The Citadel is South Carolina’s public military college in Charleston, and its daytime undergraduate program is the South Carolina Corps of Cadets. Every cadet lives in the barracks, wears the uniform, and takes ROTC and leadership coursework, but graduating does not require joining the military. Admissions are rolling and test-optional, and The Citadel admitted about 93% of first-year applicants in its latest Common Data Set. For most families, the real hurdles are the Corps requirements and, when it comes to money, how early and how completely your student applies.
Citadel Scholar & Star of the West (full ride, invitation only)
Honors College
Honors Program Available
Financial Aid Forms
FAFSA Only
🚨 Easy-to-Miss “Gotchas” at The Citadel (Read This First)
The biggest awards are invitation-only. The Citadel Scholar full ride, the Honors Program, and the 1842 Scholars Program all start with an invitation that comes from screening the admissions application. Invitations go out by November and again by February, so a late or thin application can quietly take your student out of the running.
Freshman year costs more than the tuition table shows. Freshmen (called “knobs”) pay a $9,300 Quartermaster deposit for uniforms, books, and supplies, plus a $1,250 Leadership Lab Fee.
The Corps has rules most colleges don’t. Cadets must be at least 17 and under 23 on matriculation day, unmarried, and medically qualified.
File the FAFSA even if you’re chasing merit. The Citadel requires it for the majority of its scholarships. The priority date is February 15.
ROTC families have a hard date. A national ROTC scholarship must be awarded by May 1 of senior year to unlock The Citadel’s Service to Country tuition and room-and-board awards. Winners of three- or four-year national ROTC scholarships are guaranteed admission to the Corps.
Bigger awards replace smaller ones. A full ride or program scholarship typically replaces the automatic merit award instead of stacking on top.
FAQ
Is this college test-optional? Yes — The Citadel is test-optional.
What is the middle 50% ACT/SAT? ACT: 22-27; SAT: 540-640 ERW; 545-645 Math.
Average net price? About $21,000/year after aid.
Does this school use waivers/reciprocity?
No broad regional reciprocity path.
📅 2027–2028 Planning Note: The costs below reflect the most recently published figures (2026–2027). Universities typically finalize the next year’s rates in the spring, and we’ll update this page once official 2027–2028 numbers are released.
Planning tip: At large public universities, tuition, fees, and housing usually increase modestly each year (often in the 2–5% range). For early budgeting, families may want to plan for roughly $1,000–$1,500 more in-state or $2,000–$3,000 more out-of-state in total direct costs once new rates are published.
Category (2026–2027)
In-State
Out-of-State
Tuition & Mandatory Fees (2 semesters)
$14,390
$41,657
Housing & Meals (typical)
$11,245
$11,245
Total (Direct Costs)
$25,635
$52,902
Average Federal Net Price: $21,000 — this is what families actually paid after grants and scholarships (no loans), based on the most recent federal data. Your specific cost could be significantly lower or higher depending on your financial aid eligibility and merit scholarships. New to Net Price & SAI? Read our guide.
📌 Regional Tuition & Waiver Options
The Citadel's published tuition and cost pages show separate resident and nonresident rates for the Corps of Cadets and list no broad undergraduate tuition waiver or regional reciprocity discount for nonresident cadets. The main exception is ROTC based: under the current Service to Country Tuition Scholarship, students who earn a three-year national ROTC scholarship are responsible only for the in-state tuition rate in their first year. Merit scholarships and need-based aid can also offset part of the nonresident premium.
What the Table Leaves Out: The Knob-Year Bill
The table above covers tuition, the Leadership Lab Fee, and room and board. Cadets also pay into a Quartermaster account for uniforms, books, and supplies, and that line is what makes freshman year the most expensive year. Here is the full billed picture from The Citadel’s 2026-27 fee schedule.
Billed Item (2026-27)
SC Resident
Non-Resident
Tuition
$13,140
$40,407
Leadership Lab Fee (freshman)
$1,250
$1,250
Room & Board (includes laundry)
$11,245
$11,245
Quartermaster Deposit (freshman)
$9,300
$9,300
Freshman Year Billed Total
$34,935
$62,202
Upperclass Year Billed Total (Lab Fee $1,150, Quartermaster $3,124)
$28,659
$55,926
The Citadel’s own financial aid budget adds travel, personal costs, and loan fees and puts a freshman cadet at $39,334 in-state and $67,332 out-of-state before aid.
