West Point, NY · Public · 4,408 undergraduates · town
United States Military Academy
Highly selective
West Point combines a bachelor’s degree with four years of military, physical, and leadership development leading directly to Army officership.
Institutional profile
Top tier Exceptional in affordability, and exceptional in career outcomes.Tuition, room, and board are fully funded and cadets receive a salary; admission carries a service commitment.
- Admission
- 14% admitted
- Price by income
- Varies across five income ranges
- Completion
- 85.9%
11,430 applicants in the reported year
Compare recent average annual costs by household income
The strongest comparable outcome available
What sets West Point apart
Academic design
Every cadet completes a broad academic core before specializing, while military science, physical education, leadership development, and summer training remain compulsory.
Admission process
Candidates need academic qualification, a nomination, the Candidate Fitness Assessment, DoDMERB medical qualification, recommendations, essays, and a completed academy candidate file.
Defining experience
Graduation leads to commissioning as an Army officer and a service obligation, making West Point a military career commitment rather than conventional college.
Can I get in?
14% admitted
Candidates need academic qualification, a nomination, the Candidate Fitness Assessment, DoDMERB medical qualification, recommendations, essays, and a completed academy candidate file.
Recent applicant pool
11,430About 14 in every 100 applicants were admitted.
Academic range
Of admitted students, 69% submitted an SAT, and 31% submitted an ACT. Decide by comparing your score with the published range and the rest of your academic record.
In the season card
Where your GPA sits in the entering class
The full entering-class GPA distribution for West Point, in nine bands from 4.0 down, with your own record marked on it.
See where I landIn the season card
What West Point weighs when it reads a file
See how this college describes the role of grades, testing, essays, recommendations, activities, and demonstrated interest.
- Course rigor
- GPA
- Test scores
- Essay
- Recommendations
- Extracurriculars
- Demonstrated interest
What moves the application
The evidence that separates a strong file
Clear the academic baseline
Every cadet completes a broad academic core before specializing, while military science, physical education, leadership development, and summer training remain compulsory.
Complete the specialized assessment
Candidates need academic qualification, a nomination, the Candidate Fitness Assessment, DoDMERB medical qualification, recommendations, essays, and a completed academy candidate file.
Plan the process early
Start nomination requests during junior year because congressional deadlines are separate from West Point’s application and can arrive considerably earlier.
How to apply
Rounds, route, and required materials
Start nomination requests during junior year because congressional deadlines are separate from West Point’s application and can arrive considerably earlier.
$0 application fee
Can I afford it?
Compare annual cost by household income.
Start with the average net price for your income range, then set that estimate beside your other realistic options.
The cadet education is fully federally funded; cadets receive pay and incur a service commitment.
In the season card
Average annual cost by household income at West Point
Compare recent average net prices across five federal income ranges and estimate a 4-year cost for yours.
- $0–30k
- $30–48k
- $48–75k
- $75–110k
- $110k+
Is it worth it?
Completion, debt, and earnings
Read completion, borrowing, field mix, and earnings together. For specialized training, compare those signals with the professional path you intend to follow.
Degree completion across the reported entering cohort
First-year students who return for year two
And what that comes to against what they earn.
Reported 10 years after enrollment
Academic portfolio
Largest bachelor’s fields
How many students finish in each field, and median earnings four years after completing the program.
International Relations and National Security Studies
Mechanical Engineering
Admits separately
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology
Non-Professional Legal Studies
Economics
What is campus life like?
West Point beyond the classroom
Cadets live within the Corps of Cadets under a structured daily military schedule combining formations, classes, athletics, training, duties, and inspections.
The academic structure
Every cadet completes a broad academic core before specializing, while military science, physical education, leadership development, and summer training remain compulsory.
The campus rhythm
Cadets live within the Corps of Cadets under a structured daily military schedule combining formations, classes, athletics, training, duties, and inspections.
What changes the experience
Graduation leads to commissioning as an Army officer and a service obligation, making West Point a military career commitment rather than conventional college.