Cadets who graduate from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy earn a commission as an ensign in the Coast Guard.
The Coast Guard Academy predates the service itself. The academy first formed as the U.S. Revenue Cutter School of Instruction-Underway, setting sail from Baltimore in 1876 on a two-year training voyage aboard the topsail schooner James C. Dobbin.
The school later occupied the former Fort Trumbull in New London, Conn. The academy adopted its current name in 1915 when the U.S. Revenue Cutter Service merged with other federal maritime agencies to become the Coast Guard.
Today's 103-acre campus lies two miles up the Thames River from the original site. About 1,070 students attend the school, where more than half compete in varsity sports.
The academy's nine academic majors include four types of engineering degrees, one of which is naval architecture and marine engineering. Cadets' demanding, seven-week Swab Summer at the start of their freshman year includes a week aboard the three-masted cutter Eagle.
Students who are admitted receive free tuition, room, board, medical and dental care, and monthly base pay equal to about a third of that of an ensign in the Coast Guard, or $1,339.50 for calendar year 2024. Expenses come out of that, but the academy says cadets who "spend smart" can "graduate with savings."
In a typical class entering the Coast Guard Academy, about 19.9% of applicants receive offers of acceptance.
Led by Rear Adm. Michael J. Johnston, a 1990 graduate who began serving as the academy's superintendent in 2023, the Coast Guard Academy's mission is "to graduate young men and women with sound bodies, stout hearts, and alert minds, with a liking for the sea and its lore, and with that high sense of honor, loyalty, and obedience which goes with trained initiative and leadership; well-grounded in seamanship, the sciences, and amenities, and strong in the resolve to be worthy of the traditions of commissioned officers in the United States Coast Guard in the service of their country and humanity."
Getting into the Coast Guard Academy
To become a Coast Guard Academy cadet, a student must be at least 17 years old but not yet 23 by the last Monday in June of the year they would enter the school. For the most part, they must be U.S. citizens. The Coast Guard Academy may have up to 36 international students at a time. Candidates must be unmarried with no dependents or financial debt.
High school students must apply online to gain admission to the Coast Guard Academy. Unlike the other U.S. military service academies, the Coast Guard Academy doesn't require a nomination by a member of Congress, the U.S. vice president or a member of the military. Instead, students must provide, when they start their online application, the contact information of teachers who will submit recommendations (math and English teachers and a counselor) and the adult who will administer their physical fitness exam.
Applicants must submit their high school transcript and SAT or ACT scores, and they may be asked to take part in an interview "in order to learn more about your preparation, goals and interests."
The early-decision deadline is Oct. 15 in the fall before a student would enter the academy; and the regular admission deadline is Jan. 15, with additional time for certain supplemental information such as test scores. Students who receive an offer -- whether through early action (by Dec. 23) or regular admission (by April 1) -- have until May 1 to accept or decline.
Learn More: Overview of Military Education Benefits
Academic and Character Requirements
The Coast Guard Academy looks for cadets with "sound moral character," along with "an unwavering desire to serve their country and humanity," "well-rounded interests and experiences," "commitment to achieve one's full potential" and leadership skills.
The academy considers applicants' high school grades and "proven academic accomplishment, particularly in math and the sciences," along with their scores on standardized tests and participation in activities. While the Coast Guard Academy doesn't list a minimum required grade-point average, the median standardized test scores in a typical class are:
- ACT English: 31
- ACT math: 28
- SAT critical reading: 650
- SAT math: 660
In a typical class accepted to the Coast Guard Academy, 88% played varsity sports in high school; 54% were sports team captains; 16% were in band; 31% took part in the performing arts; 41% had a parent who served in the military; and 78% planned to pursue a technical major.
Physical and Medical Requirements
The Coast Guard Academy prioritizes physical fitness and athleticism in admissions and requires applicants to complete a physical fitness exam and a medical exam.
The academy will mail the instructions for an applicant's physical fitness exam (PFE) to the adult designated to administer it. The events and mean scores reported by the Class of 2027 after they took the PFE again after their Swab Summer:
- Cadence push-ups (women, 27; men, 41)
- Two-minute sit-ups (women, 75; men, 75)
- 1.5-mile run (women, 12:02; men, 10:37)
After submitting their application, students should be on the lookout for instructions on scheduling a medical exam with a Defense Department contractor to confirm that they meet the medical requirements. A medical waiver may be granted if a student has a disqualifying condition.
After Graduating from the Coast Guard Academy
Graduates of the Coast Guard Academy receive a bachelor of science degree and become ensigns in the Coast Guard.
Among new ensigns, 90% go straight to sea, either as deck watch officers, learning to navigate ships, or engineers in training, learning to maintain and operate ships' systems. Others go to flight school.
The majority of Coast Guard Academy alumni later go on to earn master's degrees in one of 41 fields, paid for by the Coast Guard in exchange for an additional service obligation while they continue to earn their officer's pay and benefits.
Coast Guard officers ultimately serve in either operations roles in the field or in support roles, delivering needed resources, and 85% elect to serve longer than their five-year commitment.
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