The college program is identical to the scholarship program except that students only participate in summer training upon completion of their junior academic year. Any Vanderbilt student may take any or all of the naval science courses without participating in naval science lab or summer training. Naval Science courses cover naval engineering systems, sea power in history, naval weapons systems, navigation, naval operations, leadership, and management. Each class meets three hours per week. In addition, a two and one-half hour naval science lab is conducted each Thursday afternoon.
Students can earn scholarships in several ways.
Four-year scholarships are determined by national competition among high school seniors and graduates. Based on the national ranking, students may be awarded a scholarship that covers full tuition. The application process begins as early as the spring semester of the student's junior year, but no later than 1 December of the year prior to admission. These nominations are based on the students' academic and military performance at the college level. After their freshman year, scholarship students incur a service obligation of four years of active duty and four years in the inactive reserve.