How to Get Into the U.S. Naval Academy: Acceptance Rate & Strategies
October 31, 2025
With the motto 鈥淓x Scientia Tridens鈥 (鈥淭hrough Knowledge, Sea Power鈥), the United States Naval Academy sounds like an institution with a formidable history dating back to the days of the American Revolution and the Founding Fathers. Yet, the history of the USNA, sometimes referred to simply as 鈥淣avy,鈥 reveals humble beginnings, and, even as late as 1850, the school consisted of only 10 acres of land and 50 students (called midshipmen). In 1933, the Annapolis, Maryland-based institution began awarding bachelor鈥檚 degrees, developed a number of top engineering/STEM programs, and in 1976, became a coeducational institution 鈥攆inally shaping into the modern form of the Naval Academy that 16,000+ applicants line up for a chance to attend each year. Today, the Naval Academy acceptance rate is only 8%.
This current version of the US Naval Academy is a highly selective, prestigious four-year university that accepts just 8% of those who apply 鈥 a similar figure to Johns Hopkins, Cornell, Rice, and Northwestern. In addition to the fact that 92% of applicants are ultimately rejected, high school students seeking admittance into the USNA also need to understand that they face a different type of admissions maze than encountered by applicants to other uber-selective universities. To help guide you through the labyrinth, we will cover:
- The Naval Academy鈥檚 Class of 2027 acceptance rate (plus how to predict your chances with our free admissions calculator)
- SAT, GPA, and class rank of accepted Naval Academy applicants
- Admissions trends
- The Naval Academy鈥檚 unique nomination/application elements
- A look at the demographics of current Naval Academy undergraduates
- The percent of accepted students that attend the Naval Academy (yield rate)
- Tips for applying to the Naval Academy
- USNA Essay Advice聽
- How to assess whether applying to the Naval Academy worth the immense effort
United States Naval Academy – Admissions Calculator
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Let鈥檚 begin with an examination of the most recent admissions data.
US Naval Academy Acceptance Rate
Though the USNA is notoriously cagey about its acceptance rate, a look at the most recent data can give us some insight. For the Class of 2027, the USNA received 14,727 applications. Of those applications, 1,379 were offered appointment (accepted). This gives the USNA an admit rate of a little more than 9%. Though complete information hasn’t been released yet, the Class of 2029 received approximately the same number of applications. For context, let鈥檚 see how this acceptance rate compares to the (limited) data we have on previous admission cycles:
| Applicants | Admits | Acceptance Rate | |
| Class of 2029 | 16,077 | n/a | n/a |
| Class of 2028 | 15,146 | n/a | n/a |
| Class of 2027 | 14,727 | 1,379 | 9.3% |
| Class of 2026 | 15,146 | n/a | n/a |
| Class of 2025 | 12,927 | 1,374 | 10.6% |
SAT, ACT, and Class Rank of Accepted Naval Academy applicants
The mid-50% SAT range for entering members of the Class of 2027 was 610-700 for verbal and 610-710 for math. The ACT ranges were 26-31 (math) and 51-64 (English + reading). In a recent class, 54% finished in the top decile of their high school class, 80% were in the top quartile, and 96% placed in the top half.
Naval Academy Acceptance Rate – Admissions Trends & Notes
- For the Class of 2029, there were 4,88 female applicants compared to 11,190 men.
- The number of applicants has increased 9% over the past two years.
- The average SAT of a student enrolled in the Class of 2025 was 1310.
- Legacy students in the Class of 2029 included 38 sons and 27 daughters of USNA alumni. Seven students had mothers and fathers who were both alums.
- The 2027 class also comprised 59 former enlisted students, including 49 from the Nay and 10 from the Marine Corps.
Naval Academy Requirements
Those seeking admission to Stanford鈥檚 Computer Science program do not need to seek the formal endorsement of Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, or Google-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin. That would just be strange, right? Well, when applying to the Naval Academy all applicants must actually seek a formal 鈥渘omination鈥 from one of the following sources:
- A member of the U.S. Senate
- A member of the U.S. House of Representatives
- The President of the United States (for children of active duty, reserve, retired military parents only)
- The Vice-President of the United States
- Your ROTC/JROTC Unit
- Your Navy/Marine commander (for active service members)
- Through being a child of a deceased/disabled veteran
While getting more than one Congressional nomination will not benefit you, it behooves applicants to apply to both of their Senators as well as their local House of Representatives member as doing so will increase the overall odds of obtaining a singular nomination. Each House member and Senator can have five constituents attending the Naval Academy at any one time (which averages out to just over one per year).
Who Nominates USNA Applicants?
Of the 5,997 Class of 2027 applicants receiving nominations, 77% were nominated by members of Congress. An additional 9% received Presidential nominations, 8% by the Secretary of the Navy, and 5% through ROTC/JROTC programs. Only 2% were nominated as children of deceased/disabled veterans. What’s more, the Class of 2027 includes 305 students聽 (26%) from various prepartory programs.
When to apply for a Naval Academy nomination
While the Naval Academy doesn鈥檛 need your nomination paperwork until the 31st of January during your senior year, it is advisable to start the process of reaching out to your MOCs during 11th grade. The online Vice Presidential nomination application opens on March 1st and closes the following January 31st. All MOC nominating offices have their own deadlines. Some members of the HOR and the Senate have application deadlines in September of senior year while others have a later November deadline; most will allow you to submit your applications as early as the second-semester of your junior year.
