United States Naval Academy
The United States Naval Academy, founded in 1845 on the Severn River in Annapolis, Maryland, is the undergraduate college that commissions officers for the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps. Admission is among the most selective in the country and unlike any civilian college: about 9% of applicants are offered an appointment, and every candidate must also secure a nomination — most often from a member of Congress — and pass a medical exam and the Candidate Fitness Assessment. The brigade of roughly 4,470 midshipmen lives together in Bancroft Hall, follows a STEM-heavy core curriculum, and earns a Bachelor of Science across 26 majors, with engineering the largest field at about 42% of degrees. As a federal service academy, the Navy fully funds tuition, room, board, and medical care and pays midshipmen a monthly stipend in exchange for at least five years of active-duty service after graduation.
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Naval Academy admissions statistics
Acceptance Rate
Total applicants, admitted students, and enrolled students for the most recent admission cycle.
Early Admissions
Naval Academy does not offer an Early Decision or Early Action plan; all applicants apply through Regular Decision.
Standardized Tests
Naval Academy requires standardized test scores for all applicants.
SAT Accepted?
ACT Accepted?
Test Optional?
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
Cost of Attendance
What it costs to attend Naval Academy — fully covered for every cadet.
As a U.S. service academy, United States Naval 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.
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Frequently asked questions about Naval Academy admissions
Is it hard to get into the Naval Academy?＋
Yes, very. The Naval Academy admitted about 8.8% of applicants in its most recent cycle, extending roughly 1,416 offers of appointment from 16,077 applications and inducting around 1,197 new midshipmen. Beyond the academic bar, admission is unlike a civilian college: every candidate must also secure a nomination and pass a medical exam and the Candidate Fitness Assessment.
Do you need a nomination to get into the Naval Academy?＋
Yes. In addition to being admitted, every candidate must secure a nomination, most often from a U.S. Representative, Senator, or the Vice President. This nomination requirement, paired with a required medical exam and the Candidate Fitness Assessment, is what makes the Academy's roughly 8.8% admission process different from a standard college application.
What is the Naval Academy's acceptance rate?＋
The Naval Academy admitted about 8.8% of applicants in its most recent cycle — roughly 1,416 offers of appointment from 16,077 applications, with about 1,197 candidates inducted as new midshipmen. Because every applicant must also obtain a nomination and meet medical and physical fitness standards, the effective path is even more selective than the headline rate.
What SAT or ACT score do you need for the Naval Academy?＋
The Naval Academy requires the SAT or ACT — it is not test-optional. Among recently enrolled midshipmen, the middle 50% scored between 1210 and 1410 on the SAT and 25 to 31 on the ACT, so scores in or above that range are competitive.
Is a 1400 SAT good enough for the Naval Academy?＋
A 1400 is competitive — it sits in the upper half of enrolled midshipmen, just below the 75th-percentile mark of 1410. The middle 50% of recently enrolled midshipmen scored 1210–1410 on the SAT (25–31 ACT). Keep in mind that scores are only one part of the file: a nomination, a medical exam, and the Candidate Fitness Assessment are all required too.
How much does the Naval Academy cost?＋
Nothing. As a federal service academy, the Naval Academy charges no tuition or fees — the U.S. Navy fully funds tuition, room, board, and medical care, and midshipmen receive a monthly stipend. In exchange, graduates serve at least five years as commissioned officers in the Navy or Marine Corps.
What are the most popular majors at the Naval Academy?＋
Engineering is by far the largest field at roughly 42% of degrees, reflecting the Academy's STEM-heavy core. Midshipmen choose from 26 majors, and every graduate earns a Bachelor of Science along with a commission as a Navy ensign or Marine Corps second lieutenant. The social sciences (about 20%) and the sciences (about 17%) are the next-largest areas.
What is the Naval Academy's graduation and retention rate?＋
The Naval Academy retains about 97% of first-year midshipmen and graduates roughly 93% within six years. With an 8:1 student-faculty ratio and all 4,474 midshipmen living on campus in Bancroft Hall, the brigade follows a structured, residential program from the first day through commissioning.
Source: United States Naval Academy Common Data Set 2023-2024. Figures transcribed 2026-06-08. Acceptance Rate is from the Class of 2029 edition. Esslo aggregates publicly reported data and is not affiliated with Naval Academy. Banner photo by Bnordlund, via Wikimedia Commons (CC0 1.0).