FAQ: Cost of Attendance at The Citadel
Why is freshman year so much more expensive than later years?
It comes down to the Quartermaster deposit. Knobs are outfitted from scratch, so the freshman deposit is $9,300 compared with $3,124 for upperclassmen. The Leadership Lab Fee also runs $100 higher in year one. Plan for freshman year to be the biggest bill of the four.
What is the Quartermaster account?
Think of it as a prepaid account for the things every cadet must have: uniforms, books, and supplies. It shows up on the student bill alongside tuition and room and board, so it’s not an optional add-on.
Do some majors cost more?
Yes. Starting in the academic sophomore year, cadets majoring in business, engineering, nursing, cyber operations, computer science, or intelligence and security studies pay an excellence fee of $1,250 per semester, or $2,500 a year.
Can out-of-state students get in-state tuition?
Not through a general waiver or regional exchange. The main exception is ROTC. Under the current Service to Country Tuition Scholarship, a student with a three-year national ROTC scholarship pays only the in-state tuition rate in year one. Merit and need-based aid can also shrink the nonresident gap.
Can a cadet live off campus to save money?
No. The Corps of Cadets is a residential program, and 100% of cadets live in college housing. Room and board is part of the deal from day one.
What do families actually pay after aid?
The federal average net price is about $21,000 a year after grants and scholarships. The Citadel reports that 83% of students receive some type of aid, and the average aid package for cadets is about $22,910. Run the Net Price Calculator for your own number.
Why do I see two different room and board numbers?
The Citadel’s billing office lists room and board (including laundry) at $11,245 for 2026-27, while the financial aid budget uses $10,899 for living expenses. We use the billed figure because that’s what shows up on the invoice.
Can South Carolina residents use state scholarships at The Citadel?
Yes. Qualifying residents can apply LIFE, HOPE, and Palmetto Fellows scholarships toward the cost. See our South Carolina aid and grants guide for the details.
📅 The Citadel Scholarship Timeline (Simple Version)
Early fall of senior year: Submit a complete admissions application, with activities and leadership filled in. This file is what gets screened for invitation-only awards.
By November, and again by February: Invitations go out for the Citadel Scholar full ride, the Honors Program, and the 1842 Scholars Program.
December: Freshman scholarship notices begin.
February 15: FAFSA priority date.
By April 30: Most scholarship recipients have been notified.
May 1: National ROTC scholarships must be awarded by this date for the Service to Country awards.
Parent rule of thumb: treat early fall as your real deadline. Rolling admission means your student can apply later, but the best money is handed out to files that are already complete.
Automatic Merit Scholarships at The Citadel
Incoming cadets are automatically considered for most Citadel merit scholarships based on the admissions application, the high school transcript, and any test scores submitted. There’s no separate scholarship form. The catch: The Citadel does not publish a GPA or test-score grid, and it requires the FAFSA for the majority of its scholarships. File it by February 15.
Find your student's tier
Enter the numbers you have. We'll highlight the automatic award your student would actually get and tuck the rest out of the way. Leave it blank to browse everything.
Residency
Based on published cutoffs for entering freshmen. Always verify with the college before finalizing plans.
One award, not a pile. Colleges apply your student's single best automatic award. Automatic scholarships almost never stack with each other, though some stack with housing, departmental, or outside money. The stacking notes on each card tell you which.
Automatic
Automatic Academic Merit Scholarships for Incoming Freshmen Cadets
📅 Deadline: No separate scholarship deadline. Awards come from the admissions file plus the FAFSA. File the FAFSA by February 15 for priority consideration. Award notices begin in December, and most recipients hear by April 30. · 📢 Results: April 30 (in most cases) ✓ Renews (3 GPA, 4 yrs)
Varies
✘ Not stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
If a student is later selected for a larger award such as the Citadel Scholar Full Academic Scholarship, the Honors Program scholarship, or the 1842 Scholars Program, the automatic award is typically reduced or replaced. The bigger award wins.
💡
Strategic Detail
The Citadel does not publish a scholarship grid or dollar ranges for incoming cadets. Most merit awards are decided from the standard admissions application, the high school transcript, test scores when submitted, and the FAFSA, which The Citadel requires for the majority of its scholarships. The college awards more than $3 million a year in academic scholarships to entering freshmen and enrolled upperclassmen combined.
