United States Naval Academy

Admission Requirements

The United States Naval Academy (USNA) is an undergraduate college located in Annapolis, Maryland. It is one of the five United States service academies and educates officers for commissioning primarily into the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps. The Academy was founded in 1845 and graduated its first class in 1846. The Academy's mission is "to develop midshipmen morally, mentally, and physically and to imbue them with the highest ideals of duty, honor, and loyalty in order to provide graduates who are dedicated to a career of naval service and have potential for future development in mind and character to assume the highest responsibilities of command, citizenship, and government."

Admission to the United States Naval Academy is highly competitive. Each year, the Academy receives over 20,000 applications from which approximately 1,200 midshipmen are selected for admission. The admissions process is conducted by a board of officers from each of the military services. The board evaluates each applicant on their academic record, extracurricular activities, athletic ability, leadership potential, and motivation.

The academic program at the Naval Academy is rigorous and demanding. All midshipmen are required to complete a four-year curriculum that leads to a Bachelor of Science degree. The curriculum is focused on engineering, science, and mathematics and also includes courses in the humanities and social sciences. Midshipmen are also required to participate in a variety of extracurricular activities, including athletics, clubs, and service organizations.

Upon graduation, midshipmen are commissioned as officers in the United States Navy or United States Marine Corps. They are then required to serve a minimum of five years on active duty. The United States Naval Academy is a highly respected institution that provides its graduates with the opportunity to serve their country in a variety of ways.