United States Naval Academy

Public · Elite · MD

Photo: Preservation Maryland (CC BY-SA 2.0)

School data & stats

TypePublic

LocationMD · South

SettingSuburban

Undergrads4,474

Student:faculty8:1

Outcomes

4-yr grad rate91.5%

6-yr grad rate92.9%

Drop-out rate2.7%

Study abroad—

Cost

In-state tuition—

Out-of-state tuition—

Application fee—

Community

Racial diversity44.2%

Gender diversity29.6%

International1.3%

Identity—

Overview

The Naval Academy in Annapolis is a federal service academy that trains midshipmen for commissioned service in the Navy or Marine Corps. Every student attends tuition-free in exchange for a post-graduation service commitment, and the four years combine a rigorous, largely STEM-oriented academic program with military training, physical conditioning, and a strict institutional structure unlike any civilian college. The campus itself is known as the Yard.

Academics

The curriculum leans heavily engineering and technical, with every midshipman completing a demanding core in math, science, and engineering regardless of declared major, plus courses in leadership, ethics, and naval history. Class sizes are small and structured, taught by a mix of military and civilian faculty, and strong students can pursue independent research through the Trident Scholar program. The academic calendar bends around military training obligations rather than following a conventional semester rhythm.

Campus & student life

Nearly the entire brigade lives together in Bancroft Hall, one of the largest dormitories in the world, under a strict daily schedule of formations, inspections, and a defined chain of command rather than typical dorm life. Athletics carry major institutional weight, especially the Army-Navy football rivalry, and virtually every midshipman competes in some varsity, club, or intramural sport. A cherished tradition caps plebe year: the climb of the greased Herndon Monument to place a hat atop it.

Getting in

Admission is unlike any other college's — it requires a nomination, usually from a member of Congress, in addition to a competitive academic and physical record, and the process evaluates leadership potential and fitness for military service alongside academics. A physical fitness assessment and medical qualification are required in ways civilian colleges don't ask for, and the nomination process runs on its own separate timeline from the academic application.

After graduation

Graduates are commissioned as officers with a guaranteed initial career path in the Navy or Marine Corps — aviation, submarines, surface warfare, or Marine Corps ground and air assignments among the options — and owe a minimum years of service afterward. The alumni network is unusually tight-knit and lifelong, built around shared service rather than a shared industry, and many graduates go on to leadership roles well beyond their military commitment.

Worth knowing

This is a major commitment beyond four years of college — the service obligation afterward is real, and the disciplined, regimented daily structure, especially the demanding plebe (first) year, is a defining feature that suits some students and is a poor fit for others. It is not a choice to make lightly, or for the tuition-free appeal alone.

usna.edu ↗

Admissions

Acceptance rate9.3%

Enrolled mid-50%SAT 1210–1410 · ACT 25–31

Test policyoptional

Rec letters3

Deadlines (2026–27 cycle)

Regular decisionJan 31

AdmissionRolling

Verified from the school’s admissions page ↗

Applying (2026-27 cycle)

Apply through Own application.

Interviews: An official interview with an assigned Blue and Gold Officer is required to complete the application, and candidates should contact their officer as soon as they receive their candidate number.

Verified from the school’s admissions pages ↗