Deadline timeline
Key dates for each academy and for congressional nominations. Every entry shows the official page it came from and the date we checked it.
U.S. Naval Academy (USNA)
Official admissions site: usna.edu/Admissions/ · Nomination required.
- Junior year of high school — Preliminary application can start
“You can begin the application process as early as your Junior year in high school and we encourage the earlier the better!”
Source: usna.edu/Admissions/Apply/index.php · checked - Immediately after completing the preliminary application — Request nominations
“It is recommended that you submit your letter of application for nominations immediately after you complete your preliminary application.”
Source: usna.edu/Admissions/Apply/index.php · checked - After March 1 of the year before entry – January 31 of the entry year — Vice Presidential nomination window
“Apply after 1 March of the year preceding entry into the Naval Academy. Application deadline is 31 January of the year entering the Naval Academy.”
Source: usna.edu/Admissions/Apply/Vice-President-of-the-US.php · checked - After December 31 — No new applications accepted (Class of 2031)
“After December 31, new applications to the Class of 2031 will not be accepted.”
Source: usna.edu/Admissions/Apply/index.php · checked - January 31, 2027 — Application must be complete; last ACT/SAT test date accepted
“Applications must be completed by January 31, 2027 or will not be considered for admittance. ... We will accept any ACT or SAT test that is taken before January 31, even if the results are received by USNA afterward.”
Source: usna.edu/Admissions/Apply/index.php · checked - By April 15 — Most candidates notified of final status
“Most candidates will be notified of their final status by April 15.”
Source: usna.edu/Admissions/Apply/index.php · checked - By May 1 — Appointees accept or decline
“All appointees should notify the Admissions Office of their intention to accept or decline their offer of appointment by May 1.”
Source: usna.edu/Admissions/Apply/index.php · checked - TBD – verify TBD – verify — Summer Seminar 2027 application opening
“Application opens TBD”
The NASS page lists 2027 session dates but says the application opening date is TBD.
Source: usna.edu/Admissions/Programs/NASS.php · checked
U.S. Military Academy (West Point) (USMA)
Official admissions site: westpoint.edu/admissions · Nomination required.
- February 15 of junior year — Application and Summer Leaders Experience (SLE) open
“Junior Year — Feb 15: Application & SLE open”
Source: westpoint.edu/admissions/steps-to-admission · checked - April 15, 2027 (apply Feb 15 – Apr 15 of junior year) — Summer Leaders Experience (SLE) 2027 application deadline
“The SLE application deadline for summer 2027 is April 15, 2027 ... High school juniors should apply between 15 February and 15 April of their junior year.”
Source: westpoint.edu/admissions/summer-program · checked - Spring of junior year — Research nomination deadlines; begin fitness (CFA) training
“Spring: Begin CFA training. Spring: Research nomination deadlines”
Source: westpoint.edu/admissions/steps-to-admission · checked - After July 1 (summer before senior year) — Medical exam process can begin
“Begin medical exam process (after July 1)”
Source: westpoint.edu/admissions/steps-to-admission · checked - Fall of senior year — Apply for nominations; take the CFA
“Senior Year — Fall: Apply for nominations. Fall: Take CFA”
Source: westpoint.edu/admissions/steps-to-admission · checked - January 31 of senior year — Candidate Checklist deadline and official test scores due
“Deadline: Jan. 31 of senior year ... Official scores due by Jan. 31 of senior year”
Source: westpoint.edu/admissions/steps-to-admission · checked - TBD – verify TBD – verify — Offer / notification dates
Not stated on the Steps to Admission page. The linked 'full admissions timeline' URL tried returned 404 on the retrieved date.
Source: westpoint.edu/admissions/steps-to-admission · checked
U.S. Air Force Academy (USAFA)
Official admissions site: usafa.edu/admissions/ · Nomination required.
- March 1 of junior year — Pre-Candidate Questionnaire (PCQ) opens
“The Pre-candidate Questionnaire (PCQ) opens March 1 of a student’s junior year.”
Source: usafa.edu/admissions/student-applicant/grades-11-12/ · checked - No earlier than July 1 — Candidate phase begins; checklist opens with your own rolling deadline
“No earlier than July 1, the full application becomes accessible once the Pre-Candidate Questionnaire is completed and candidate status is granted. ... The Academy uses rolling deadlines, meaning each applicant has their own…”
Source: usafa.edu/admissions/student-applicant/grades-11-12/ · checked - By early December — Take ACT / CLT / SAT
“College Admissions tests (ACT, CLT, SAT) must be taken by early December for results to arrive at the Admissions Office by mid-February for current applicants. ... Tests taken in March will not be considered.”
Source: usafa.edu/admissions/student-applicant/grades-11-12/ · checked - Dec. 1, 2026 – Jan. 15, 2027 — Summer Seminar 2027 application window
“Applications for Summer Seminar 2027 will open Dec. 1, 2026, and close Jan. 15, 2027.”
Source: usafa.edu/admissions/summer-seminar/ · checked - December 31 of senior year — PCQ deadline
“The deadline to submit a PCQ is December 31 of the student’s senior year, but we recommend submitting much earlier.”
