover tuition OR room and board. It is the student's decision on which method they would like the scholarship to fund. The Navy will provide yearly $11,500 if the student decides to opt out for room and board.

• Navy Option Midshipmen are required to serve a minimum of five years of active military service upon graduation and commissioning. Mandatory years of service are subject to what job assignment the student receives. This obligation is accepted at the beginning of the sophomore year.
• Marine Corps Option Midshipmen will be required to serve at least four years of active duty. 

• Scholarship students have until September 1st of their sophomore year to decide whether to remain in the program before incurring a service obligation.  Those who decide to drop from the program before that date may do so without any service obligation or obligation to repay the tuition benefits received for the freshman year.  Those choosing to continue will incur the obligation of service.  After this date, scholarship students who decide to voluntarily leave the program must reimburse the Department of the Navy for all tuition benefits received previously, including the freshman year.
• Current policy requires Active Enlisted Service for those scholarship students who disenroll from the program during their senior year, rather than recoupment of tuition benefits. 
• College Program (Basic Standing) students become obligated immediately after receiving either a 3-Year or 2-Year scholarship, or after earning College Program (Advanced Standing) status after their sophomore year.

• At the beginning of the senior year, fall semester, our Navy option students state their duty preferences, and many will get their first choice of duty. There are some prerequisites, such as being physically qualified for aviation, and having the right college major and GPA for nuclear powered ships and submarines.  Ultimately, the service assignment is dependent upon the needs of the Navy; students should always be prepared to serve in any capacity required.
• Marine Option students receive their duty assignments after successfully completing The Basic School (TBS) post-graduation.   

There is a possibility, but highly unlikely. A few top students are selected ever year to go to graduate school, but the majority of midshipmen are expected to enter the military after graduation and commissioning. You will be eligible for Navy and Marine Corps Postgraduate School in Monterey. California after your first three to four years of active duty. This will enable you to obtain a graduate degree in one of the offered courses of study while receiving full pay.

• Navy Option:
  • Calculus I & II
  • Physics I & II (calculus-based)
  • 2 writing intensive English courses
  • 1 American military history OR National Security Policy course
  • 1 Cultural Studies course
  • 8 Naval Science Courses (one per semester)
• Marine Option:
  • 2 writing intensive English courses
  • 1 American military history OR National Security Policy course
  • 6 Naval Science Courses
• Note: AP credits can fill some of these requirements. However, at least one Calculus and one Physics course must be taken in the collegiate environment.

The NROTC unit provides professional tutoring in calculus and physics at no cost to the student. The NROTC also requires all incoming freshmen and anyone struggling in classes to participate in weekly study hours. All midshipmen are assigned a class advisor that they can talk to about their grades and classes. The class advisor is an active-duty Lieutenant in the Navy or Captain in the Marine Corps who will provide advice about school and NROTC while keeping the big picture in mind. The advisors will keep the Midshipmen on track to complete degree and program requirements. 

In most aspects, it is the same. Marine option students are not required to take calculus and physics courses. Marine option students take different Naval Science courses in their junior and senior years, and in the summer after their junior year they take part in the Officer Candidate School (OCS) training program at Quantico, Virginia. Our Marine Officer Instructor guides them in their development, and upon graduation they are commissioned as Second Lieutenants in the U.S. Marine Corps.

There are three different summer cruises for scholarship students. Third Class cruises take place after freshman year, Second Class after sophomore year, and First Class after junior year. College Program students do not participate in summer cruises; if selected for a 2- or 3-year sideload scholarship or Advanced Standing former College Programmers participate in First Class cruise only. Nurse Corps students take two cruises, one aboard ship after freshman year, and one at a Naval Hospital after junior year. Click the link for specifics on summer training. 

No. The scholarship selection process is totally independent of the universities' admission processes. You must seek admission to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Keep in mind that the NROTC scholarship cannot be awarded to you until you have been accepted for admission at an NROTC school. It is a good idea for NROTC scholarship applicants to apply to five NROTC host schools to ensure acceptance to at least one NROTC host school.