In support of the U.S. Naval Academy’s mission of producing morally, mentally and physically exceptional leaders, the USNA Office of Admissions undertakes a variety of annual marketing, educational and outreach initiatives. These efforts aim to engage high school students, their families, guidance counselors, community leaders, congressional offices, volunteers and more. Complementing the annual summer admissions events, these programs maintain a steady flow of promising applicants, particularly those with an interest in STEM disciplines. Admissions Excellence supports the strategic initiatives and outreach efforts of Naval Academy Admissions.
ADMISSIONS EXCELLENCE YOUR IMPACT
15,149 applications for the Class of 2028, marking a 2.87% increase from the previous year
91% of the Class of 2028 participated in varsity athletics
6,821 students, parents and educators participated virtually in the Office of Admissions virtual outreach efforts
CLASS OF 2028
The admission cycle for the Class of 2028 reflected renewed interest in attending USNA among students nationwide. Overall, the Office of Admissions received 15,149 applications for admission, which included a 2.87% increase in applicants overall. Nearly 32% of all applicants were female and 43% were students representing diverse backgrounds. The Class of 2028 was inducted on 27 June 2024 and included 1,183 students from every state, District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands as well as 17 international students from 14 countries. The class included 371 female students and 509 students from diverse backgrounds. The class included 39 sons and 27 daughters of alumni. Prior enlisted service members included 50 sailors and nine Marines. Of the enlisted personnel admitted, 46 were admitted through the Naval Academy Preparatory School (NAPS) and seven admitted through Nuclear Power School. The class included 378 students who entered the Naval Academy after at least one year of college or a preparatory program including 208 students from NAPS, 42 from the Naval Academy Foundation or civilian preparatory programs and 128 who completed at least one semester of college or a post-high school preparatory program.
ADMISSIONS EXCELLENCE
The U.S. Naval Academy remains one of the nation’s most selective undergraduate institutions, seeking well-rounded individuals who excel academically and demonstrate leadership in various extracurricular activities and athletics. Over the past decade the Academy’s “yield”—a comparison of offers of appointment to the number of candidates who reported on Induction Day—has been remarkably high with an acceptance rate of 84.3%.
The Class of 2028 exemplifies this tradition of excellence. Nearly 91% participated in varsity athletics, with 54% serving as student body leaders, 58% as sports team captains and 29% as tutors or mentors. Additionally, more than 75% of admitted students showcased a strong commitment to community service, 40% participated in religious groups, 17% were involved in military organizations such as JROTC, Sea Cadets or Young Marines, 24% engaged in musical activities, 41% had more than nine hours of work experience and 10% were active in Boys/Girls Scouts.
Notably, the Class of 2028 also includes 14% first generation Americans, 10% first in their family to attend college, 8% from homes where English is not the primary language and 14% who overcame significant hardships or adversity during their upbringing.
SUMMER PROGRAMS
SUMMER STEM CAMP
This year, the size of the summer STEM program was increased to provide greater opportunity for rising 9th to 11th graders to attend the program. 983 students attended the 2024 Summer STEM Program at the U.S. Naval Academy. Reflecting a 17% increase in applications from last year, attendees were selected from a pool of 4,267 students who applied from 49 of 50 states in the nation, District of Columbia, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands and Puerto Rico. Of the students who attended, 97 were awarded scholarships due to the generous philanthropy of USNA classes, chapters and individuals. The STEM curriculum provided attendees with exposure to world-class laboratories, authentic learning experiences presented at a collegiate level and hands-on interactions with real world applications. Most important, STEM attendees resided in Bancroft Hall, had first hand exposure to all the facilities at USNA, received information concerning preparation for college and admission to USNA and were mentored by 144 current midshipmen. This year, 22 faculty and staff and 43 midshipmen led the instructional phase of the STEM program. Subjects included robotics, machine learning, bioterrorism, applied mathematics, operations research, chemistry, aviation and aerospace, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering and electronics, computer programming, cybersecurity, operations research, oceanography, weather and climate and aquaculture engineering.