Source: usafa.edu/admissions/student-applicant/grades-11-12/ · checked - January 31 — Military-affiliated nomination paperwork / VP nomination request due
“The deadline for receiving this information is Jan. 31”
Source: usafa.edu/admissions/commitment/nominations/ · checked - February – April — Application review; most appointments offered
“February-April: Applications are reviewed and the majority of appointments are offered during this time.”
Source: usafa.edu/admissions/student-applicant/grades-11-12/ · checked - By April 21 — Most candidates know admissions status
“Most candidates who completed an application will know their admissions status by April 21.”
Source: usafa.edu/admissions/student-applicant/grades-11-12/ · checked
U.S. Coast Guard Academy (USCGA)
Official admissions site: uscga.edu/admissions/ · No congressional nomination required.
“Unlike the other federal service academies, the Coast Guard Academy does not require a Congressional nomination.” (uscga.edu/admissions/admission-requirements/)
- July 15 — Class application opens
“July 15 – Class Application Opens”
Source: uscga.edu/admissions/apply/ · checked - July 13 — DoDMERB medical process begins for next incoming class
“July 13 – DoDMERB Medical process begins for next incoming class”
Source: uscga.edu/admissions/apply/ · checked - October 15 — Early Action deadline
“October 15 – Early Action deadline”
Source: uscga.edu/admissions/apply/ · checked - By December 23 — Early Action decisions released
“By December 23 – Early Action decisions released”
Source: uscga.edu/admissions/apply/ · checked - January 15 — Regular Admission deadline
“January 15 – Regular Admission deadline”
Source: uscga.edu/admissions/apply/ · checked - February 15 — Medical exams complete (Early Action candidates)
“February 15 – Medical Examinations must be completed for Early Action Candidates”
Source: uscga.edu/admissions/apply/ · checked - By April 1 — Regular Admission decisions; medical exams complete (Regular candidates)
“By April 1 – Regular Admission decisions released ... April 1 – Medical Examinations must be complete for Regular Admission Candidates”
Source: uscga.edu/admissions/apply/ · checked - May 1 — Appointment acceptance; medical qualification / waiver approval deadline
“May 1 – Appointment acceptance deadline ... May 1 – Medical Qualification/Waiver Approval deadline”
Source: uscga.edu/admissions/apply/ · checked - June 1 — Enrollment paperwork due
“June 1 – Enrollment paperwork due”
Source: uscga.edu/admissions/apply/ · checked - April 1 of junior year (opens early February) — AIM summer program application closes
“EARLY FEBRUARY: AIM Application Opens ... 01 APR: AIM Application Closes ... 01 MAY: Selection Decisions Released”
Source: uscga.edu/admissions/aim/ · checked
U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA)
Official admissions site: usmma.edu/admissions · Nomination required.
USMMA accepts nominations from your U.S. Senators or any U.S. Representative from your state. Per USMMA: “USMMA does not accept Vice Presidential or military service-connected nominations.”
- May 1, 2026 — Applications for the Class of 2031 open
“Applications for the Class of 2031 open on May 1, 2026”
Source: usmma.edu/admissions/8-steps-admission · checked - January 31 — Nomination must be received by USMMA
“Deadline: USMMA must receive your nomination by January 31st. If it is not received by this date, your application will be closed.”
Source: usmma.edu/admissions/8-steps-admission · checked - February 1 — Final application deadline (incl. transcript through 11th grade + 12th-grade mid-year report)
“... before the February 1st final deadline. ... A transcript through 11th grade AND a mid-year grade report for 12th grade are required by the February 1st deadline.”
Source: usmma.edu/admissions/8-steps-admission · checked - February test date of your entry year — Last accepted SAT/ACT test date
“results are accepted up to the February test date of your entry year.”
Source: usmma.edu/admissions/8-steps-admission · checked - TBD – verify TBD – verify — Offer / notification dates
Not stated on the 8 Steps page.
Source: usmma.edu/admissions/8-steps-admission · checked
General congressional nomination timeline
Applies to USNA, West Point, USAFA and USMMA. Each Senator's and Representative's office sets its own deadline — check each one. Find your nomination sources.
- Spring of junior year — Start researching your nominating offices
“Spring: Research nomination deadlines”
Source: westpoint.edu/admissions/steps-to-admission · checked - Spring or summer before senior year — Contact congressional offices
“Most congressional offices prefer you to contact them in the spring or summer of the year before you desire to enter the Academy.”
Source: usafa.edu/admissions/commitment/nominations/ · checked - As early as September 1 — Early office deadlines
“Many offices have deadlines as early as Sept. 1”
Source: usafa.edu/admissions/commitment/nominations/ · checked - After October — Most offices stop accepting requests
“While some offices will accept requests through the fall, most do not accept requests for nominations after October.”
Source: usafa.edu/admissions/commitment/nominations/ · checked - Early to mid-January — Nomination notifications often arrive
“Many nomination notifications do not go out until early to mid-January”
Source: usna.edu/Admissions/Apply/index.php · checked - January 31 — Vice Presidential nomination request (USAFA)
“deadline for requesting a nomination in the Vice Presidential category is Jan. 31”
Source: usafa.edu/admissions/commitment/nominations/ · checked - TBD – verify with each office TBD – verify — Your specific Senators' and Representative's deadlines
“Each office has different application procedures and deadlines so be sure to follow their online process.”
Office-level deadlines will come from the Nomination Data Keeper dataset.
Source: usafa.edu/admissions/commitment/nominations/ · checked