Federal service academy training Navy and Marine Corps officers since 1845 in Annapolis, Maryland.
The Naval Academy offers 23 majors across three schools: Engineering, Computing, and Weapons; Mathematics & Science; and Humanities & Social Sciences. The curriculum blends professional naval subjects with core requirements in engineering, natural sciences, humanities, and social sciences to develop critical thinking. All midshipmen complete mandatory core courses, practical military training, and an academic major of their choice. The academic program emphasizes leadership development alongside intellectual rigor, with faculty comprising 510 civilian and military instructors.
The 338-acre campus, known as "the Yard," is a National Historic Landmark featuring historic buildings, monuments, and memorials. All 4,400+ midshipmen live in Bancroft Hall, a massive dormitory complex organized into six battalions of six companies each. The Brigade participates in mandatory competitive athletics and over 70 extracurricular clubs. Student life emphasizes the Honor Concept, military discipline, and leadership responsibility, with daily schedules beginning at 5:30 a.m. and structured around academic, military, and athletic commitments.
Candidates must apply directly to the Academy and obtain a nomination, typically from a member of Congress. Approximately 1,200 plebes enter each summer after completing the rigorous seven-week Plebe Summer indoctrination program. All admitted students become midshipmen on active duty in the U.S. Navy and commit to at least five years of service upon graduation. The Academy also operates the Naval Academy Preparatory School in Newport, Rhode Island, for students requiring additional preparation.
Graduates commission as ensigns in the Navy or second lieutenants in the Marine Corps, with some cross-commissioned to other U.S. services or allied nations. The Naval Academy has some of the highest-paid graduates in the country according to starting salary. The institution maintains strong athletic programs competing in NCAA Division I and the Patriot League, with a storied football tradition dating to 1890.