This page contains general information on service-specific programs enabling cadets pursuing commissions in the Army, Air Force, Coast Guard, and Navy/Marine Corps to participate in graduate programs — including those funded by awards like the Rhodes Scholarship — immediately following receipt of an undergraduate degree.
This page is updated regularly with information provided by each of the services, but cadets should review the relevant training or cadet command websites of their services and communicate with their ROTC staff to ensure they have up-to-date information.
Please select a service branch below.
Army
You CAN enroll in graduate school and/or accept a fellowship such as the Rhodes Scholarship as an active-duty or reserve component Army ROTC contract. Generally, this requires one of the following:
- incurring at least one Active Duty Service Obligation (ADSO)
- obtaining an education delay (specific professional degrees and associated branches such as MD or JD only)
- delayed commissioning (especially with two-year or shorter graduate programs)
Your Army publications governing these policies include AR 621-7 and USACC Circular 601-25-1. Please review the current versions of these publications from the Army Publishing Directorate.
On campus, it is advisable to discuss your graduate degree plans with the Army ROTC battalion. Other potential service contacts may include civilian employees or S-1 personnel in Cadet Command or TRADOC.
Air Force/Space Force
You CAN enroll in graduate school and/or accept a fellowship such as the Rhodes Scholarship as an active-duty or reserve component Air Force ROTC contract. Generally, this involves the following:
- your proposed graduate program becomes your first assignment after commissioning
- An application to the AFROTC STEM Strategic Scholars Program (SSP) — formerly the Graduate Scholars Program — or to DAWN-ED (active-duty only) will likely be required
Your Air Force publications governing these policies include Special Program Guide, HQ AFROTC/RR and AFROTCI 36-2011. Please review the current versions of these publications from the Air Force.
On campus, it is advisable to discuss your graduate degree plans with the Air Force detachment as early as possible in your ROTC career. Other potential service contacts may include civilian employees or staff in HQ AFROTC/RR and Air Education and Training Command, including those listed below:
NCOIC, Special Programs
HQ AFROTC
Maxwell AFB, AL
DSN 493-6588/COMM 334-953-6588
Coast Guard
You CAN enroll in graduate school and/or accept a fellowship such as the Rhodes Scholarship as a Coast Guard contract. Please contact the Coast Guard unit for up-to-date guidance.
Navy/Marine Corps
You CAN enroll in graduate school and/or accept a fellowship such as the Rhodes Scholarship as an active-duty or selected reserve Navy ROTC contract1. Generally, this involves the Officer Scholarship Program, which is the Department of the Navy’s mechanism to permit officers to participate in funded degree programs in the United States and abroad. This program may entail:
- an additional service obligation of up to three times the program length to be served concurrently with other service obligations (see OPNAVINST 1520.23C)
- an exception to service obligations for programs that do not require relief from military duty or non-degree programs funding research of value to the United States
- securing approval for program exceptions (e.g., scholarship at a university located overseas, dual degree programs) from OPNAV (N127) prior to acceptance of the scholarship
- securing permission to compete from the through OPNAV N7 (see OPNAVINST 1520.24D for permission procedure)
- Naval officers are required to obtain a Subspecialty Code (SSC) to participate
- slightly different graduate program eligibility requirements for the Navy and the Marine Corps
Your Navy publications governing these policies include the following. Please review the current versions of these as published by the Navy:
- OPNAVINST 1520.23C – Graduate Education
- OPNAVINST 1520 24D – Officer Scholarship Program
- OPNAVINST 1520.41A – Navy Students Enrolled in Overseas Education Programs
- MCO 1500.41A Ch 2 – Scholarship Program for Members of the Marine Corps
- USNAINST 1520.2AA – Graduate Education Programs for Midshipmen
On campus, it is advisable to discuss your graduate degree plans with the Navy unit as early as possible in your ROTC career. Other potential service contacts may include civilian employees or staff in the Naval Education and Training Professional Development Center or the Education Strategy and Policy Branch of the Office of the Chief of Naval Personnel (OPNAV).
1Officers holding designators 19XX through 29XX are not eligible for scholarships under the Officer Scholarship Program. Scholarships may not be used for or executed consecutively with any program leading to a medical or law degree.