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Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Admitted freshman cadets with strong high school records. Higher GPAs, tougher coursework, and strong test scores (when submitted) make a student more competitive for a larger award. With no public grid, amounts vary by student and by year.
Data last verified Sep 15, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.
Why no chart? Unlike many public universities, The Citadel sets automatic award amounts case by case, so there’s no “3.5 and a 28 gets you $X” table to share. The college awards more than $3 million a year in academic scholarships to freshmen and upperclassmen combined, and most awards require a 3.0 GPA to renew.
Automatic Merit FAQs (The Citadel)
Does my student need a separate scholarship application?
Not for automatic merit. The admissions application and FAFSA do the work. The exceptions are the invitation-only awards (Citadel Scholar, Honors, and 1842 Scholars), which require a separate application once invited.
How much is the automatic award?
The Citadel doesn’t publish amounts or cutoffs. Award size depends on the full academic picture: grades, course rigor, class rank, and test scores if submitted.
Why does the FAFSA matter for a merit scholarship?
The Citadel states that the FAFSA is required to be considered for the majority of its scholarships, not just need-based aid. Skipping it can shrink an offer even for a strong student.
The Citadel is test-optional. Should my student still send scores?
If the scores are strong, yes. Test scores are part of the screening for top awards when they’re provided, and only about one in ten enrolled freshmen submitted an ACT score in the latest Common Data Set, so a good score helps a file stand out.
When will we find out?
Scholarship notices start in December and continue through the spring. Most recipients are notified by April 30.
Can automatic merit stack with a full ride or the Honors scholarship?
Usually not. When a student is selected for a larger award, the automatic award is typically reduced or replaced.
How does a cadet keep the scholarship?
Renewals are reviewed each year after spring grades post. Most Citadel scholarships require a 3.0 GPA, and some also look at continued financial need.
At The Citadel, “competitive” really means invited. Your student can’t apply cold for the Citadel Scholar full ride or the 1842 Scholars Program. The Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships screens admissions files and sends invitations by November and again by February. The Star of the West full ride is chosen through its own selection process, and the Distinguished Scholars Program is a sophomore-year opportunity. The one thing a family controls is the quality and timing of the admissions application.
✅ Can You Stack Scholarships at The Citadel?
Aid Type
Stacks with Merit?
Citadel Parent Translation
Citadel Scholar / Star of the West
Replaces
Both cover full catalog costs, so they take the place of other institutional merit.
1842 Scholars / Honors Program scholarship
Usually replaces or reduces
Expect the automatic award to be folded in. The bigger award wins.
National ROTC + Service to Country + National Service Room & Board
Designed to stack
These three are built to work together. This is the most powerful combination at The Citadel.
Distinguished Scholars enrichment grants
Yes
They fund projects, travel, and research, not tuition, so they sit on top of existing aid.
Departmental and summer scholarships
Often yes
Generally additive, subject to overall aid limits.
Federal and state need-based grants
Usually
They fill gaps after merit. FAFSA timing matters.
Full RideApp Required
Star of the West Undergraduate Scholarship
📅 Deadline: No public application or deadline. Selection is coordinated with The Citadel's freshman admissions cycle, so applying early in senior year gives a student the best chance of being considered. · 📢 Results: April 30 (in most cases, consistent with Citadel scholarship notifications) ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Full Ride
full cost of attendance plus stipend
✘ Not stackable
👥 ~1 recipient per year winners/yr
✚
Stacking & Combining
Covers full catalog costs, so it replaces other institutional merit awards. The Dean's List stipend is paid on top.
📄
How to Apply
There is no self-application through the admissions portal. Candidates are evaluated through a separate selection process tied to the freshman admissions cycle, based on academic performance, leadership, and character. A strong, complete, early admissions application is the entry point.
Selection criteria: Holistic review of academic scholarship, leadership, extracurricular involvement, integrity, and overall character. No single metric determines selection — the committee seeks the best all-around incoming cadet.
💡
Strategic Detail
Funded by the independent Star of the West Association and awarded since 1952, this scholarship goes to one incoming freshman cadet each year and is described by The Citadel as its most prestigious academic honor. It covers full catalog costs and adds a cash stipend for each semester the cadet makes the Dean's List. The Association has also offered a companion graduate school scholarship to qualifying recipients; confirm current terms directly. The award is named for the Union supply ship fired on by Citadel cadets in January 1861.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: One incoming freshman cadet per year. The committee weighs academic achievement alongside school and community leadership, integrity, and character.
