16.2%Acceptance rate Calculated8,353 applicants · 1,356 admittedClass of 2026 · Admitted ÷ applicants in the Common Data Set (1,356 ÷ 8,353) · USAFA Common Data Set 2022–23
A service academy that trains future officers for the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force. "More than 4,000 cadets are enrolled"1.
History and location
The idea for the Academy was approved in 1954. After 21,000 miles of site visits, a commission picked Colorado Springs1.
Cost
"An Academy education is valued at more than $416,000, yet we offer it at no cost to our cadets"1. That includes room, board, and medical and dental care2.
Structure
All cadets together form the Cadet Wing: 40 squadrons of about 110 cadets, with 25 to 30 from each class3.
Class names
fourth class or "four-degree" (freshman), third class (sophomore), second class (junior), and first class or "firstie" (senior)45.
Values and Honor Code
Core values: "Integrity First. Service Before Self. Excellence in All We Do." The Honor Code: "We Will Not Lie, Steal or Cheat, Nor Tolerate Among Us Anyone Who Does"6.
"To forge leaders of character, motivated to a lifetime of service, and developed to lead our Air Force and Space Force as we fight and win our Nation's wars."1
"Our liberal education balances Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics with the humanities and social sciences"1. Graduates earn a Bachelor of Science degree1.
Majors listed on USAFA's Majors & Minors page
Aeronautical Engineering; Astronautical Engineering; Behavioral Sciences; Biology; Chemistry; Civil Engineering; Computer Science; Cyber Science; Data Science; Economics; Electrical and Computer Engineering; English; Foreign Area Studies; Geospatial Science; History; Legal Studies; Management; Mathematics; Mechanical Engineering; Meteorology; Military & Strategic Studies; Operations Research; Philosophy; Physics; Political Science; Systems Engineering. The page also lists four divisional majors: Basic Sciences, General Engineering, Humanities, and Social Sciences2. USAFA doesn't state a total count on that page, so we don't give one.
Minors
Options range from Arabic to Space Warfighting to Quantum Technologies2.
Declaring a major
"Cadets can declare a major from day one," but USAFA recommends waiting until later in fourth class year. Cadets "must declare a major by October of their third semester"2.
Physical education counts as academics
Cadets take 10 PE courses, at least 1.0 semester hour in each of the four years3.
"All cadets at the U.S. Air Force Academy are required to participate in the athletic program": PE, fitness tests every semester (the PFT and AFT), and intercollegiate or intramural sports1.
Conference
The Athletics page calls Air Force "the top program in the Mountain West for the third straight year"1. That's how USAFA identifies its conference. It doesn't list per-sport exceptions there.
Team counts: official pages differ
USAFA's site navigation mentions "30 different men and women's NCAA Division 1 intercollegiate teams, intramural and club sports." The Athletics page body says "27 different men's and women's Division I NCAA teams"1. The 30 may include more than varsity teams. Ask USAFA for the current varsity count.
Intramurals
"Over 3,000 cadets participate in the 10 different intramural programs"1.
Graduates commission as officers in the Air Force or Space Force1.
Commitment
"at least eight years after graduation, five of which must be active duty and the remainder can be served as inactive reserve." Graduates can ask to separate after five years1.
Pilots
Pilot training brings a longer commitment, currently "10 years after completion of training," under whatever policy is in effect when training starts1.
Leaving early
Fourth- and third-class cadets who leave are usually released from all military duty. Second-class cadets who leave on or after the first day of fall classes owe two years of active duty, and first-class cadets owe three. Cadets who finish academics but refuse a commission may be ordered to four years of enlisted service. Some may have to repay education costs1.
Career fields
"more than 35 different career fields" (AFSCs). "More than half of our graduates choose to pursue flight training"2.
one week, for current juniors heading into senior year1.
2027 application window
December 1, 2026, to January 15, 2027. No late applications1.
2027 sessions
A, June 1–5; B, June 7–11; C, June 14–18 ("subject to change")1.
Fee
$400 registration, covering lodging, meals, supplies, and seminar "uniforms." Families pay for travel. A limited number of scholarships may be available1.
Selection
You need a 3.0 or higher GPA. Test scores are optional. About 320 students attend each session, out of more than 3,000 applicants1. USAFA says the seminar is "NOT" a prerequisite for admission and "NOT" a preselection program1.
