United States Air Force Academy
The United States Air Force Academy, founded in 1954 and set against the Rampart Range just north of Colorado Springs, Colorado, is the undergraduate college that commissions officers for the U.S. Air Force and Space Force. Admission is highly selective and unlike any civilian college: about 16% of some 8,400 applicants are offered an appointment, and every candidate must also secure a nomination — usually from a member of Congress — and pass a medical exam and the Candidate Fitness Assessment. The roughly 4,100 cadets follow a STEM-heavy core curriculum anchored by engineering, the most popular field at about a third of degrees, and carry an average high school GPA near 3.80 with middle-50% SAT scores of 1320–1470. As a federal service academy, the Air Force fully funds tuition, room, board, and medical care and pays cadets a monthly stipend in exchange for at least five years of active-duty service after graduation.
See how Air Force Academy compares
Pick up to two rivals — or search any school.
Air Force Academy admissions statistics
Acceptance Rate
Total applicants, admitted students, and enrolled students for the most recent admission cycle.
Early Admissions
Air Force Academy does not offer an Early Decision or Early Action plan; all applicants apply through Regular Decision.
Standardized Tests
Air Force Academy requires standardized test scores for all applicants.
SAT Accepted?
ACT Accepted?
Test Optional?
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
Class Rank
Where Air Force Academy's enrolled first-years placed in their high school graduating class.
Based on the 62% of enrolled students who reported a class rank. Air Force Academy does not publish an average GPA.
Admissions Factors
How Air Force Academy weighs each part of your application.
Rigor of High School Record
Academic GPA
Standardized Test Scores
Application Essay
Recommendations
Extracurricular Activities
Character / Personal Qualities
Talent / Ability
First Generation
Level of Applicant's Interest
Class Rank
Volunteer Work
Work Experience
Geographical Residence
State Residency
Alumni Relation
Racial / Ethnic Status
Religious Affiliation
Cost of Attendance
What it costs to attend Air Force Academy — fully covered for every cadet.
As a U.S. service academy, United States Air Force Academy charges no tuition or fees. Tuition, food, housing, and medical care are fully funded by the federal government, and students receive a monthly salary in exchange for a military service commitment after graduation.
Major Distribution
Bachelor's degrees awarded in the past year by academic major.
Student Diversity
Racial and ethnic breakdown of enrolled undergraduate students.
Student-Faculty Ratio
The number of students for every one faculty member, indicating the average level of access students have to instructional staff.
Campus Life
On-campus housing and Greek life participation rates.
Enrollment by Gender
Since some students did not report gender, totals may not fully reflect the student body.
Writing your Air Force Academy application essay?
Esslo gives you line-by-line feedback on your Common App and supplemental essays — so your application stands out at Air Force Academy and beyond.
Frequently asked questions about Air Force Academy admissions
How hard is it to get into the Air Force Academy?＋
It is highly selective: the Air Force Academy admitted about 16.2% of applicants in its most recent reported cycle, offering roughly 1,360 appointments out of about 8,350 applications and enrolling around 1,060 new cadets. What makes it harder than the rate alone suggests is that admission isn't only academic — every candidate must also secure a nomination (usually from a member of Congress) and pass a medical exam and the Candidate Fitness Assessment.
What GPA do you need to get into the Air Force Academy?＋
Admitted cadets carry an average high school GPA of about 3.80. Class rank matters too: among the 62% of enrolled cadets who reported a rank, about 78% were in the top quarter and 47% in the top tenth of their graduating class. The Academy weighs the rigor of your course load and your academic GPA as very important factors.
Does the Air Force Academy require the SAT or ACT?＋
Yes — the Air Force Academy requires the SAT or ACT and is not test-optional. The middle 50% of enrolled cadets scored between 1320 and 1470 on the SAT and 28 to 33 on the ACT, so scores in or above that band keep you competitive.
Is a 1400 SAT good enough for the Air Force Academy?＋
A 1400 is solidly competitive — it sits at the median for enrolled cadets, whose middle 50% scored 1320 to 1470 on the SAT (28 to 33 ACT). About 51% of enrolled cadets scored 1400 or higher, so a 1400 puts you right in the heart of the range, though strong scores still need to be paired with a nomination and a passing fitness assessment.
Do you need a congressional nomination to get into the Air Force Academy?＋
Yes — beyond the application, nearly every candidate must obtain a nomination, most commonly from a U.S. Representative, a U.S. Senator, or the Vice President. The Academy treats geographical residence as a very important admission factor, and the nomination process is the distinctive extra step that replaces the early-decision and early-action rounds civilian colleges run.
Is the Air Force Academy free, and what do you owe after graduation?＋
Yes — the Air Force Academy charges no tuition or fees. As a federal service academy, the U.S. Air Force fully funds tuition, room, board, and medical care, and cadets receive a monthly stipend. In exchange, graduates commission as second lieutenants and serve at least five years of active duty in the U.S. Air Force or Space Force.
What are the most popular majors at the Air Force Academy?＋
Engineering is by far the largest field at roughly 33% of degrees, reflecting the Academy's STEM-heavy core, followed by the sciences (about 20%), the social sciences (16%), and business (14%). Every cadet earns a Bachelor of Science and commissions as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force or Space Force.
Does the application essay matter at the Air Force Academy?＋
Yes — the Air Force Academy rates the application essay as a very important factor in its review, the same top tier it gives to GPA, test scores, and character. With a 16.2% admit rate and so many candidates clearing the academic and fitness bars, a specific, well-revised essay is one of the clearest places to set yourself apart.
Source: United States Air Force Academy Common Data Set 2022-2023. Figures transcribed 2026-06-08. Esslo aggregates publicly reported data and is not affiliated with Air Force Academy. Banner photo by Anthony Quintano, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0).