About ROTC

Earn a commission with your degree

Army ROTC (Reserve Officers' Training Corps) is a college elective that allows you to earn a commission straight out of college as a second lieutenant in the active-duty Army, Army Reserve or Army National Guard. ROTC consists of both academic classes and hands-on training. The mental and physical challenges of ROTC will help you succeed in college and beyond.

Participation takes just a few hours a week, so it won't interfere with other studies, sports, or your social life. You'll learn about leadership and teamwork, and you'll have the opportunity to learn skills like mountaineering, rappelling, and orienteering.

If you decide to complete the program, you will graduate with a four-year degree and be commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army with a starting salary exceeding $60,000 for active-duty second lieutenants.

CSU, which historically enrolls 70-80 cadets in its Cougar Battalion, has been home to ROTC since the early 1970s.