Last time I checked the system, they will commit you to a career slot no later than 2 years prior to graduation. Even if you're not a "scholarship student" they will start paying you some money once you're paired to a career slot.

They may actually have 1 year pipelines for limited career fields. They have in the past but this is historically rare.

Anything longer than 2 years prior to graduation will involve an actual scholarship.

Not sure what the commitment after graduation is any more but I know that it depends on your career field. You'll know before you sign on the dotted line.

If you take money from them, you're typically committed to some time in the military unless something extraordinary happens and they don't need you or you do something to become non-qualified.

It's a great way to get in the military. I don't know if I'd recommend it for aviation any more but that's primarily because the active duty can't figure out what an aviation career actually is right now.