Full RideApp Required
Citadel Scholar Full Academic Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Invitation only. The Citadel screens admissions applications and invites candidates to apply by November and again by February of senior year. Submit a complete admissions application early in senior year to be considered. · 📢 Results: April 30 (in most cases) ✓ Renews (3 GPA, 4 yrs)
Full Ride
full cost of attendance
✘ Not stackable
👥 ~Number of awards varies by year. winners/yr
✚
Stacking & Combining
Because it covers full catalog costs, this award replaces automatic merit and other institutional academic scholarships in the aid package.
📄
How to Apply
Students cannot self-nominate. The Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships screens admissions files, looking at grades, courses taken, class rank, test scores when provided, activities, and leadership roles. Invited students then complete a separate application process. The more complete the admissions application, the better the screening picture.
Selection criteria: Holistic review emphasizing exceptional academic achievement, leadership, and overall strength of high school record. Selection is competitive and invitation-based.
💡
Strategic Detail
The Citadel's most prestigious academic merit award for incoming freshmen. It covers catalog costs, including tuition, room and board, and Quartermaster charges, which makes it a true full ride at The Citadel. The number of awards varies each year, and the college does not publish a count.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: A small group of incoming cadets with the strongest overall profiles in the applicant pool: top grades in rigorous courses, strong class rank, leadership, and meaningful activities.
App Required
1842 Scholars Program
📅 Deadline: Invitation only. Invitations to apply go out by November and again by February of senior year. Complete the admissions application early and thoroughly to be screened. · 📢 Results: April 30 (in most cases) ✓ Renews (3 GPA, 4 yrs)
Varies
✘ Not stackable
👥 ~Cohort size varies by year. winners/yr
✚
Stacking & Combining
As a major institutional merit award, it typically replaces or reduces other institutional academic scholarships in the aid package.
📄
How to Apply
Invitation only. The Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships screens admissions files and invites candidates by November and again by February of senior year. Invited students complete a separate 1842 Scholars application.
Selection criteria: Holistic assessment of academic excellence, leadership potential, motivation, intellectual curiosity, and fit for a high-engagement cohort program.
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
The 1842 Scholars Program is an institutional merit scholarship paired with a leadership cohort: professional development, mentorship, study abroad opportunities, and a community of like-minded cadets. The Citadel does not currently publish award amounts. Scholarship notices typically go out by April 30.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Highly motivated incoming cadets who pair strong academics with leadership potential and curiosity, and who want a tight-knit cohort experience.
App Required⚠ Sophomore Only
Distinguished Scholars Program (DSP) Enrichment Grant
📅 Deadline: Applications typically due in mid-September of the student's sophomore year (e.g., September 14 for recent cohorts). An optional open house is held in early September. · 📢 Results: Shortly after the September application deadline, following interviews. ✓ Renews
$3,000/yr
✔ Stackable
👥 ~Up to 30 students per cohort. winners/yr🎓 Sophomore
✚
Stacking & Combining
The DSP enrichment grant is designed to fund project-based international experiences, research, and fellowship preparation, it is not a tuition replacement award and stacks with other institutional merit scholarships a student may already hold. Grants are typically capped at $3,000 per academic year; juniors may be eligible for an additional $2,000 for Spring Break enrichment activities.
📄
How to Apply
Students apply to the DSP through the online portal the summer before or at the beginning of their second year at The Citadel. Applications for the incoming cohort are typically due in mid-September (e.g., September 14 for recent cycles). An open house is held in early September for interested students. Selected candidates are invited to interview after the application deadline. Once accepted into the program, students apply annually for project-based Enrichment Activity Grants to fund international experiences, research, and fellowship preparation.
Selection criteria: Holistic review emphasizing academic excellence, intellectual curiosity, ambition to pursue advanced degrees or competitive fellowships, and a clear sense of how the student will use the program to advance their goals and impact the world. Interview required for finalists.
