Scholarships

The Department of Military Science offers merit based scholarships that provide up to full cost of tuition (currently worth $33,160 at USF) and majority of their college fees. Scholarship winners also earn an additional $1,200 per year for books! In addition, cadets receive a monthly stipend between $300-$500.

Army ROTC is one of America's leading sources of scholarships, making awards to thousands of college students each year. The increased number of recent scholarships allocated for cadets improves your chances of winning one. This is a compelling way to to enable you to experience the hands-on leadership and organizational management training that no other college course except ROTC offers. Furthermore, scholarship cadets have many benefits including having their books and classes paid for.

**The University of San Francisco also takes care of housing fees for Cadets that are on an Army ROTC scholarship.

Below is a synopsis of the different scholarship programs offered. For more detailed information click HERE.

High School Students
High School Students interested in enrolling in Army ROTC should learn more about the four year scholarships that the Army offers college students. The University of San Francisco has been designated a high-cost scholarship school. Students who compete for and win an Army ROTC scholarship to the University of San Francisco or a Cross- enrolled University can receive financial assistance each year towards tuition. These scholarships also include a yearly stipend for books and a monthly tax-free stipend for living expenses. To apply for a scholarship, go to the Cadet Command 4 Year Scholarship Web site.

4 Year Scholarship
Four year scholarships are awarded to high school seniors preparing to pursue an undergraduate degree. You must have a minimum SAT score of 920 or an ACT composite score of 19 to compete for a scholarship.    Selection of four year scholarship winners is based on your GPA, the results of SAT or ACT tests, your performance on the Presidential Fitness Challenge Test or the Army Physical Fitness Test; extracurricular, leadership and athletic activities; and an interview with the Professor of Military Science of the ROTC department.  To apply please fill out the online application form. Each year, the deadline for submission of the National Scholarship application is January 10th. If after that date, please contact the ROTC Admissions Officer at USF (MAJ Warner).

2 or 3 Year Scholarships
The three year scholarship is awarded to students who have already completed one year of college. Selection is based on performance in academic studies and military science (if already enrolled in ROTC), successfully passing the Army Physical Readiness Test, a personal interview and observation by the PMS, and on demonstrated motivation towards an Army career (Active, Reserve, or National Guard duty).

Nursing Scholarships
Nursing scholarships can be awarded from any of the above categories.   Prospective Army nurses will apply for the respective Army ROTC Nursing Scholarship.   Nursing cadets must meet the same requirements as other cadets and be accepted into the School of Nursing at the University of San Francisco, Dominican University, or San Francisco State University. To apply, please contact the ROTC Admissions Officer at USF (MAJ Warner). For more general information visit: Nursing Scholarships.

Graduate Students
The Army offers two year scholarships for graduate students each year and stipends for books and monthly tax free stipends for living expenses. To use one of these scholarships, you must attend the four-week Leader's Training Course at Ft. Knox, KY (unless you have prior military or ROTC experience, contact us for details).

Green to Gold Scholarships
If currently enlisted in the Army, you may qualify for a 4-, 3-, or 2-year scholarship. Green to Gold applicants, in addition to the requirements above, must complete two years of active duty prior to discharge and three months of service for every month of specialized training received. Applicants must not have over 10 years of active service. Applicants must obtain a favorable recommendation from their chain of command and must be eligible to re-enlist They also need to pass the APFT, meet the height / weight standards, and pass a medical examination. Applicants need a cumulative GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale for all previous college work.

Two and three year scholarship winners must have a GT score of 110 or higher; four year scholarship applicants do not need to meet the GT requirements. Check with the Education Center at your installation or with the ROTC Admissions Officer for other criteria as prescribed by regulation. In recent years, the average Green to Gold scholarship winner had a GPA of 3.0 and a GT score of 110.   SAT/ACT minimum not required to apply for a two-year scholarship; for a four or three year applicant, you must have an SAT score of 920 or above or an ACT score of 19 or above. You must also receive a letter of acceptance from the university and the Professor of Military Science. Contact your installation education office for more information about the Green to Gold Program.   The scholarship window is 15 November through 1 April.   Announcements are made by 30 June. If selected, your ETS date will be adjusted to 30 days prior to the start of the academic year.   For more information visit: Green to Gold Scholarships.

Active Duty Green to Gold Option

An additional option for Active Duty enlisted Soldiers is to compete for the Active Duty Green to Gold Option. This option allows you to remain on Active Duty with all current benefits and attend ROTC to be commissioned as a 2LT. Applicants must be accepted to the University they want to attend as an unconditional Junior (can only have 2 years remaining to complete you Bachelors Degree). Only 200 applicants are selected each year, so if this is your preferred option, make sure you get your packet completed early.

Guaranteed Reserve Forces Duty (GRFD)
The 2-year Guaranteed Reserve Forces Duty (GRFD) program is designed to identify outstanding students on campus or in Reserve Component (RC) units and offer them the opportunity for a scholarship with service in the Reserve Components after graduation. This program expands scholarship availability to the entire range of college campuses and troop program units and increases both quantity and quality of participation in the ROTC program.   Recipients must attend USF or a Cross-enrolled University. Guaranteed Reserve Forces Duty (GRFD) program recipients do not have an option to request active duty at a later date. In sum, this 2-year program permits recipients to serve their obligated service in the United States Army Reserve (USAR) or National Guard.

Dedicated National Guard Scholarships
The 3-year Dedicated National Guard program is a conversion program only. This program allows current 4-year scholarship winners to convert to a Dedicated National Guard scholarship in their Sophomore year. Conversion is requested at the end of their freshman year. This allows the student to be guaranteed service in the Army National Guard after graduation. Dedicated National Guard program recipients do not have the option to request active duty at a later date. In sum, this program permits recipients to serve their obligated service in the Army National Guard (ARNG).

Eligibility Requirements
You must meet the following general eligibility requirements to receive an Army ROTC scholarship:

Be a United States citizen.

Be 17 years of age by October 1 of your freshman year and must NOT reach your 31st birthday by December 31st of the year in which you will graduate from college and receive your commission.


Have a minimum GPA of 2.5.

Meet Army physical fitness and Height/Weight standards.

Meet Army Medical Requirements.

Receive a minimum SAT score of at least 920 points or an ACT composite score of 19, or have completed 1 full semester of college coursework.

Agree to accept a commission in the United States Army.

Satisfactorily explain any record of arrest and/or civil conviction.

If Prior Service, have an Re-Entry Code of 1.

The first step starts with you! For more information contact:

MAJ Christopher Warner

Admissions Officer
(415) 422-5628 l cwwarner@usfca.edu