Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

RPI has operated its NROTC unit since 1941 and has produced more flag officers — admirals and Navy generals — among its graduates than nearly any other NROTC program in the country. The submarine and nuclear surface warfare pipelines dominate: in a typical commissioning class, the majority of Navy-option graduates enter either submarines or nuclear surface ships, driven by RPI's engineering curriculum in nuclear, mechanical, and aerospace engineering. A recent commissioning class included eight submarine officers out of 20 Navy-option graduates — an extraordinarily high submarine rate. The unit takes every professional competition seriously. Marine Corps Option produces two to three officers per class from a smaller but committed group. The Troy, New York campus provides a focused, non-distracting environment that reinforces the academic intensity the submarine community requires.