✎ Essays🎤 Interview
💡
Strategic Detail
The DSP is an elite upperclass program funded by a Citadel alumnus and backed at the highest levels of institutional leadership (President, Provost, Commandant, and Deans). It is not a freshman admission scholarship, students apply at the start of their sophomore year. The program's real value is transformational: specialized honors coursework (World History, Advanced Writing, Preparing for the Future, and a capstone Distinguished Scholars Project), mentorship from leaders in the student's field, sponsored international travel, and direct preparation for the nation's most competitive post-graduate fellowships. The financial grant is a meaningful bonus, but the program's prestige and network are the real prize.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Up to 30 of The Citadel's most academically ambitious and globally curious sophomores each cohort cycle, students who already have a clear sense of direction, a desire to pursue advanced degrees or competitive fellowships (Fulbright, Rhodes, Marshall, Truman), and a genuine vision for how they want to impact the world. Open to all majors. This program is deliberately looking for students who are already self-motivated, not just high GPA holders.
Data last verified Sep 15, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.
❓ Flagship / Competitive Scholarship FAQs
What does the Citadel Scholar Full Academic Scholarship cover?
Catalog costs: tuition, room and board, and Quartermaster charges. It’s The Citadel’s most prestigious academic merit award for incoming freshmen, and the number of awards changes every year.
How does a student get invited?
By submitting a complete admissions application early in senior year. The screening looks at course grades, courses taken, class rank, test scores when provided, and high school activities and leadership. Invitations go out by November and again by February.
What is the Star of the West Undergraduate Scholarship?
One incoming freshman receives it each year, and The Citadel considers it its most prestigious academic honor. It covers full catalog costs and adds a cash stipend for each semester the cadet makes the Dean’s List. It’s named for the Union supply ship Citadel cadets fired on in January 1861. Don’t confuse it with the Star of the West drill competition or the Star of the West summer study scholarship, which are separate.
What is the 1842 Scholars Program?
A merit scholarship paired with a leadership cohort that includes professional development, mentorship, and study abroad opportunities. It’s invitation-only, and The Citadel doesn’t currently publish the award amount.
What is the Distinguished Scholars Program?
A program for up to 30 top students, open to all majors, that prepares cadets for major fellowships and graduate programs. Students apply at the start of sophomore year. Members can apply for enrichment grants, which are typically capped at $3,000 a year, with an extra $2,000 available to juniors for Spring Break projects.
If my student wins one of these, do they keep automatic merit too?
Typically no. The larger award replaces or reduces the automatic award. The exception is the ROTC package, which is built to stack.
What should my student prepare?
Invited students face separate applications, and the Honors Program includes a faculty interview. Our Essay Toolkit and Brag Sheet Builder help organize activities and leadership before the admissions application goes in, which is when it counts most here.
If your student is open to ROTC, this is the single biggest money move at The Citadel. A national ROTC scholarship unlocks two Citadel awards that are designed to sit on top of it.
Apply for a national ROTC scholarship through the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, or Air Force/Space Force. Branch deadlines run from late fall through March.
Make sure the award is made by May 1 of senior year.
Apply to The Citadel and send a transcript. National ROTC winners are academically admitted.
File the FAFSA (school code 003423) and tell the Financial Aid Office about the ROTC award.
Parent translation: the military pays tuition on its terms, The Citadel adds up to four years of room and board based on the FAFSA, and three-year winners get a first-year tuition break. Not going the ROTC route? Your second bite comes every spring through the Upperclass Cadet Scholarship Application.
💎 Hidden Gem Scholarships
These awards don’t show up in the freshman merit conversation, but they can make a real dent. Some are for ROTC scholarship holders, some are for current cadets who reapply each year, and some pay for summer study abroad.
Automatic
The Citadel Service to Country Tuition Scholarship
📅 Deadline: The national ROTC scholarship must be awarded to the student by May 1 of senior year. Branch application deadlines run earlier, generally from late fall through March, so start the ROTC process early. ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Varies
✔ Stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Built to stack with a national ROTC scholarship and with the National Service Room and Board Scholarship. Coordinate with the Financial Aid Office and the ROTC detachment to see the full package.
💡
Strategic Detail
The Citadel's tuition supplement for incoming cadets who hold a three- or four-year national ROTC scholarship from the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, or Air Force/Space Force. Under the current version, three-year national scholarship winners are responsible only for the in-state tuition rate in their first year. Earlier versions of this program covered the full first-year tuition gap, so families should confirm exact terms in writing. National ROTC scholarship winners are academically admitted once they submit an application and high school transcript.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Incoming cadets who have already earned a qualifying three- or four-year national ROTC scholarship through the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, or Air Force/Space Force national selection process, and who complete all required Citadel enrollment and notification steps on time.
