Scholarships

National Air Force ROTC Scholarships 

(CAO 3 Mar 25) 

Air Force ROTC offers scholarships in varying term lengths and amounts that will cover full or partial tuition, fees, and provides book and living stipends. These scholarships help remove some of the barriers to education and a career of service. 

The first opportunity for Air Force cadets to earn a scholarship is when they are a rising high school senior. The application window for the 2025-2026 High School Scholarship Program (HSSP) is 15 Jul - 31 Dec. Click the link below for more information or to apply! These are very competitive national boards. Reach out to our Detachment if you have any questions concerning eligibility, timelines, or application requirements.

AY25-26 HSSP Board Schedule & Key Dates

Notes:

1. Board schedule & key dates are based on DAF needs and are subject to change.
2. HSSP applicant interviews must be completed by these cutoff dates to be boarded on the current board.
3. Interview scheduling and completion can take up to 60 days.

AY25-26 HSSP-SF Board Schedule & Key Dates

Notes:

1. Board schedule based on USSF needs and is subject to change.
2. You must have at least submitted an initial online application.
3. HSSP-SF applicants will have a primary interview with an AFROTC detachment commander & a secondary USSF-specific interview.

Additional opportunities to earn an Air Force ROTC scholarship in college exist when a cadet (1) meets required academic and physical fitness criteria, (2) is medical qualified, and (3) demonstrates military excellence by applying the knowledge, skills, and attributes learned in our classes. There is no formal application for the In-College Scholarship Program. We will nominate cadets for scholarships based on their performance in our classes. 

All cadets in their junior year who have completed Field Training and meet the minimum AFROTC scholarship requirements are awarded the Charles McGee Leadership Award (CMLA). This Award covers up to $18K dollars a year in tuition and fees for a cadets Junior and Senior Year.  The CMLA also provides a monthly stipend to cadets and an annual book allowance of $900 to help cover the cost of college textbooks. If Cadets already have a way to pay for college tuition (i.e., G.I Bill, Title 35, etc.) they can convert the CMLA to a $10K housing allowance that can help pay for the cost of living on campus at Baylor! Cadets will have until Dec 31st of their Junior year to accept the CMLA.

Last, but certainly not least, physical fitness is a key part of joining any military branch, including the Air or Space Force. As a cadet and later active duty officer, you will be expected to take and pass a physical fitness test. The link below provides expanding information on what that test entails, the minimum standards required to pass, and the scores needed to “max” each component and the overall test. You must pass this test to activate and maintain an Air Force ROTC scholarship. 

Learn more about Air Force ROTC Scholarships and/or apply now

Learn more about the Physical Fitness Assessment (PFA) criteria here

Learn more about Medical Disqualifications here 

Find the High School Scholarship Program (HSSP) Applicant Guide here

Learn more about Federal Work-Study here

Baylor University and Friends of Detachment 810

Students interested in participating Air Force ROTC at Detachment 810 are automatically considered for a Baylor Merit Based Scholarship. Detachment 810 cadets attending Baylor with a HSSP scholarship have historically fared very well in this process, receiving an average of just over $20,000 per year in merit scholarships. This is an average, the actual amount will vary per student. Merit-Based scholarships can cover lodging expenses, meal plans, or other non-tuition expenses.  Leftover funds will be reimbursed to the student for use toward non-billable education expenses. Recipients must maintain a 3.0 CGPA to retain these incentive scholarships. For more information, contact the Baylor University OneStop. Lastly, Baylor guarantees a minimum scholarship award of $5,000 for Detachment 810 alumni-specific scholarships (limited to 1 recipient per scholarship).  These are described below in detail. 

Commander’s Incentive Fund, ICSP, and CMLA

Baylor University provides a robust incentive fund to attract and support high-quality Air Force ROTC cadets with and without Air Force scholarships. For AY 25-26, the following incentives are being offered to high school students who receive an Air Force ROTC Scholarship: 

                Type I (Full-Tuition and Fees) – $5K towards a campus meal plan

                Type II (Tuition and Fees up to $18K) – Up to $12K towards tuition and fees

Current cadets can compete for an In-College Scholarship (ICSP) Type II scholarship (if offered), or will be awarded a Charles McGee Leadership Award (CMLA) after returning from Field Training. Cadets without an Air Force ROTC scholarship may be offered a financial award based on the discretion of the Detachment Commander and fund availability. 

Incentive funds are based on financial need and fiscal year funding availability. Both scholarships/awards require students to obtain and maintain a 3.0 cumulative GPA and full-time student status at Baylor, and their Air Force scholarship must remain active.  Leftover funds can be reimbursed to the student for use toward non-billable education expenses.
 

Gary E. and Susan Key Baker Endowed Scholarship

The Gary E. and Susan Key Baker Scholarship was established to fund a student or students attending Baylor University Law School, with preference given to students who are Baylor AFROTC graduates, or active duty, reserve or retired US Military, or honorable discharge from any branch of the United States Military or any other deserving student.

Chaplain (Major General) Gerald Marsh Endowed Scholarship

The Chaplain (Major General) Gerald Marsh Endowed Scholarship was created in August of 1993 to establish an award for Baylor AFROTC cadets. Each year at Homecoming, the Baylor AFROTC Alumni Advisory Committee awards scholarships to cadets enrolled in AFROTC. This annual event provides the Baylor AFROTC Alumni Association an opportunity to recognize outstanding cadet accomplishment while helping to mitigate today's rising educational costs. This scholarship is eligible for the minimum scholarship award of $5,000. 
 

Raynor L. Hebert Memorial Scholarship

Established by the James Connally Angel Flight in 1966, this scholarship is given on the basis of leadership, ability, character, and need. It is given in memory of Raynor Hebert who died to save the lives of others. On May 13, 1964, Lt Hebert crashed his plane in a residential area in Las Vegas, Nevada. Having technical difficulties with the plane, Hebert chose to remain in it to land it away from an elementary school with 800 children inside. In performing such an heroic act, Lt Hebert lost his own life. The lives of a mother and her child and two other small children were also lost. Lt Hebert graduated from Baylor May 27, 1960. He was an AFROTC cadet and a squadron commander in 1959. He was also a member of Arnold Air Society and Circle K. He was 26 at the time of his death. This scholarship is eligible for the minimum scholarship award of $5,000. 
 

Captain Larry Glenn Pitts Memorial Scholarship

Captain Larry G. Pitts lives in the memories of his family, friends, and classmates. He touched the lives of all that knew him, and even in death, his memorial scholarship continues to further the high ideals and commitment to service in which he believed.  Larry’s last pastor wrote a tribute about him stating, “Larry believed in doing worthwhile things. He believed that one’s talents and energies should benefit his community. He had a deep commitment to his God, his country, and to his newly adopted community.  We are thankful for the opportunity that we had to know Larry. Our lives are richer and stronger, and the Stars and Stripes wave more proudly because Larry G. Pitts passed our way.” This scholarship is eligible for the minimum scholarship award of $5,000. 

Military Scholarship Collection

Baylor University is a proud supporter of the United States Military. In addition to voluntarily participating in the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Yellow Ribbon Program, Baylor maintains an up-to-date compilation of scholarships geared towards service members and their families. Please follow the link below to access this listing. 

Military Scholarships | Office of the Registrar | Baylor University

Feel free to email the Detachment with questions or concerns.

Questions? Book a Recruiting Q/A with us!