MU leaders announce ROTC scholarships that will expand higher education access and affordability

November 9th, 2017

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Today, University of Missouri Chancellor Alexander Cartwright and Lt. Col. Gary Kerr, professor of military science and leadership and department head for the University Army ROTC, announced a new Mizzou ROTC Scholarship that will expand higher education access and affordability at MU.

Beginning in Fall 2018, the scholarship will cover room and board costs for the freshman year for incoming ROTC students who are national scholarship winners from the Army, Air Force, Navy or Marines.

ROTC scholarships will mean that Mizzou Army and Navy ROTC students who are interested in serving as commissioned officers in the U.S. military will be able to attend the university at a substantially reduced cost. Based on current enrollment, it is expected that more than 45 MU students from Missouri will qualify for the grants annually.

“The University of Missouri has a long-standing commitment to training and educating America’s future leaders; today, we are reaffirming our commitment to providing access to stellar military education to the citizens of Missouri, our nation and the world,” Cartwright said. “It is a tremendous honor to invest in the state’s best and brightest military scholars and we thank them for their current and future service.”

The mission of the ROTC program at Mizzou is to commission the future officer leadership of the U.S. military forces. ROTC is centered on leadership development in both the classroom and field environment and those cadets and midshipmen wishing to continue are commissioned as officers in their respective military branches.

“Cadets interested in serving their country as officers are well-prepared to do so,” said Kerr. “ROTC is a demanding program that attracts the state’s most dedicated students. Students who are eligible for the new scholarships often are involved in leadership roles in student, service and athletic organizations. Most are national honor society members, and many are Eagle Scouts. These awards will build upon the excellence that these students already represent, while keeping college education affordable.”

Mizzou invests about $12 million per year on need-based financial aid to promote access and affordability in higher education. MU students graduate, on average, with $8,000 less in student debt than the national average.

“Keeping higher education affordable while developing our students into future military leaders has always been a priority at Mizzou,” said James Musgraves, commander and executive officer of the University of Missouri Naval ROTC program. “Ensuring that these potential leaders leave us with as little debt as possible will put them on a greater path of success in their military careers.”