Automatic
National Service Room and Board Scholarship
📅 Deadline: The national ROTC scholarship must be awarded to the student by May 1 of senior year. Branch application deadlines run earlier, generally from late fall through March. ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Varies
✔ Stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Designed to stack with a national ROTC scholarship and the Service to Country Tuition Scholarship. Because the amount is based on the FAFSA, an accurate, on-time FAFSA matters.
💡
Strategic Detail
The companion to the Service to Country Tuition Scholarship. It is awarded up to the cost of four years of room and board at The Citadel, with the amount based on FAFSA information. Combined with a national ROTC scholarship, it can take a large share of the barracks bill off the table.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Incoming cadets who hold a qualifying national ROTC scholarship and complete the full Citadel enrollment and financial aid process on time. The FAFSA is used to determine the room and board award amount, so filing it accurately and early is essential.
App Required⚠ Upperclassmen Only
Upperclass Cadet Scholarship Application
📅 Deadline: Opens in the spring for the following school year (March in a typical cycle) and closes in May. File the FAFSA by The Citadel's priority date as well, since some awards consider need. ✓ Renews (3 GPA)
Varies
✔ Stackable
🎓 Upperclassmen
✚
Stacking & Combining
Upperclass awards are packaged alongside existing aid and generally add to it, subject to overall aid limits.
📄
How to Apply
Rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors complete the Cadet Scholarship Application each spring and file the FAFSA. Renewals are evaluated after spring grades post. Also check with the academic department for separate departmental applications.
💡
Strategic Detail
The second bite at Citadel scholarship money. Students who did not land a large award as freshmen, or whose grades improved, are considered for institutional scholarships through a separate annual application. Award amounts vary and are not published.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Current cadets who keep their grades up, file the FAFSA, and actually submit the application every spring. Most Citadel scholarships require a 3.0 GPA.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Star of the West International Summer Study Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Uses The Citadel's consolidated summer scholarships application, which opened January 5 and closed January 20 for summer 2026, with awards announced by February 1. Expect a similar early-January window each year. Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
⚠ Cadets only; 3.5 GPA minimum; must plan to apply for competitive graduate programs or fellowships.
🏫 3.5+ GPA🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Funds a summer program budget (travel, tuition, meals, lodging) rather than regular-year tuition, so it sits alongside other scholarships.
📄
How to Apply
Submit the consolidated summer scholarships application with one letter of recommendation, a written statement (1,000 to 3,000 characters), and a detailed budget. Independent study or research proposals must be department-approved and carry a 3-hour course equivalent.
✎ Essays💌 Letters of Rec
💡
Strategic Detail
Supports study and research abroad for fellowship-bound cadets. Grant amounts vary with funding and the proposed budget.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Cadets with a 3.5+ GPA who plan to apply for highly competitive graduate programs or fellowships such as Rhodes, Marshall, or Truman, and who submit a specific, well-budgeted proposal.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
CISP Summer and Maymester Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Uses the same consolidated summer scholarships application as Star of the West, which opened January 5 and closed January 20 for summer 2026, with awards announced by February 1. Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Covers costs of an off-campus summer or Maymester program rather than regular-year tuition.
📄
How to Apply
Submit the consolidated summer scholarships application with one letter of recommendation, a written statement, and a detailed program budget.
✎ Essays💌 Letters of Rec
💡
Strategic Detail
Designed to cover most of the costs of a wide range of off-campus summer and Maymester programs. Amounts vary with funding and the program budget.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Cadets and non-cadets heading to off-campus summer or Maymester programs, including students below the 3.5 GPA bar for Star of the West or without fellowship plans.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Scholarships for Math Majors
📅 Deadline: Set by the department each year and announced to majors and incoming freshmen. Check the department scholarship page. Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
👥 ~Total annual departmental funding is approximately $45,000, divided among eligible students. winners/yr🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Departmental awards generally stack with institutional merit and ROTC funding, subject to overall aid packaging limits.
📄
How to Apply
Declare or plan a mathematics major and follow the department's scholarship instructions. Watch Citadel email and the department page for announcements.
