United States Service Academies: Is One in Your Future?

The following United States Service Academies are all public institutions aimed at providing undergraduate education and training for students wishing to become commissioned officers in one of the branches of the military.

Pursuing a career as an officer in the military can be a very rewarding yet challenging path. There are ample benefits to a career in the military, but there are also drawbacks to the lifestyle that you should consider. The following United States Service Academies are all public institutions aimed at providing undergraduate education and training for students wishing to become commissioned officers in one of the branches of the military. These prestigious institutions have extremely competitive acceptance rates and have a reputation of providing a top-notch education for those enrolled. They also have some great benefits, such as tuition, room, and board fully funded by the military branch in exchange for active duty service after graduation. In many cases, students also receive a stipend for uniforms, books, and supplies. If you are interested in pursuing a degree through one of these academies and serving in the military after graduation, give serious consideration to the following.

US Military Academy

Commonly referred to as West Point, the United States Military Academy was founded in 1802 and is located in West Point, New York. The Academy educates and trains cadets for careers as officers in the Army. The Academy adopted co-education in 1976 but is still predominately male with about 15% of the total enrollment being female. Rules and regulations placed on students are generally stricter than other public colleges and universities, such as required uniforms, mandatory class attendance, and additional duties and responsibilities. Academically, the Academy offers of a variety of majors that all result in a Bachelor of Science degree. The Academy has a competitive athletic program with NCAA Division I football and a thriving rivalry with the Navy football team. Famous alumni include Robert E. Lee and Dwight D. Eisenhower. 

Related: Top Careers for Students Who Want to Make a Difference

US Naval Academy

Commonly referred to as Annapolis, the United States Naval Academy was founded in 1845 and is located in Annapolis, Maryland. The Academy trains men and women to be officers in the Navy, and students are referred to as Midshipmen during their training. Additionally, the Naval Academy adopted co-education in 1976 but remains approximately 80% male. There are a number of majors to choose from all resulting in a Bachelor of Science degree. Regulations require Midshipmen to attend classes, military formations, and meals daily and all students are required to live in dormitories regardless of their year of study. There are numerous clubs and organizations available to students as well as NCAA Division I athletics in many sports. Notable alumni include Jimmy Carter and John McCain.

US Air Force Academy

The United States Air Force Academy was founded in 1954 and is located in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The goal of the Academy is to train and educate men and women to be commissioned as second lieutenants in the Air Force. The Academy is the newest of the five United States Service Academies and adopted co-education in 1976 but currently has about 78% male enrollment. Cadets earn a Bachelor of Science degree in one of a variety of majors and are additionally trained in military discipline and physical fitness. A number of bands, teams, and clubs are available to students along with NCAA Division I athletics. Notable alumni include Frederick D. Gregory, former astronaut, and Chesley Sullenberger, the captain who safely landed Flight 1549 on the Hudson River in 2009 in what became known as the “Miracle on the Hudson.”

Related: All About ROTC: How to Know if It's Right for You

Admission to these Academies requires the student to be nominated by a government official, undergo a medical exam and fitness test, and meet the academic and age requirements. Serious consideration of these requires advanced planning and confidence that a career in the military is the right choice for you. The acceptance rates for these Academies range between 7%–10%; therefore, students submitting applications should be prepared to have alternative options for college.

There are numerous options for students wishing to pursue military careers. If one of these is out of reach, check out our list of military colleges to find one that can help you achieve your service and academic goals.

Like what you’re reading?

Join the CollegeXpress community! Create a free account and we’ll notify you about new articles, scholarship deadlines, and more.

Join Now

Tags:
college search military military academies military colleges military service

About Kristen Healy

Kristen Healy

Kristen Healy is a former Assistant Editor at Carnegie, the higher education marketing agency behind CollegeXpress. She graduated in 2010 from the University of Massachusetts Amherst with a double major in Journalism and Communication and a minor in Political Science. Her college career was spent writing for the news section of UMass’s Daily Collegian, volunteering at the university television studio, and enjoying the sites and activities of downtown Amherst. Kristen loves to travel and spent part of her junior year studying abroad in Galway, Ireland, where she gained perspective on what it's like to attend a large university in another country. She hopes her experiences in public higher education will help guide readers through their own college journeys!

 

Join our community of
over 5 million students!

CollegeXpress has everything you need to simplify your college search, get connected to schools, and find your perfect fit.

Join CollegeXpress
Maliha

Maliha

High School Class of 2019

My college search began at CollegeXpress. Due to this helpful tool, I was able to gather a lot of information to guide my college planning decisions. Through CollegeXpress, I was also able to apply to several scholarships to help pay for my tuition. I would definitely recommend this website to anyone who wants to explore colleges and get more information from admission experts, counselors, and real students.

Maya Ingraham

Maya Ingraham

October 2021 Mini Scholarship Winner, Class of 2022

CollegeXpress has given me more confidence in my college process. With easy-to-access resources and guidance such as the CX Weekly Roundup, I have been able to find the best colleges for me. Most importantly, there’s a surplus of scholarship opportunities for every student to support their education.

Ida Akoto-Wiafe

Ida Akoto-Wiafe

High School Class of 2022

I wanted a school that wasn't too far away from home and could provide me with a full-ride scholarship. CollegeXpress helped me put into perspective the money I had to pay to attend those schools, which ultimately drove me to choose to attend a community college first to get used to being in college before transferring to the University of Michigan–Ann Arbor, one of the colleges I was able to research further on CollegeXpress.

Hannah Nelsen

Hannah Nelsen

High School Class of 2022

CollegeXpress has helped me look at colleges that fit my interests by taking my profile and matching it to colleges that have the programs I'm looking for. It has the ability to connect me to colleges so I can be contacted by them and look at them more in-depth to find what's right for me. Additionally, the scholarship database is super beneficial for getting scholarships for college. Not only does it help lift the financial burden of college but it shows all the opportunities available. Overall, CollegeXpress has been very helpful to me.

Lorena Bacallao

Lorena Bacallao

High School Class of 2022

CollegeXpress was the foundation of my college search process. Because of CollegeXpress, I was able to make a more informed and confident decision as to where it was best to pursue my higher education. I have recommended this website to fellow peers and for first-generation students like me. It’s a website I will continue to promote because of how simple it was to use and how many opportunities were offered to me at my fingertips!

College Matches
X

Colleges You May Be Interested In

Oakland University

Rochester, MI

University of Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh, PA