Directory Information

Full name	United States Military Academy
Commonly known as	West Point — USMA
Location	West Point, New York, United States — on the Hudson River
Official address	606 Thayer Rd, West Point, NY 10996
Admissions phone	845-938-4041
Official website	westpoint.edu
Founded	16 March 1802
Branch of service	United States Army
Motto	“Duty, Honor, Country”
Cadet strength	Approximately 4,400 cadets
Campus size	Approximately 16,000 acres

About the Academy

Established by an act of Congress on 16 March 1802, the United States Military Academy is the nation’s first military academy and one of the most storied institutions of higher education in the world. Its granite buildings stand on a plateau above a sharp bend in the Hudson River — ground fortified during the Revolutionary War — and the campus remains an active Army installation as well as a college.

West Point’s mission is to build, educate, train and inspire the Corps of Cadets to become commissioned leaders of character, committed to the values of the United States Army and ready for a lifetime of service. Cadets — as the students are known — follow a demanding daily routine that weaves together rigorous academics, military training, competitive athletics and deliberate character development. The result is a graduate who earns a Bachelor of Science degree and a commission as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army.

Life at the academy is structured around four years of increasing responsibility. New cadets arrive in summer for Cadet Basic Training, universally known as “Beast Barracks”, before the academic year begins. Each subsequent year brings greater leadership duties, summer military training and, for seniors, command of cadet units. The academy’s honour code — “A cadet will not lie, cheat, steal, or tolerate those who do” — underpins every aspect of cadet life.

What It Offers: Majors and Programmes

West Point offers 36 academic majors spanning engineering, the natural sciences, mathematics, the humanities, the social sciences and foreign languages. Every cadet, regardless of major, earns a Bachelor of Science degree — a reflection of the academy’s conviction that every Army officer needs a firm grounding in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

The core curriculum is deliberately broad: all cadets study mathematics, chemistry, physics, engineering, computer science, history, English composition and literature, philosophy, law, economics and at least two years of a foreign language. On top of this foundation, cadets pursue their chosen major in depth, and many undertake independent research alongside faculty. Popular fields include systems engineering, mechanical engineering, computer science, international affairs, economics and English.

Military education runs in parallel with academics. Cadets complete field training each summer — from basic soldier skills as new cadets to leading training as seniors — and study military science, tactics and leadership throughout the year. Physically, every cadet must pass the Army Combat Fitness Test and compete in sport: West Point fields NCAA Division I teams, the Army Black Knights, alongside extensive club and intramural programmes, so fitness is a way of life rather than a box to tick.

Admission Requirements

Admission to West Point is deliberately demanding, and the academy assesses each candidate as a “whole person”: academics count for 55%, leadership and character for 30% and physical fitness for 15% of the evaluation. The basic eligibility conditions are:

• Citizenship: you must be a United States citizen.
• Age: you must be at least 17 but not yet 23 on 1 July of the year you would enter.
• Marital status: you must be unmarried and have no legal obligation to support children.

Academics. The academy looks for a strong school record, particularly in mathematics, science and English. Applicants should have studied mathematics through trigonometry or pre-calculus at a minimum, together with physics, chemistry and a solid English programme. Standardised test scores are required — the SAT, ACT or CLT — and the academy superscores, taking your best section results across sittings. Official scores must reach West Point by 31 January of your senior year.

Fitness. Every candidate must pass the Candidate Fitness Assessment (CFA), a six-event test: the basketball throw, pull-ups (or the flexed-arm hang for female candidates), the shuttle run, modified sit-ups, push-ups and the one-mile run. Start training early — the CFA rewards consistent preparation, not last-minute effort.

Medical. Candidates must meet the medical standards for a commissioning programme, assessed through the Department of Defense Medical Examination Review Board (DoDMERB). The examination is arranged by the academy and costs the candidate nothing.

How to Apply: Step by Step

The application process is thorough and takes the better part of a year, so begin early. The academy sets out the journey in seven steps:

1. Start your application. The online application opens on 15 February of your junior year of high school. Create your candidate account at westpoint.edu and begin.
2. Sit your standardised tests. Take the SAT, ACT or CLT and have your official scores sent to West Point. Because scores are superscored, there is no penalty for sitting a test more than once.
3. Complete the candidate checklist. School transcripts, teacher evaluations, essays and supporting documents must all be submitted by 31 January of your senior year.
4. Secure a nomination. Almost every candidate needs a nomination, most commonly from a Member of Congress: both of your United States Senators, your House Representative and the Vice President may each nominate up to 15 candidates per vacancy. Service-connected nominations are also available for serving soldiers, ROTC cadets and children of career military personnel. Apply to every nominating source for which you are eligible.
5. Pass the Candidate Fitness Assessment. Arrange to take the six-event CFA with a qualified administrator and submit your scores.
6. Complete the medical examination. DoDMERB will schedule your medical and vision examinations once your file is sufficiently complete.
7. Monitor your candidate portal. Check your portal regularly for outstanding items and updates — offers of admission are made on a rolling basis through the spring.

Tuition and Costs

Cadets also receive a monthly stipend to cover the cost of uniforms, books, a personal computer and everyday expenses, so a determined candidate need not come from a wealthy family to thrive. The real price of a West Point education is paid in effort: the academic, military and physical demands are unrelenting, and that is entirely by design.

Service Commitment After Graduation

Every graduate is commissioned as a second lieutenant in the United States Army and owes a minimum of five years of active-duty service. The commitment is formalised at the start of the junior year, when cadets take the oath of allegiance — the point at which leaving the academy would carry a service or repayment obligation.

In practice, most graduates serve well beyond the minimum, building careers across the Army’s branches — infantry, armour, aviation, engineering, cyber, military intelligence and many more. Those selected for aviation or other specialist training typically incur longer obligations reflecting the cost of that training. Whatever path they choose, West Point graduates enter the Army ready to lead soldiers from their first day.

Famous Graduates

West Point’s alumni — the “Long Gray Line” — include some of the most recognisable names in American history:

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to attend West Point?

Nothing in tuition, room, board, medical or dental charges — the federal government funds the entire education. Cadets receive a monthly stipend for uniforms, books and personal expenses, and in return owe at least five years of active-duty Army service after graduation.

Do I need a nomination from Congress to apply?

Almost certainly, yes. Most candidates secure a nomination from one of their two US Senators, their House Representative or the Vice President, each of whom may nominate up to 15 candidates per vacancy. Service-connected nominations exist for serving soldiers, ROTC cadets and children of career military personnel. Apply to every source for which you are eligible.

Can I apply if I am married or have children?

No. Candidates must be unmarried and have no legal obligation to support children, and cadets may not marry while enrolled. This is a statutory requirement, not a matter of academy policy.

What is the Candidate Fitness Assessment?

The CFA is a six-event physical test: the basketball throw, pull-ups (or the flexed-arm hang for female candidates), the shuttle run, modified sit-ups, push-ups and the one-mile run. It counts for 15% of the whole-person evaluation, so train for it seriously and take it when you are well prepared.

When should I start my application?

The application opens on 15 February of your junior year of high school, and the full candidate checklist is due by 31 January of your senior year. Begin early: securing a congressional nomination and completing the medical examination both take months.

What happens after graduation?

You graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree and a commission as a second lieutenant in the US Army, then serve a minimum of five years on active duty. The commitment formally begins with the oath at the start of your junior year.