Selection criteria: Departmental review of academic merit and documented financial need for mathematics majors.
💡
Strategic Detail
The Department of Mathematics and Data Analytics awards about $45,000 a year in scholarships, based on criteria that can include academic merit and financial need. Named funds include the Gary Black 1966 Scholarship, the Wade Sherard Family Scholarship, and the Dr. Hamp Sherard Math Scholarship ($3,000), which is open to incoming freshmen through non-graduating seniors pursuing a BS or BA in Mathematics or a BS in Mathematics with a Data Analytics concentration.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Mathematics majors, including incoming freshmen for the Sherard award, who apply through the department.
Data last verified Sep 15, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.
❓ Hidden Gems FAQ
How does the Service to Country Tuition Scholarship work for a three-year ROTC winner?
Three-year national ROTC scholarships leave year one uncovered. Under the current version of The Citadel’s program, the student is responsible only for the in-state tuition rate that first year. Earlier versions covered the whole first-year tuition gap, so get your student’s exact terms in writing.
What does the National Service Room and Board Scholarship cover?
Up to the cost of four years of room and board at The Citadel. The amount is based on the FAFSA, so a complete, accurate FAFSA is part of getting the most out of it.
Does a national ROTC scholarship guarantee admission?
Yes. Winners of three- or four-year national ROTC scholarships are guaranteed admission to the Corps once they submit an application and high school transcript.
My student didn’t get a big award as a freshman. Is that it?
No. Rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors can complete the Upperclass Cadet Scholarship Application each spring. It typically opens in March and closes in May. Most Citadel scholarships require a 3.0 GPA, and the FAFSA should be on file too.
Is there money for studying abroad?
Yes. The Star of the West International Summer Study Scholarship funds study or research abroad for cadets with a 3.5+ GPA who plan to apply for top fellowships or graduate programs. The CISP Scholarship covers most costs of off-campus summer and Maymester programs for cadets and non-cadets, including students below that GPA. Both use one application that opens in early January and closes about two weeks later.
Are there scholarships tied to a specific major?
Yes. The math department, for example, awards about $45,000 a year. That includes the $3,000 Dr. Hamp Sherard Math Scholarship, which incoming freshmen can apply for. Ask your student’s intended department about its own awards, since departmental applications are separate.
The Citadel runs an Honors Program (not a separate Honors College) for high-potential cadets. It offers scholarship assistance, small discussion-based classes, one-on-one learning with professors, and support for competing for national post-graduate scholarships and fellowships. The program describes itself as enrichment, not extra busywork: more meaningful work, not more work.
How students get in: By invitation only, after receiving an admission offer from The Citadel.
When invitations go out: By November and again by February of senior year.
How selection works: High school record, a separate Honors application, and a personal interview with Citadel faculty.
Missed it as a freshman? Current knobs can request an interview and join no later than the first semester of sophomore year.
Honors Program Scholarships
App Required
Citadel Honors Program Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Invitation only, after an admission offer. Invitations go out by November and again by February of senior year, followed by a separate Honors application and a faculty interview. · 📢 Results: April 30 (in most cases) ✓ Renews (3 GPA, 4 yrs)
Varies
✘ Not stackable
👥 ~Number of honors scholarships varies by year. winners/yr
✚
Stacking & Combining
Honors scholarship support may adjust or replace some automatic merit. Final details appear in the aid offer.
📄
How to Apply
Invitation only. After receiving an admission offer, invited students submit a separate Honors application and interview with Citadel faculty. Current freshmen who were not selected can email the director to request an interview, with a one to two page cover letter, and would join no later than the first semester of sophomore year.
Selection criteria: Holistic review emphasizing academic excellence, intellectual engagement, and potential to thrive in a rigorous honors curriculum. An interview component is required as part of the selection process.
✎ Essays🎤 Interview
💡
Strategic Detail
The Citadel Honors Program is a four-year program for high-potential cadets, offering scholarship assistance, small discussion-based classes, one-on-one work with professors, and preparation to compete for national post-graduate scholarships and fellowships. The Citadel does not currently publish Honors scholarship dollar amounts.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Admitted students with strong high school records who are invited to apply and do well in a faculty interview. The program looks for curiosity and drive, not perfection, and does not expect students to have their career path figured out.
