Information on Applying to the United States Naval Academy
Who can apply to the U.S. Naval Academy?
Applicants must be:
- at least 17 years of age and must not have passed their 23rd birthday on July 1st of the year of admission,
- unmarried, not pregnant and have no incurred obligation of parenthood,
- a United States citizen, and
- of good moral character.
How do I apply to the USNA?
The Naval Academy’s Office of Admissions has a comprehensive web site with information on the institution, answers to frequently asked questions, and directions on how to apply (click
HERE for more information).
You can submit a preliminary application in
April of your junior year. If you are designated as an official candidate you will be given instructions on how to complete the remainder of your online application which opens in June of your junior year.
If you indicate in your preliminary application that you are interested in being recruited for a sports team, you will be sent a Navy Sports questionnaire which you should complete with as much detail as possible and submit for evaluation by the coaching staff of your sport.
Click
HERE to follow the steps and timeline for admission.
How do I become a Navy Student-Athlete?
NCAA regulations state that only authorized institutional staff members - primarily coaches - may conduct recruiting of a “prospective student-athlete.”
Also, per NCAA regulations contact is limited until the summer between a prospective student-athlete’s sophomore and junior year of high school.
Beginning the recruiting process
Contact a Navy coach (Click
HERE to access contact information for each head coach)
- Send an introductory email to the coach of your sport
- Include pertinent statistics and accomplishments
- Include video highlights if available
Submit a recruiting questionnaire
- Some sports have recruiting questionnaires located on their home page at NavySports.com (typically on the far right under the “More” tab).
Register with the NCAA Eligibility Center (Click HERE to access)
- This is a requirement for ALL prospective student-athletes planning to attend ANY college or university to ensure you have met amateurism standards and are academically prepared for college course work.
Not yet a rising high school junior?
Attend a Navy sports camp (click
HERE for current offerings)
- Attending a Navy Sports Camp provides a great opportunity to meet the Navy coaches and further develop your athletic skills.
Visit the USNA Admissions webpage for tips on how to learn more about the Academy and prepare to apply (click
HERE to access).
- Attend the USNA Summer STEM Program (click HERE for information)
- Find advice for your high school years and application timeline (click HERE for information)
- Visit the USNA (click HERE for information)
More About the United States Naval Academy
Free Tuition
There is no tuition or financial aid at the Naval Academy. The Navy pays 100% of the tuition, room and board, medical and dental care costs of Naval Academy midshipmen. This means ALL students who attend the Naval Academy do so on a full scholarship in return for 5 years of active duty service upon graduation. Additionally, you also enjoy regular active-duty benefits including access to military commissaries and exchanges, commercial transportation and lodging discounts and the ability to fly space-available in military aircraft around the world.
Midshipmen pay is $1,399.80 monthly (January 1, 2025), from which laundry, barber, cobbler, activities fees, yearbook and other service charges are deducted. Actual cash pay is $100 per month your first year, which increases each year thereafter.
Life as a Midshipman
The Naval Academy’s 47-month program is a transformative experience designed to develop Midshipmen in mind, body, and character to lead effectively as naval officers. Through the four-year journey, they are forged into leaders of character with a warrior ethos, ready to serve as officers in the Navy and Marine Corps and beyond.
Course of Study and Academic Majors
The U.S. Naval Academy has been
ranked as the #1 Public College in the country.
The academic program is focused especially on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics in order to meet the current and future highly technical needs of the Navy and Marine Corps.
The academic course requirements for Midshipmen include both Core Courses required for all Midshipmen regardless of major plus Majors Courses specific to each Midshipman’s selected academic major.
Most courses for Midshipmen are the same in their first (freshman / fourth class / Plebe) year and are part of the core curriculum.
Academic major selection takes place in the second semester of Plebe year. Midshipmen begin formal coursework in their majors in the second (sophomore / third class / Youngster) year.
Visit the Academics homepage for more information (click
HERE to access)
Career Opportunities –– We hire ALL of our graduates!
Since 1845, the Naval Academy has served as the Navy’s primary undergraduate institution for educating future officers of the Navy and Marine Corps. Upon graduation, Midshipmen receive a Bachelor of Science degree and a commission as an ensign in the Navy or a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps. Naval Academy graduates serve at least five years in the Navy or Marine Corps, primarily in one of the following communities:
Navy
- Aviation (Pilot or Naval Flight Officer)
- Civil Engineering Corps
- Cryptologic Warfare
- Cyber Warfare Engineer
- Explosive Ordnance Disposal
- Information Professional
- Intelligence
- Medical Corps
- Oceanography
- Special Warfare - SEAL (Sea, Air, Land)
- Submarines
- Supply Corps
- Surface Warfare
Marine Corps
- Aviation (Pilot)
- Cyber Warfare
- Ground
The USNA is ranked as the school with the “second highest Alumni Mid-Career Earnings” in the country.
