Program in Naval Science

The Navy-Marine Corps Officer Education Program, administered and taught by the NROTC staff at the University of Idaho, is open to qualified persons and offers scholarships leading to commissions in the United States Navy and Marine Corps. Normally, students enter the program at the beginning of their first year. However, selected students may enter up to the end of the sophomore year. During the four years, students take up to 24 credits of professional courses taught by the NROTC staff officers. In addition to professional courses, NROTC students must participate in close order drill and physical training each semester.  Following graduation and commissioning, new officers are offered a broad variety of duty assignments including duty on surface ships, nuclear submarines, information warfare, naval aviation, and special operations units in the Navy; law, ground or aviation assignments in the Marine Corps.

College Program

Application for this non-scholarship program is made through the Department of Naval Science. Students receive their uniforms and naval science textbooks at no cost. At the end of their sophomore year, students are eligible to be selected for Advanced Standing and will begin receiving a monthly stipend of $350 per month, which will increase to $400 per month as seniors. College Program students may be nominated by the Professor of Naval Science for a two- or three-year scholarship as first-year or sophomore students if their academic and military aptitude marks are sufficient to warrant such nomination. The program requires one training cruise during the summer following the junior year to meet commissioning requirements.

Scholarship Program

Naval Science (Navy or Marine-Option) Scholarship students' benefits include tuition, fees, a $750 book allowance, and a monthly stipend of up to $400.  Application for this program is normally made during the early fall of the students' senior year of high school. Initial selections are based on college entrance examination scores (SAT or ACT), high school academic performance, and extra-curricular activities. Some exceptions exist for students who cannot take the SAT or ACT.

A student on scholarship participates in at least three summer training cruises of three to six weeks duration. During the first summer, students are introduced to the Surface Warfare, Submarine, Marine Corps, and Aviation communities. The second and third summers are spent aboard ships, within air crews, or at special operations training facilities and often include travel to foreign ports.  During summer cruises, the students receive Active Duty E-5 pay, in addition to room and board.

Marine Corps Option

Scholarship and College Program students who desire a Marine Corps commission may apply for the Marine Corps option during their first two years in college. Students taking this option enroll in specialized classes on Marine Corps subjects during their junior year and participate in summer training at Officer Candidate School, Quantico, Virginia during the summer following their junior year.