High School Students

Thank you for your interest in the Duke Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps (NROTC) program! As a college-bound high school student, you may be eligible to receive full tuition coverage and additional benefits through the U.S. Navy’s NROTC Scholarship Program while pursuing your degree at Duke University.

The information below outlines the process for applying to both Duke University and the NROTC scholarship program. If you have questions about the program or the application process, please contact our Recruiting Officer:

LT Dan Johnston
daniel.johnston@duke.edu

You may also complete the contact information form (QR code below) so that we can follow up with additional information.

Contact Info QR Code

Admissions 

Prospective students should review the admissions process for both Duke University and the NROTC scholarship program. Because admissions requirements and statistics change periodically, applicants are encouraged to contact the Recruiting Officer for the most up-to-date information.

Students should also visit the Duke Undergraduate Admissions website and consider joining the Duke admissions mailing list, which provides updates and helpful information for prospective students and their families.

Applications

To attend Duke as a Midshipman, applicants must complete two separate applications:

  1. Duke University Undergraduate Application
  2. NROTC National Scholarship Application

Acceptance into one program does not guarantee acceptance into the other. Applicants must be admitted to both Duke University and the NROTC program.

Because both applications require significant preparation, students are encouraged to begin the process early. Duke’s Early Decision deadline is typically in early November, while the Regular Decision deadline is usually in early January. Most students complete the NROTC scholarship application during the early months of their senior year of high school.

Standardized Testing

Both Duke University and the Navy require applicants to submit SAT or ACT scores.

Unlike Duke, the Navy establishes minimum score requirements for scholarship applicants:

  • SAT: Minimum score of 550 Evidence-Based Reading and Writing and 540 Math, with a combined score of at least 1100.
  • ACT: Minimum score of 22 English and 21 Math, with a combined English and Math score of at least 44.

The Navy considers only the sections listed above. Superscoring is used, meaning the Navy will consider your highest score from each section across multiple test dates, rather than only your highest composite score.

Applicants are encouraged to take the SAT or ACT early and multiple times if possible.

Service Commitments

Upon graduation, NROTC scholarship midshipmen are commissioned as either:

  • Ensigns in the U.S. Navy, or
  • Second Lieutenants in the U.S. Marine Corps

Navy

  • Two-, three-, and four-year scholarships:
    • 5 years active duty
    • 3 years Inactive Ready Reserve
  • Advanced Standing:
    • 3 years active-duty service
  • Naval Aviation:
    • Naval Aviators
      • 8 years after winging (approximately 10 years total)
    • Naval Flight Officers (NFOs)
      • 6 years after winging (approximately 8 years total)

Marine Corps

  • All Marine-option midshipmen:
    • 4 years active duty service

Points of Contact

Once you begin your NROTC scholarship application, you should contact your local Navy scholarship coordinator, who can assist with the application process and answer specific questions.

If you are interested in visiting the Duke NROTC Battalion or scheduling an officer interview, please contact the Recruiting Midshipman-in-Charge:

MIDN Paul Anderson
paul.anderson@duke.edu