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MIT’s Contribution to Military Education

MIT’s Contribution to Military Education

Reflecting a long commitment to national service, MIT has continuously offered instruction in military science since opening its doors in 1861. With more than 12,000 military officers commissioned from MIT, with more than 150 reaching the rank of general or admiral, MIT is ensuring that top military talent gets top training in the technical fields that increasingly underpin the future of modern warfare.

Our graduate and undergraduate offerings — along with our merit-based, innovative culture — have kept MIT a top destination for servicemembers seeking to grow their skills.

An ongoing draw for service members and veterans

  • MIT offers graduate and professional programs specifically designed for the US military. These courses keep our national security leaders at the cutting edge of science and technology.

  • In the last five years, MIT has awarded 604 degrees to those who have previously served in the military, or who are currently serving:

    • 96% of these were advanced degrees, including 25 PhDs

    • 85% of these advanced degrees were in STEM or in management fields

  • On the undergraduate level, MIT also has a proud history of developing future military leaders through its Army, Air Force/Space Force, and Navy commissioning programs.

  • Over the past five years, MIT has educated 597 undergraduates through its ROTC, AFROTC (including Space Force), and NROTC programs.

Distinctive contributions in military education

  • MIT has been a leader in naval research and design for over a century.

  • In 2026, MIT’s Naval Construction and Engineering (Course 2N) program marks 125 continuous years of educating next-gen leaders in naval technology.

  • A new program under 2N — created after a visit from Admiral Samuel Paparo, commander of the US Indo-Pacific Command — will allow naval officers to develop proficiency in applied AI.

  • As one of only 14 universities nationwide in the US Space Force’s University Partnership Program, MIT is helping to recruit, educate, and develop Space Force service members.

  • As part of the Warrior-Scholar Project (WSP), MIT hosts a STEM boot camp that helps enlisted members of the military prepare for higher education. Now in its 10th year, MIT-WSP has hosted over 120 scholars, 93% of whom have gone on to pursue degrees.

MIT research supports the US military and national security

  • MIT has delivered mission-critical technology to the US military for decades, offering high-impact research that cannot be replicated through short-term programs.

  • MIT works in close partnership with both the military and industry to transition foundational discoveries into operationally relevant capabilities.

  • MIT’s technical depth and expertise in long-horizon scientific areas ensure our nation’s security and our military’s technological superiority.

  • MIT has delivered technology that is directly credited with saving warfighters’ lives.

  • For 80 years, more than half of MIT’s R&D has directly supported US national security:

    • Almost 15% of sponsored research on our Main Campus supports the mission of the Department of Defense.

    • In addition, there is $1.5 billion in national security R&D each year at MIT Lincoln Laboratory.

Bottom line: MIT delivers technology that has continually evolved to meet the military’s needs, as well as a sustained pipeline of defense technology leaders through a culture focused on high-impact research, innovation, and military and industrial partnerships.