Scholarship Opportunities

High School Scholarship Program (HSSP)

The High School Scholarship Program pays full (100 percent) college tuition and authorized fees at any public or private institution with an Air Force ROTC detachment. Type 1 selectees will also receive a monthly living expense stipend and an annual book stipend. Note:  AFROTC Scholarships do not cover room and board.

Travel Expenses

All high school scholarship recipients are authorized to have their travel expenses covered from their home to the Air Force ROTC detachment’s college where the student enrolls. Reimbursement for travel will be received approximately 30 days after the start of school.

Take Into Consideration

Three-year scholarship recipients will not begin to receive scholarship stipends or have their tuition and fees payments covered until the beginning of their sophomore year.

In-College Scholarship Program (ICSP)

If you’re already in college, you can still experience the benefits of joining Air Force ROTC. In addition to detachment-specific scholarship opportunities, freshman and sophomore students may be eligible for the In-College Scholarship Program (ICSP). The program awards scholarships based on merit during two selection phases (fall and spring semesters). Note: AFROTC scholarships do not cover room and board.

Type 1

Reserved for Commanders’ In-College Scholarships (CICS) offered to cadets pursuing a technical major. It pays 100 percent tuition and authorized fees at any public or private institution with an Air Force ROTC detachment. Selectees also receive a monthly living expense stipend and an annual book stipend.

Type 2

This is awarded to all cadets selected through the In-College Scholarship Program (ICSP) and pays up to $18,000 per year in college tuition at any public or private institution with an Air Force ROTC detachment. Scholarship payment is further capped at up to $9,000 per semester or up to $6,000 per quarter. Selectees will also receive a monthly living expense stipend and an annual book stipend.

Charles McGee Leadership Award (CMLA)

This in-college scholarship is awarded to all individuals not already on scholarship who receive an enrollment allocation and thus are selected to commission into the Air or Space Force. It pays $18,000 per year for two years and cannot be applied to graduate studies.

Housing Benefit: Any scholarship awardee will be allowed to convert their award for a $10K-per-academic-year “housing scholarship” used for on-campus housing. This is for room only; board is not included, and the conversion must begin at the start of the fall academic term if exercised.

You Can Fly

The AFROTC You Can Fly (AYCF) program was created in 2019 to increase diversity among rated forces through early exposure, education, and flight experience. The program is an introductory flight program for about 900 cadets. Each cadet receives up to $3,500 to use at FAA-certified flight schools, achieving an average of 15 flight hours, typically up to their first solo flight.

Since its inception, 565 (56%) participants have earned a rated AFSC. 2,231 cadets have participated in AYCF. 1,006 (45%) have met a Rated Selection Board. 565 of the boarded participants (56%) have earned a rated AFSC. 242 of these rated AFSCs (43%) went to cadets from underrepresented demographics. In the past two years, Det 855 has provided this experience to over 20 cadets.

Stipend Entitlements

The annual book stipend is $900 per academic year, and the monthly stipend increases based on an individual’s student status.

  • Freshman: $300
  • Sophomore: $350
  • Junior: $450
  • Senior: $500

For more information on Air Force ROTC scholarships, visit the Air Force ROTC website.