I'm considering the ROTC scholarship for college and want to know more about the academic requirements. What GPA and SAT/ACT scores do I need to have a good chance of securing this scholarship?
The Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) scholarships are very competitive and have numerous requirements, with both academic and physical components.
The minimum academic requirements for the ROTC scholarships are a 2.5 GPA for Army ROTC, a 3.0 for Air Force ROTC, and a 3.0 for Naval ROTC. However, these are just the minimum requirements and realistically, a higher GPA would make you a more competitive candidate, especially given the competitive nature of these scholarships.
As for standardized tests, the minimum SAT score is 1000 (Math and Evidence-based Reading and Writing combined) and the minimum ACT score is 19 for the Army ROTC. For the Air Force and Naval ROTC, there are no explicitly stated minimum SAT or ACT scores, but generally, a high score would make you a more competitive candidate.
Keep in mind, these scholarships are not solely based on academics. Other components of the application are also very important, including your physical fitness (as demonstrated by a fitness test), your leadership experience (such as holding a leadership position in a club or on a sports team), and your commitment to serving in the military after graduation. Also, you'll need to pass a medical exam to meet the military's health standards.
The scholarships are highly selective, and it's important to check the specific requirements for the branch of service you're interested in, as some of the requirements differ between them. It's beneficial to start preparing and aiming for these requirements early in high school, if possible. Good luck!
CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.