Data last verified Sep 15, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.
The Citadel does not currently publish Honors scholarship dollar amounts. Older parent materials listed figures, but they’re several years old, so rely on the award letter for your student’s actual number.
Timing Note: The Honors invitation comes from screening the admissions application. To be considered in the first round, your student should submit a complete application early in senior year, with activities and leadership roles filled in, not left blank.
Other Academic Tracks Worth Knowing
Distinguished Scholars Program: Up to 30 students, applications at the start of sophomore year, with enrichment grants typically up to $3,000 a year.
Office of Fellowships: Coaching for Rhodes, Marshall, Truman, and similar awards, plus summer study abroad scholarships.
1842 Scholars Program: An invitation-only merit cohort focused on leadership, mentorship, and study abroad.
Honors Program FAQs (The Citadel)
Is Honors admission automatic for high achievers?
No. Selection happens during senior year through an invitation, a separate application, and a faculty interview.
Can a student apply without an invitation?
Not as an incoming freshman. Once enrolled, a knob who wasn’t selected can email the program director with a request to interview and a one to two page cover letter explaining their interest.
Will Honors classes hurt my student’s GPA and put a scholarship at risk?
The program says no. Honors courses aren’t graded on a harsher curve, and The Citadel reports an average 3.5 GPA for Honors students compared with 3.2 for similarly prepared non-Honors students.
Is it twice the work?
No. The program is built on enrichment rather than acceleration. Courses go deeper, not longer.
Do AP credits replace Honors courses?
No. Some AP credits (AP English Language, AP Literature, and AP Western Civilization) can count as general electives, but they don’t take the place of Honors coursework.
Does Honors scholarship money stack with automatic merit?
Expect some adjustment. Honors support may replace or change part of the automatic award, and the final numbers appear in the aid offer.
Founded in 1842, The Citadel is best known for the Corps of Cadets, but families are sometimes surprised by how career-focused the academics are. Leadership training is built into every cadet’s four years, about one-third of each graduating class commissions as military officers, and the rest head straight into engineering firms, businesses, law enforcement, government, and graduate school. U.S. News has ranked it the top public university in the South for well over a decade.
Nationally Known Program: School of Engineering: One of the first five engineering programs in the country, and consistently ranked by U.S. News among the top 25 undergraduate engineering programs at schools without engineering doctorates. Cadets choose from civil, construction, electrical, computer, and mechanical engineering, and about one in five Citadel bachelor’s degrees is in engineering.
Tommy and Victoria Baker School of Business: The largest academic area on campus, awarding roughly one in four bachelor’s degrees, with finance, management, and marketing among the most popular majors.
Intelligence and Security Studies: One of The Citadel’s most popular majors, and a natural fit for students eyeing federal agencies, military intelligence, or security careers.
Criminal Justice and Political Science: Long-standing strengths that feed law enforcement, law school, and public service careers.
Computer Science and Cyber Operations: Housed in the Department of Cyber and Computer Sciences, with hands-on work in a field where a military-college background carries weight.
Nursing: The Swain Department of Nursing gives cadets a direct path into healthcare, a less expected option at a military college.
Leadership and Ethics: The Krause School of Leadership and Ethics anchors the leadership coursework every cadet completes, which is the thread employers mention most about Citadel graduates.
🔗 Official The Citadel Links
Use The Citadel’s official resources below to verify admissions requirements, scholarship rules, costs, and key data. Always rely on these pages for final deadlines, award terms, and official institutional information.
The Citadel doesn’t hand out money the way most public universities do. There’s no merit chart to measure your student against, and the biggest awards arrive as invitations rather than applications. That makes the admissions application itself the most important scholarship document your family will submit. Get it in early in senior year, fill in every activity and leadership role, file the FAFSA by February 15, and your student is in the pool for everything from automatic merit to the Citadel Scholar full ride.
For ROTC-minded families, the math can be remarkable: a national ROTC scholarship plus The Citadel’s Service to Country and room-and-board awards can cover most of what a cadet would otherwise pay. For everyone else, budget honestly for that knob-year bill, including the $9,300 Quartermaster deposit, and remember that the upperclass scholarship application gives your student another shot at money every spring. The Corps isn’t for every student, but for the ones who want structure, leadership, and a direct line into engineering, business, or public service, the price can end up far lower than the sticker suggests.
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