AECP cadets are provided with a tuition/fees scholarship of up to $15,000 per year and an annual textbook allowance of $510. Students may not pay the difference to attend higher cost schools.
Application packages are usually due in January of each year. Airmen should check with their local Education Offices for specific application deadline criteria for the year they wish to apply.
AECP is open to students in the following fields:
- Meteorology
- Nursing
- Foreign languages (limited to Arabic, Chinese, Persian, Russian, Hindi, Pashto, Armenian, Georgian, Azeri, Kazakh, Indonesian, Swahili, Hebrew, French, Turkish). All other languages will be considered on a case-by-case basis based on the needs of the Air Force.
- Foreign area studies (limited to Middle East, Africa, Asia, Russia/Eurasia). Area studies degree programs must include a requirement for foreign language courses in the region of study.
- Mathematics
- Physics
- Computer Science
- Engineering. Any ABET-accredited engineering major (note: not ABET Technology majors)
AECP cadets will complete their commissioning training through Air Force ROTC (including completion of Aerospace Studies courses, Leadership Laboratory, and Field Training).
Eligibility
- Be a United States citizen.
- Meet the age requirements (Under 30 by board date) or have obtained an age waiver (available if you can commission before 35).
- Have at least one year Time-In-Service (May be waiverable except for pipeline technical school students).
- Have at least one year Time-On-Station (May be waiverable).
- Be recommended by your immediate commander.
- Meet the minimum college college grade point averages and have completed the required coursework for your major (typically a minimum of 45 semester hours is required). Math/Science/Engineering majors must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75, nontechnical and Nursing applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00.
- Be admitted to a school offering Air Force ROTC (including crosstown schools) and the academic major you desire to study. The annual tuition at this school may not exceed $15,000 per year.
- Earn Air Force Officer Qualifying Test (AFOQT) scores of 15 or more on the Verbal scale and 10 or more on the Quantitative scale. NOTE: AFOQT scores may be waiverable for those who have taken the test twice and failed both times.
- Pass the Air Force ROTC Physical Fitness Test.
- Meet all the requirements for commissioning (physical, moral, fitness, etc.) listed in AFI 36-2013, chapter 1, and AFI 36-2005.
- Meet the requirement for overseas retainability. For individuals at an OCONUS (overseas assignment) location, IAW AFI 36-2013, Table 1.2, rule 10, the applicant may not apply if the applicant does not apply before the 25th day of the 8th month before the date eligible for return from overseas (DEROS) month....translated: applicants must have approximately 8 months left on station by the package due date. The Military Personnel Flight (MPF) can help the applicant determine what the new DEROS will need to be to be eligible to apply. If the applicant does not, they must request an extension through their normal base channels. If the applicant does not have enough time remaining on their assignment, they will be ineligible to apply for a commissioning program.
