Thank you for your interest in joining the World's Greatest Naval Battalion! This page will contain all of the information you need to start your journey to becoming a Naval or Marine Corps Officer. 

SCHOLARSHIP   OVERVIEW

At any Naval ROTC unit, midshipmen are classified by their year and scholarship standing. Following graduation of New Student Orientation (NSO) , an incoming freshman is of either National Scholarship or College Programmer status. Most National Scholarship applications are awarded during a student's senior year in high school and applications are typically due by the end of January that year. Students who have not applied for a National Scholarship can do so during their first or second semester at university and are then categorized as College Programmers until they pick up a scholarship. Students have until the end of their sophomore year to pick up a 4, 3, or 2-year National Scholarships, or qualified Navy options can be selected for Advanced Standing.

*Note: The UIUC tuition waiver is an Illinois-special program that waives your tuition while you are applying for the National Scholarship.

For the most current information on National Scholarships, visit Naval Education and Training Command.

steps to joining the unit

For the high school student

  1. Apply for a four-year National Scholarship before February of your graduating year online
    1. Submit your application
    2. Pass a Navy Physical Readiness Test (PRT) or Marine Corps Physical Fitness Test (PFT)
    3. Complete the officer interview
    4. Receive notification of acceptance to UIUC/Parkland
    5. Receive notification of acceptance for National Scholarship
    6. ​​Contact your designated unit for further instruction
  2. If you did not apply for the National Scholarship or missed the deadline:
    1. ​Register to attend New Student Orientation (NSO)
    2. Sign up for an information session or 

For the college student

  1. Join an Illini Days Info Session or sign up for an officer interview
  2. ​Register to attend New Student Orientation (NSO)
If you are currently a college student at the University of Illinois, you can join the NROTC as a College Programmer without the National Scholarship. College Program midshipmen are treated the same as Scholarship midshipmen, except they do not receive the same full financial aid, attend summer training, or incur any service commitment. All midshipmen take the same required NROTC classes, drill periods, and compete on the same teams. The purpose for the College Program is to allow students to see if the Battalion is right for them.

College Program midshipmen will apply for 3 or 2-year National Scholarships during their freshman and sophomore years. While they are applying, they will automatically be covered by our tuition waiver so long as they have in-state residency and remain in good standing. 

Midshipmen who do not pick up a scholarship may be awarded Advanced Standing by the Commanding Officer. Those who fail to pick up Advanced Standing or National Scholarship by the end of their sophomore year will be dropped from the program and incur no service obligation.
Many units, including the University of Illinois, offer a New Student Orientation Program of some kind, designed to give you the tools you need to succeed in this program.