Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps (NROTC): Navy and Marine Corps Options

What is NROTC?

The Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps (NROTC) is a college program that educates and trains students to become commissioned officers in the United States Navy or the United States Marine Corps.

You attend a regular college or university, work on your major like any other student, and add:

• Naval Science classes
• A weekly leadership lab
• Physical training sessions
• Required summer training experiences

If you complete NROTC and meet all standards, you graduate and commission as an ensign in the Navy or a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps.

NROTC is one of the largest single sources of Navy and Marine Corps officers, making it a popular pathway to military service as an officer. 

Navy and Marine Corps Options in NROTC

Inside the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps, you choose a track:

• Navy option for future Navy officers
• Marine option for future Marine Corps officers

Both groups are NROTC midshipmen, but they have different training focuses and career goals. Both tracks start on the same campus, but your labs, PT style, and summer training shift toward the community you are aiming for.

How NROTC Fits into College Life

NROTC is designed to fit around a regular full-time college schedule.

Most midshipmen can expect:

• One Naval Science class each term
• A weekly leadership lab or drill period
• Early morning PT several times per week, especially for the Marine option
• Uniform days on campus
• Required summer training cruises for scholarship students

You still live in regular dorms or apartments, take classes with non-military students, and can join clubs or Greek life. NROTC adds structure, professional expectations, and a community that is focused on leadership and service.

If you like the idea of a typical college experience but also want a clear path into the Navy or Marine Corps, this setup is built for that mix.

Would NROTC be Right for You?

NROTC can be a strong fit if you:

• Want to serve as an officer in the Navy or Marine Corps
• Want help paying for college, plus a guaranteed career track after graduation if you complete the program
• Enjoy staying active and can handle early mornings and fitness tests
• Are curious about ships, aircraft, submarines, expeditionary units, cyber, or logistics
• Like the idea of a tight community on campus and long-term job security

The Navy option often attracts students who like tech, engineering, and operating complex systems. The Marine option often attracts students who want intense physical challenges and ground leadership roles.

NROTC Education Benefits

The National NROTC Scholarship is one potential benefit. It usually provides:

• Full tuition at a participating college or university
• Coverage of mandatory fees at many schools
• Textbook stipend, often around 750 dollars per year
• Monthly stipend during the school year that increases each year
• Uniforms and Naval Science textbooks
• Paid summer training cruises

At some schools, scholarship recipients can choose room and board support up to a set dollar amount instead of using funds for tuition.

There are also:

• Three-year and two-year scholarship options
• College program paths without full tuition coverage, where you can later compete for advanced standing and a stipend

Selection for scholarships is competitive and usually considers:

• GPA and test scores
• Leadership, sports, and activities
• Interview performance
• Medical and fitness qualifications

Marine Option Inside NROTC

The NROTC Marine option lets you train to become a Marine Corps officer while attending a civilian college.

Key differences for Marine option midshipmen:

• Higher physical fitness expectations and more intense PT
• Extra focus on field skills, land navigation, small unit tactics, and Marine Corps history
• A commissioning path that includes Marine Officer Candidates School or similar evaluated training between your junior and senior years

If you want to lead Marines on the ground, this track is designed for you.

Training, Cruises, and Field Experience

NROTC training mixes classroom learning with hands-on experience.

For Navy option students, the pattern usually includes:

• Naval Science classes in seamanship, navigation, engineering, naval operations, ethics, and leadership
• Weekly labs with drill, inspections, briefings, and professional development
• Summer cruises on ships, with aviation units, or with submarines, to experience fleet life and different communities

For Marine option students, training typically adds:

• Extra field training focused on small unit leadership and tactics
• More frequent or more intense PT sessions
• Specific preparation for the Marine Officer Candidates School

All of this is designed to build confidence, discipline, and the ability to lead people in real situations, not just on paper.

After Graduation and NROTC Participation

If you complete NROTC requirements, earn your degree, and meet commissioning standards, you will:

• Be commissioned as an ensign in the United States Navy, or
• Be commissioned as a second lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps

From there, you move into additional training for your specific community.

Common Navy Careers

Some popular Navy officer jobs include:

• Surface warfare officers serving on ships
• Submarine officers
• Naval aviators and naval flight officers
• Information warfare and cyber officers
• Supply Corps officers
• Navy Nurse Corps officers at some NROTC units

Common Marine Careers

Some popular Marine career specialities include:

• Infantry and other ground combat arms
• Logistics and support fields
• Intelligence
• Aviation and aviation support, after extra selection and training

How to get started with NROTC

The steps to join an NROTC program usually look like this:

1. Find schools with NROTC units
   Use Appily to look up colleges and universities that host Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps units or have crosstown agreements.
2. Decide on the Navy option or Marine option
   Read about each track and think honestly about your interests, physical comfort zone, and long-term goals.
3. Apply for scholarships if you are eligible
   High school students can apply for the Four-Year National NROTC Scholarship. Current college students can explore three-year or two-year scholarships and college program routes.
4. Talk to an NROTC officer recruiter or unit staff
   Ask about eligibility, medical standards, majors, and timelines.
5. Prepare physically and academically
   Keep your GPA strong, train for fitness tests, and start building habits around sleep, time management, and responsibility.
6. Enroll in the intro Naval Science class when you get to campus
   Use your first semester to experience the unit rhythm and see if the fit feels right.

Now that you're familiar with NROTC, you can use Appily to search for colleges, compare programs, and see which campuses match your major, budget, and goals.