As the undergraduate college of the Naval service, the Naval Academy prepares young men and women to become professional officers and leaders in the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps. Naval Academy students are midshipmen on active duty in the U.S. Navy. They attend the academy for four years, graduating with bachelor of science degrees and commissions as ensigns in the Navy or second lieutenants in the Marine Corps. Naval Academy graduates serve at least five years as Navy or Marine Corps officers.
Founded in 1845 by Secretary of the Navy George Bancroft, the Academy started as the Naval School on 10 acres of old Fort Severn in Annapolis with an original class of 55. In 1850 the Naval School became the United States Naval Academy. A new curriculum went into effect requiring midshipmen to study at the Academy for four years and to train aboard ships each summer. Congress authorized the Naval Academy to begin awarding bachelor of science degrees in 1933. Today, the Academy offers 25 major fields of study, a wide variety of elective courses and advanced study and research opportunities.
USNA Mission Statement
"To develop midshipmen morally, mentally and physically and to imbue them with the highest ideals of duty, honor and loyalty in order to graduate leaders 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."
USNA Quick Facts
| Location |
Annapolis, Md. |
| Founded |
1845 |
| Superintendent |
Vice Adm. Walter "Ted" Carter, USN |
| Commandant of Midshipmen |
Capt. Robert Chadwick, USN |
| Enrollment |
4,400 |
Class of 2022Â Profile
| Class Size |
1,199 (863 men / 336 women) |
| Applicants |
16,086 (11,576 men / 4,510 women) |
| HS Participation - Student Body Leader |
65% |
| HS Participation - National Honor Society |
66% |
| HS Participation - Varsity Athlete |
93% |
| HS Participation - Varsity Team Captain/Co-Captain |
73% |
| HS Participation - Community Service |
91% |
Navy Assignments
Graduates enter the Navy with a rank of ensign. Those officers have the following service options:
• Aviation – pilot, flight officer • Special Operations – explosive ordnance disposalÂ
• Navy SEALs
• Surface Warfare – conventional, nuclear powered
• Submarines – nuclear powered
• Restricted Line and Staff Corps – civil engineering, information warfare, cryptology, intelligence, maintenance, medicine, meteorology/oceanography, supply corps
Marine Corps Assignments
Graduates enter the Marine Corps with a rank of second lieutenant. Those officers have the following service options:
• Aviation - air command and control, anti-air warfare, aviation maintenance, aviation supply, pilot, flight officer
• Ground - armor, artillery, communications (information systems), engineering, financial management, infantry, logistics, military police
