Leaders for America

ounded in 1845, the United States Naval Academy prepares young men and women for service as commissioned officers in the U.S. Navy or Marine Corps. Located in historic Annapolis on the banks of the Severn River and Chesapeake Bay, it is equidistant from Washington D.C. and Baltimore, Maryland.  Naval Academy students (called ‘midshipmen’) attend the Academy for four years, graduating with bachelor of science degrees and reserve commissions as ensigns in the U.S. Navy or second lieutenants in the U.S. Marine Corps.

Am I eligible to apply?  To be eligible for enrollment at the Naval Academy, you must be a U.S. citizen of good moral character, at least 17 years old and not past your 23rd birthday on July 1st of the year that you enter the Academy. You must also meet medical requirements along with passing a physical aptitude test.

At the U.S. Naval Academy, the moral, mental and physical elements of the program are equally important, all contributing to the qualities of an outstanding naval officer. In some aspects, the Academy is not the typical college. As a midshipman at the undergraduate college of the Navy and Marine Corps, you will pursue a four-year program that educates and trains you in and out of the classroom. Every midshipman receives a full scholarship; room and board, pay and allowances, medical and dental care.

Curriculum: The curriculum blends professional subjects with required and elective courses similar to those at leading universities. The three basic elements are:

·   Core requirements in engineering, natural sciences, the humanities and social sciences.

·   Professional courses providing the character development and leadership skills required of Navy and Marine Corps officers.

·   An academic major in a subject chosen by you to develop your individual interests and talents. 18 majors are offered: 7 in engineering including aerospace, ocean and systems engineering; 7 in math and science including computer science, oceanography, and physics; and 5 in the humanities including economics and political science.

Photo by Shannon Bosserman

What about sports?  All midshipmen are required to participate in athletics all four years at the Academy. Navy hosts 29 Division I intercollegiate varsity sports several of which are nationally ranked. 

What are my chances of graduating?  The Naval Academy is very proud that approximately 80% of those in each freshmen class will graduate four years later. This is a direct result of strong faculty support and a 7 to 1 student to faculty ratio. The Princeton Review ranked USNA number two in the nation for faculty accessibility. Each midshipman is afforded a strong sense of personal responsibility and the Academy provides a broad support foundation necessary for every man or woman to succeed.

You will have the opportunity to pull together with young men and women from a diversity of races, regions, socio-economic groups and religions to develop mentally, morally and physically.

Graduation opens a lifetime of exciting opportunities. Career fields as a Navy or Marine Corps officer range from naval aviation, surface warfare, and submarines to Marine infantry and armor. In every field you are responsible for leading talented men and women as well as operating sophisticated military systems. If you want a challenge and have a strong desire to achieve greatness, your opportunity begins at the United States Naval Academy.