Who actually gets into the Naval Academy?
Let鈥檚 look at the demographics of USNA Class of 2025, beginning with ethnicity:
- White: 76% (including those who identify as two or more races)
- Asian American: 17% (including those who identify as two or more races)
- Hispanic: 15%
- African American: 10% (including those who identify as two or more races)
Unsurprisingly, a look at the gender split of the Class of 2027 reveals that the USNA enrolls far more men than women:
- Men: 68%
- Women: 32%
The 2023-24 freshman class participated in the following extracurricular activities during high school:
- School Publication: 11%
- Boy/Girl Scouts: 14%
- Varsity Athletics: 90%
- Community Service: 72%
- Team Captain: 68%
- Musical Activities: 37%
- Work Experience: 42%
- Religious Group/Club: 32%
The United States Naval Academy鈥檚 鈥淵ield Rate鈥
Applying the concept of “yield rate” is difficult for the USNA. This is becasue the yield rate鈥攖he percentage of accepted students who elect to enroll鈥攃an’t really account for the nominating process required for the USNA. We can say that the for the Class of 2027, the percentage of students who received an appointment (Congressional or otherwise) who ultimately enrolled in the USNA was 85%. Unsurprisingly, this figure exceeds other high-yield institutions such as Harvard or MIT. In short, the students who want to go to the USNA really want to go to the USNA.
Tips for Applying to the Naval Academy 聽
If you plan on joining the 16,000+ USNA hopefuls for the next admissions cycle, you should know the following:
- According to the most recent data available (2021), the USNA considers nine factors “very important” in their selection process: rigor of your coursework, GPA, class rank, test scores, application essays, recommendations, interview, extracurricular activities, work experience, and an applicant鈥檚 level of demonstrated interest.
- Interviews are mandatory and a critical component of any application. Interviews are conducted with a Blue and Gold Officer in your home state. Students should contact their BGO immediately upon receiving their official candidate letter.
- Candidates should come to their admission interview armed with knowledge of the Naval Academy as an institution and prepared to talk about why they want to be a naval officer. The BGO will be assessing your level of interest, leadership potential, physical fitness, organizational ability, among other similar attributes. They will rate you from a scale of 鈥淭op 5%鈥 or 鈥淭op 25%鈥 through 鈥淏elow Average鈥 or 鈥淣ot Observed鈥.
- The Naval Academy does strongly consider 鈥demonstrated interest鈥 so you will be judged on whether or not you made a campus visit, contacted an admissions officer, etc.
- Begin the as early as April of your junior year.
- The USNA gives you an opportunity to apply for the after your junior year of high school. While not a required part of the application process, it is recommended. The deadline for submitting an application to the Summer Seminar is March 31.
- You will need to arrange for and pass a which can be administered by your gym teacher. This involves push-ups, a one-mile run, abdominal crunches, a 40-yard shuttle run, pull-ups, and (strangely) a kneeling basketball throw.
Essays
In a well-organized essay of a total of 300 to 500 words, please discuss both of the following:
(1) Describe what led to your initial interest in the naval service and how the Naval Academy will help you achieve your long-range goals, and
(2) Describe a personal experience you have had which you feel has contributed to your own character development and integrity.
One of the best ways to prepare for this essay is to reflect on why you are making this career/life choice and what being a naval officer means to you. It is best to speak with current and past service members, mentors, teachers, and your family as you develop these answers. The goal is not to be creative with your responses, but rather to leave an unmistakable impression that you are a mature and committed young man or woman, who understands the responsibility and sacrifice that lie ahead. The story you tell about character development and integrity should be 100% based in reality鈥攏o need for hyperbole or grandiosity.
For more advice on how to approach this essay, visit our blog entitled: USNA Essay Prompts and Tips.
Should I Apply to The Naval Academy?
There are good reasons for the long line of applicants all jockeying for a position inside of the Naval Academy. The USNA boasts an outstanding 8:1 student-to-faculty ratio and a collection of dedicated professors that are routinely voted among the most accessible of any institution in the country. There are 26 majors to choose from including nine with the word 鈥渆ngineering鈥 in the title. This works out well as the Naval Academy runs one of the premier undergraduate engineering programs in the United States.
Fitting for a college full of disciplined midshipmen, you won鈥檛 find a school with a more uniform outcome for graduates鈥攆ortunately, the results for degree-earners are all equally positive. The Naval Academy grads assume the title of either Ensign (Navy) or Second Lieutenant (U.S. Marines) and earn an average starting salary of over $75,000; the job placement rate is an unmatched 100%. Not bad for a school that doesn鈥檛 charge a dime for tuition or room and board (but you might have to go to war).
Of course, it goes without saying that since the US Naval Academy acceptance rate is only 8%, applicants need to also have a proper mix or 鈥渢arget鈥 and 鈥渟afety鈥 schools on their college list. More on creating a balanced college list can be found here.
Ready to start working on your applications? Consider checking out the following:
- Should You Start College Applications in the Summer?
- What is Demonstrated Interest?
- Do Colleges Look at Social Media?
- College Fair Advice for High School Students
- How to Complete the Common App Activities List
- Common App Essay Prompts
- 25 Inspiring College Essay Topic Ideas
