“The United States Naval Academy, founded in 1845 in Annapolis, Maryland, is a federal service academy that develops midshipmen morally, mentally, and ”
The United States Naval Academy (USNA), founded in 1845 by Secretary of the Navy George Bancroft, is the federal service academy that educates and commissions officers for the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps. Located on 'the Yard' — a 338-acre National Historic Landmark campus along the Severn River in Annapolis, Maryland — the Academy enrolls roughly 4,500 midshipmen, each of whom earns a Bachelor of Science and a commission as either a Navy ensign or a Marine Corps second lieutenant upon graduation. In exchange for a full federal scholarship covering tuition, room, board, and medical care, every graduate commits to a minimum five-year active-duty service obligation. Academics at USNA are weighted heavily toward STEM — aerospace, mechanical, electrical, nuclear, ocean, naval architecture & marine, and robotics & control engineering, plus Computer Science, Cyber Operations, Data Science, Operations Research, Mathematics, Oceanography, and Physics — alongside humanities and social-science majors in English, History, Political Science, and Foreign Area Studies. Midshipmen all earn the same degree type (B.S.), take a core curriculum emphasizing leadership, ethics, naval science, and physical development, and live under a demanding military daily regimen that blends academic rigor with military training, competitive Division I athletics, and summer fleet cruises. Admission is exceptionally selective: the acceptance rate is roughly 9%, every candidate needs an official nomination (typically from a Member of Congress, Vice-President, or the President) plus a passing Candidate Fitness Assessment and a medical qualification, and SAT/ACT scores are required. International candidates are a very special case: by law the Academy may host up to 60 four-year international midshipmen at any time, admitted solely through a government-to-government nomination process. The Department of Defense selects which allied nations are eligible; each invited country may nominate up to six candidates through its U.S. Defense Attaché or Office of Security Cooperation, and international nominations are due by 31 January. Recent classes have included midshipmen from Bangladesh, Ecuador, Fiji, the Gambia, Indonesia, Jordan, Kenya, Lithuania, Mongolia, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Philippines, Republic of Korea, Singapore, Thailand, Tunisia, and Vietnam — typically one to two students per country per class.
Visa, OPT, H-1B alumni outcomes, and acceptance rates by country — sourced from FOIA, USCIS H-1B Hub, and DHS SEVIS.
Undergraduate Engineering (no doctorate)
US News 2025
Test Required — All applicants must submit SAT or ACT scores.
Official SourcePreliminary Application
Opens early spring of junior year; candidates encouraged to submit well before regular deadline.
Regular Application (U.S. Candidates)
All required materials must be complete by January 31.
International Nominations
International nominations submitted via U.S. Embassy Defense Attaché due by 31 January.
The deep admissions playbook beyond the headline acceptance rate — round-by-round breakdowns, nationality data, requirements, and contact paths.
Domestic
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Out-of-State / Intl
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Beyond the sticker price — every named scholarship, the financial aid policy, need-aware notes, and a personalized net-cost estimate.
How life on campus actually feels — clubs, sports, traditions, housing realities, and how the school integrates with its city.
The Naval Academy awards a Bachelor of Science through a demanding core curriculum spanning engineering and weapons, mathematics and science, leadership education, humanities and social sciences, and seamanship and navigation. All midshipmen complete this comprehensive STEM-heavy core to prepare for the Navy's highly technical requirements. The Academy pioneered multiple engineering majors with the Class of 1969, including Aerospace, Electrical, Mechanical, Naval, and Systems Engineering. Beyond academics, midshipmen are graded on military leadership performance and mandatory athletic participation.
4 years
A flagship STEM major directly tied to the Navy's cyber-warfare mission, combining computer science, information assurance, cryptography, and cyber policy — one of the few undergraduate cyber majors at a service academy.
4 years
A signature program unique to the Naval Academy tradition, covering ship design, hydrodynamics, marine propulsion, and ocean engineering.
4 years
Prepares midshipmen for Navy and Marine Corps aviation pipelines, with curriculum in aerodynamics, propulsion, structures, and astronautics.
Where alumni go after graduation — top industries, grad-school continuation, and the qualitative outcomes story.
