Liberty University, U.S. Navy and Marine Corps establish NROTC program
August 25, 2026 : By Office of Communications & Public Engagement
Liberty University has announced plans to train students for the high honor of serving their country through the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps (NROTC). The partnership will take students from the classroom to commissioned officers in the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps upon graduation.
Applicants selected for NROTC will receive military and leadership training in addition to courses in their chosen degree program. The midshipmen will become eligible to receive full tuition and other financial benefits. Applications can be submitted now for scholarships for the 2027-28 academic year.
Liberty’s NROTC unit was established with the aid and support of U.S. Rep. John McGuire (VA-5th District), a former Navy Seal, and Acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao.
“We are privileged to partner with NROTC in preparing more young men and women to protect and defend our great nation,” said Liberty President Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Dondi E. Costin. “Our Army and Air Force ROTC units at Liberty are developing some of the brightest, bravest, and faith-driven leaders in our military today, and we are grateful for Congressman McGuire and Secretary Cao for helping us offer this exciting, life-changing opportunity to more students who answer the call to serve.”
Liberty’s new NROTC unit will operate under a crosstown enrollment agreement with its host university, the University of Virginia.
ROTC is the largest officer-producing organization in our nation’s military. The Naval ROTC program will mark the third ROTC program at Liberty, joining the Army ROTC and Air Force ROTC (an operating location of UVA’s host detachment).
The Naval ROTC Scholarship Program is available at over 160 colleges and universities.
For more information on NROTC at Liberty, call (434) 592-5415 or email NROTC@liberty.edu.
Liberty has a longstanding tradition of supporting active military, veterans, and their families and has been designated a top military supportive college. There are currently over 40,000 military-affiliated students enrolled across the residential and online programs. The university was named a Purple Heart University in 2017 by the Military Order of the Purple Heart (MOPH), the first of its kind in Virginia. For more information on resources and support for service members, visit the Office of Military Affairs webpage.
