Academies

The five federal service academies

Tuition-free four-year colleges whose graduates serve. Each one trains for a different calling, runs its own admissions and counts its numbers its own way.

USNA · Navy · Marines

U.S. Naval Academy

A four-year college on the Severn River. Graduates become Navy ensigns or Marine Corps second lieutenants.

Annapolis, Maryland · Nomination required

USMA · Army

U.S. Military Academy (West Point)

Founded in 1802 on the Hudson River. Graduates are commissioned as Army second lieutenants.

West Point, New York · Nomination required

USAFA · Air Force · Space Force

U.S. Air Force Academy

At the foot of the Rampart Range. Graduates are commissioned in the Air Force or Space Force.

Colorado Springs, Colorado · Nomination required

USCGA · Coast Guard

U.S. Coast Guard Academy

The only academy with no nomination step. Graduates are commissioned as Coast Guard ensigns.

New London, Connecticut · Nomination not required

USMMA · Maritime · Any service

U.S. Merchant Marine Academy

On Long Island Sound. Midshipmen spend a Sea Year aboard commercial ships before graduating.

Kings Point, New York · Nomination required (congressional only)

Photo credits

The Naval Academy and the Severn River from the air, October 2012. Photo: U.S. Navy (National Museum of the U.S. Navy) via Wikimedia Commons, Public domain (U.S. government work). · West Point and the Hudson River from the air, 2013. Photo: Joe Mabel (on Flickr as Joe Mabel from Seattle, US) via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0. · USAFA Cadet Chapel, August 2019. Photo: Anthony Quintano via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0. · Hamilton Hall at the Coast Guard Academy, July 2008. Photo: US Coast Guard Academy via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0. · USMMA campus, Kings Point, August 2022. Photo: AITFFan1 via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.