For students who are interested in attending a Navy ROTC program at a university in Colorado, their options are slightly limited, as there are few programs in Colorado. We will look at some of the details regarding NROTC programs in Colorado so that students are able to make informed decisions and select the option that makes the most sense for their education and future career.
Program Comparison
| School Name | Institution Type | Location | Tuition (in-state 2016-2017)* | Tuition Assistance/Military Benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Colorado Boulder | 4-year, public | Boulder, CO | $11,531 | Military credit transfer, on-campus military services staff |
| University of Colorado Denver | 4-year, public | Denver, CO | $9,228 | Military credit transfer, on-campus military services staff |
Source: *U.S. Department of Education
Program Highlights
In the state of Colorado, there is one major host campus that facilitates the NROTC program, and that is the University of Colorado Boulder. However, students could also opt to attend the University of Colorado Denver, as it is a cross-town affiliate program. This means that students can enroll and pursue their degree at UC Denver while traveling to UC Boulder to participate in the NROTC program. However, the University of Colorado Boulder cautions students to fully consider the commute time between UC's campus in Boulder and UC Denver's campus, as they will have to make the drive at least four times per week to fulfill the NROTC program requirements. We will discuss some details about each school below.
University of Colorado Boulder
The University of Colorado Boulder is a large public school with an enrollment of almost 28,000 undergraduates. Students who enroll in the NROTC program as incoming freshmen are eligible for four-year full tuition scholarships, along with funds to cover books and other university fees as well as a monthly stipend. Because the University of Colorado Boulder also considers student health insurance to be a fee, the NRTOC program will cover this amount as well. It is also possible for students who are already attending UC Boulder to enroll in the NROTC as current freshmen and sophomores to be eligible for scholarships.
At the beginning of the program, students are expected to complete an orientation week at Fort Carson in Colorado Springs, where they will focus on physical fitness, be fitted for uniforms, and get to know their fellow midshipmen. In accordance to Navy policies, students applying to the national NROTC scholarship program generally are granted scholarships more often when they choose among certain degree programs, which are split up by the Navy into three tier groups, with Tier 1 and Tier 2 programs being most desirable. At UC Boulder, Tier 1 degree programs include aerospace engineering sciences, chemical engineering, electrical engineering, and mechanical engineering. Tier 2 programs include computer science, civil engineering, and mathematics.
University of Colorado Denver
Part of the University of Colorado system, the Denver campus has an enrollment of over 14,500 undergraduates. As it is a cross-town affiliate school, the details regarding the NROTC program are exactly the same as described above. Students enrolled at UC Denver should keep in mind that they will need to travel the 45 minutes to Boulder around four times per week to fully participate in the NROTC program. Assuming they are willing to do this, students at UC Denver have a few different options open to them in terms of degree paths. Degrees at the Tier 1 level include programs in electrical engineering and mechanical engineering. Tier 2 programs include computer science, civil engineering, mathematics, and bioengineering.
