This guide is here to help anyone interested in becoming a Navy Civil Engineer Corps Officer through the Navy Civil Engineer Corps Collegiate Program in Fiscal Year 2025.
The Navy Civil Engineer Corps (CEC) has a Collegiate program that offers a path for those wanting a career in engineering or architecture to serve as Navy officers.
In this guide, I’ll walk you through the eligibility requirements and benefits of the program, so you can see if you qualify and know what to expect.
Program Overview
The Navy Civil Engineer Corps Collegiate Program (CEC-CP) is an innovative officer accession program that allows college students pursuing degrees in engineering and architecture to serve as CEC officers in the United States Navy.
Get real-world experience. Get top-tier training. Work on the Navy’s cutting-edge fleet—all while earning your degree.
This program throws you into the deep end of engineering and architecture. Think construction, environmental impact, geotech, hydraulics, structural design, transportation systems, water resources. You’ll touch it all.
College courses? Check. You’ll be at an accredited university. But that’s just part of it. You’ll also tackle Officer Candidate School (OCS), then dive into technical training for your specialty.
Finish your degree. Nail the training. And you walk out as a Navy Officer with a commission in the Navy CEC.
Program Eligibility Requirements
The basic requirements below are current as of October 2022, per the Navy Personnel Command. No updates have been issued thus far.
Basic Requirement
- Age: Applicants must be between 19 and 36 years old.
- GPA: A minimum GPA of 2.7 is required to be considered for the program.
- Citizenship: Applicants must be U.S. citizens.
- Degree Program: To be eligible, you must be enrolled in or have graduated from an ABET-EAC engineering or NAAB architecture degree program.
Engineering Applicants
Applicants must be pursuing ABET-EAC accredited bachelor’s degree. Those within three months of graduation are considered direct accessions.
Those interested may apply within 12 or 18 months of graduation. Selectees will ship out to OCS one to two months after graduation.
Architecture Applicants
Applicants are required to be pursuing an NAAB accredited professional degree in architecture, which can be a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in architecture. Bachelor of Science degrees in Architecture are not eligible.
Those interested may apply within 12 or 18 months of graduation. Selectees will ship out to OCS one to two months after graduation.
Competitive Candidate Criteria
To increase your chances of being accepted into the program, it is beneficial to meet the following criteria:
- Ideal GPA and Certifications: Having a GPA higher than 3.1 will make you a more competitive candidate. Possessing certifications such as EIT/NCARB/PE/RA is a definite advantage.
- Extra-Curricular Activities: taking part in campus organizations, intramural or varsity sports, and community involvement activities will show your well-roundedness and leadership potential.
- Employment: Holding a part-time job while in school or engaging in engineering internships or CO-OPs will show your commitment and practical experience in the field.
- Direct Accession Candidates: Those who have already graduated from an eligible degree program can apply for the direct accession program at any time.
- Collegiate Program Candidates: Students who have a GPA of 3.0 or higher and have achieved a “B” or better in all STEM courses may be eligible to apply as early as 24 months before graduation.
Service Commitment
If accepted into the Collegiate program, you will be required to attend Officer Candidate School (OCS) and the Civil Engineer Corps Officer School (CECOS).
Following OCS graduation, you will serve for four years of active duty plus four years in the inactive reserve.
Salary and Benefits
2025 U.S. Navy Officer Pay Chart (First Six Years)
| Pay Grade | <2 Years | Over 2 Years | Over 3 Years | Over 4 Years | Over 6 Years |
| O-1 | $3,998.40 | $4,161.90 | $5,031.30 | $5,031.30 | $5,031.30 |
| O-2 | $4,606.80 | $5,246.70 | $6,042.90 | $6,247.20 | $6,375.30 |
| O-3 | $5,331.60 | $6,044.10 | $6,522.60 | $7,112.40 | $7,453.80 |
| O-4 | $6,064.20 | $7,019.70 | $7,488.90 | $7,592.40 | $8,027.10 |
| O-5 | $7,028.40 | $7,917.30 | $8,465.40 | $8,568.60 | $8,910.90 |
Notes:
- A 4.5% pay raise is effective January 1, 2025.
- Officers with 4+ years of prior enlisted or warrant officer service (O-1E, O-2E, O-3E) earn more. Example: O-1E (4+ years) makes $5,031.30 monthly.
- Future pay changes depend on legislation. Check DFAS.mil for updates.
Additional Pays and Allowances
- Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH): Covers housing costs for those living off-base. Amount depends on rank, location, and dependents.
- Basic Allowance for Subsistence (BAS): Helps cover meal costs. 2025 officer rate: $323.87/month.
- Hazardous Duty Incentive Pay (HDIP): Extra pay for dangerous jobs—flight decks, EOD, etc. $150–$250/month.
- Career Sea Pay: For shipboard or deployed sailors. $50–$750/month, based on rank and time at sea.
- Special & Incentive Pays: Extra cash for specific skills (e.g., air traffic control, language proficiency). Ranges from a few hundred to several thousand dollars annually.
- Overseas Cost of Living Allowance (COLA): Extra pay to offset higher living costs in foreign duty stations. Varies by location, rank, and dependents.
Benefits
- Healthcare: Free medical and dental for active duty. Low-cost TRICARE options for families.
- Housing: On-base housing or tax-free BAH for off-base living.
- Food: BAS provides a monthly food stipend.
- Blended Retirement System (BRS): Pension + Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) contributions. Retirement pay kicks in at 20 years.
- Education: Tuition assistance, Post-9/11 GI Bill, and Navy College Program support higher education.
- Life Insurance: SGLI covers up to $500,000.
- Vacation: 30 days of paid leave per year, plus federal holidays.
All rates and benefits are subject to change with future legislation.
Responsibilities While in College
Keep your GPA up. Knock out the Physical Readiness Test (PRT) twice a year. Simple.
You’ll need to follow the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) and carry yourself like a future naval officer. That part’s non-negotiable.
But no uniforms. No buzz cuts. No military classes. No drilling.
Want in? Head to the official Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command site for details on how to apply.
This program isn’t just a degree path—it’s a direct route to becoming a Navy Civil Engineer Corps officer. Meet the requirements, stay competitive, and commit. Do that, and you’re on your way.
More Information
You may contact the Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command (NAVFAC) at (800) 202-4153 or go to https://www.navfac.navy.mil/cec/programs/cec_collegiate_program/ for more information on the Navy CEC Collegiate program.
If you want more actionable information about becoming a Navy Civil Engineer Corps officer through the CEC Collegiate program, the next logical step is to contact a Naval Officer Recruiter.
Let us figure out how you can benefit from becoming a Navy CEC officer—or if it is even the right move for you, considering your current life situation.
