Navy BDCP Overview
After years on the shelf, the Baccalaureate Degree Completion Program (BDCP) has been reactivated! BDCP provides financial assistance to college students and graduates to complete baccalaureate degree requirements as applicable and obtain commissions via Officer Candidate School (OCS) or Officer Development School (ODS).
Applications will be accepted for the following designators: aviation (Navy pilot and flight officer), special warfare (SEAL), special operations and surface warfare officer.
The following is a basic overview of the program. Please see your local Navy Officer Recruiter for more details!
BDCP Qualifications
The Baccalaureate Degree Completion Program (BDCP) is open to male and female applicants who are citizens of the United States. Enlisted personnel of the Naval Reserve (active or inactive), enlisted personnel of the Reserve components of the other armed services (active or inactive) can also apply, and must be discharged or released from other service obligation upon acceptance into BDCP.
Navy Reserve Officer Training Corps (NROTC) Midshipmen who have received pay entitlements, subsistence allowance, tuition or fees are not eligible.
Applicants must be within the prescribed age limits and meet designator-specific testing requirements (such as aviation selection test battery, officer aptitude rating and physical screening test) in line with the Program Authorization for which they are applying for. No waivers will be accepted.
Applicants must meet physical standards for appointment as prescribed in the Manual of the Medical Department, Chapter 15. Candidates must meet the physical fitness weight and/or percentage of body fat standards at the time of application and at time of commissioning.
Academic Eligibility
Baccalaureate Degree Completion Program (BDCP) applicants must be enrolled in or accepted for transfer to a regionally accredited four-year college or university that does not have an established NROTC unit or NROTC cross-town agreement.
Applicants must have completed at least 60 semester or 90 quarter hours of credit from an accredited college or university. Applicants who have already completed their baccalaureate degree should apply for direct accession OCS programs.
Selectees complete college as full-time students attending at least all normal school sessions (2 semesters or 3 quarters). Applicants must have a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.8 on a 4.0 scale. No waivers below 2.8 will be authorized.
College Major
No college major restrictions, however, majors in science, technology, engineering and mathematics or those studies which have a direct application to a naval career will be given strong consideration at the selection board.
Official transcripts must be submitted to Navy Recruiting Command (NRC) upon completion of each school term. A selectee's failure to disclose complete academic transcripts or evidence of tampering in any way will result in disenrollment from the BDCP.
Baccalaureate degree requirements must be fulfilled within 24 months. Selectees must have an approved degree completion plan prior to enlistment in order to determine the projected graduation date.
Participation in a non-mandatory co-op or work-study program will not normally be authorized if such participation will cause a delay in the projected graduation date.
Selectees will not be permitted to extend their projected graduation date, cease attending classes, change majors, enter exchange programs or transfer schools without specific approval of Commander Navy Recruiting Command. Failure to obtain permission may result in disenrollment.
Enlistment and Indoctrination
Baccalaureate Degree Completion Program (BDCP) selectees will be required to enlist in order to receive pay and financial incentives for joining the BDCP. After enlisting, selectees will be ordered to the nearest Navy Talent Acquisition Group (NTAG). Selectees will be placed in an Active-Duty status as OCPO3s (E-4) and graduate as OCPO2s (E-5) in the Navy Reserve and will incur all rights and responsibilities thereof. If already in the Navy Reserve, selectees will be placed in an Active-Duty status at their current rank, if higher. The NTAG will be responsible for coordinating management and administration of BDCP selectees including indoctrination, physical readiness testing, urinalysis, identification cards, service records, pay and other administrative requirements until they report to Officer Candidate School (OCS).
Upon receiving a baccalaureate degree, BDCP selectees will be assigned to the next available OCS class. All selectees shall complete OCS in Newport, RI. If a selectee fails to successfully complete OCS for any reason other than injury, that selectee will be required to serve the remainder of their enlisted contract.
Follow-on training will be in line with the Program Authorization for the specific designator for which they will be accepted.
Payments and Tuition
Baccalaureate Degree Completion Program (BDCP) selectees will receive full pay and allowances (except clothing) at the rate of Officer Candidate Petty Officer (OCPO) Third Class (E-4), but must pay for tuition, books and other school related expenses.
Selectees who make the deans list during two consecutive semesters or three consecutive quarters are eligible for a one-time meritorious advancement (maximum E-6) on the first day of the month following completion of 30 semester hours or 45 quarter hours in the program.
Any BDCP selectee who provides Commander Navy Recruiting Command a referral which results in an accession to an officer commissioning program (collegiate, direct appointment or direct commission) will be eligible for a one-time advancement to the next higher paygrade (maximum E-6).
Both opportunities will allow for two possible advancements up to OCPO1 (E-6) (maximum) while in the program, one for academic achievement and one for a referral leading to an officer accession.
Upon completion of baccalaureate degree requirements, selectees will be advanced to OCPO2 (E-5), if not previously advanced. Selectees who have previously advanced to OCPO1 will maintain their current paygrade. All BDCP selectees who have completed baccalaureate degree requirements will maintain pay and benefits while awaiting enrollment in the next available Officer Candidate School class.