SUMMER SEMINAR PROGRAM
This year’s Summer Seminar was deemed highly successful. With 6,221 applicants from every state and territory in the nation, 2,351 students attended this important week-long program. Summer Seminar was designed to give rising high school seniors a glimpse into the day-to-day lifestyle of a midshipman through five days of physical challenges, academic modules and camaraderie-building experiences. Of the attendees, 192 received scholarships on behalf of USNA classes, chapters and individual alumni. The cornerstone of the Summer Seminar program is that it is also a developmental and leadership experience for midshipmen. This year 234 midshipmen planned, executed and led the program. Summer Seminar also has a strong academic focus, with students attending workshops which include: information technology, naval architecture, mechanical engineering, ocean engineering, aerospace flight testing, systems engineering, microcomputer design, seamanship and navigation, oceanography, mathematics, history, meteorology, literature, chemistry, political science, language studies, economics, martial arts, Yard patrol craft (YP) cruise and ethics and character development. The great value of Summer Seminar is the impact it makes on students who attend. More than two-thirds of Summer Seminar attendees go on to complete an application for the incoming class and continue to reapply if they are not admitted on their first attempt.
ADMISSIONS INITIATIVES
Along with Summer Programs, several key highlights from the Naval Academy Admissions initiatives for the 2023-2024 year are outlined below.
STRATEGIC OUTREACH
The Office of Admissions employs a wide range of strategies to identify and connect with promising potential midshipmen nationwide. Over the past year the Office of Admissions conducted extensive outreach efforts, with continued success in utilizing a flexible and dynamic approach to communications. The strategic focus remains on enhancing in-person outreach, while expanding and integrating virtual and electronic media into all operations. These initiatives included expansion of our social media presence, upgrading virtual Yard tours, search engine marketing, texting, integrating smartphone technology and utilizing a marketing consultant specialized in internet and electronic outreach. Complimenting these advancements are the staff and Blue & Gold Officers (BGOs) who actively represent USNA nationwide through direct relationships with school officials, community leaders and influencers. Admissions counselors and BGOs participated in national college fairs, outreach programs and events designed to promote interest and awareness among potential applicants.
CANDIDATE VISIT WEEKEND
The Office of Admissions successfully hosted eight Candidate Visit Weekend (CVW) programs, drawing a total of 1,624 candidates. Competitive high school juniors and seniors were invited to experience the Academy through a program running from Thursday evening to Saturday morning, which included staying with a current midshipman and attending classes. This year, the Candidate Fitness Assessment (CFA) was administered to 683 candidates, and scholarships were offered to students needing assistance with travel to and from USNA, made possible by generous philanthropic support. The continued execution and refinement of this program yielded impressive results, with 86% of attendees indicating that it is a crucial factor in their decision to attend USNA.
CENTERS OF INFLUENCE
The Office of Admissions hosted a Centers of Influence (COI) program with 148 administrators, college admissions counselors, educators and community leaders from around the nation participating in a one-day, in-person, comprehensive seminar involving exposure to the Academy’s leadership and midshipmen, including how they live, study and train to be future leaders upon graduation. This program is invite-only and meant to engage candidate influencers from underrepresented areas and underserved groups across the nation. It is funded solely through the generous support of private philanthropy provided by USNA classes and individual donors
CONGRESSIONAL ACADEMY DAYS
Throughout the year, the Office of Admissions actively marketed USNA through participation in 192 Congressional Academy Days. When possible, midshipmen travel was supported through private philanthropy
VIRTUAL OUTREACH
Virtual outreach continued to expand this last year and was leveraged extensively by the admissions staff. This resulted in the engagement of 6,821 students, parents and educators. Social media platforms continued to be utilized extensively for advertising summer programs and other USNA Admissions activities. There continued to be a substantial increase in followers across all social media platforms to include 43,500 on Facebook, 28,800 on Instagram and 1,947 on “X” (formerly Twitter). By implementing robust social media campaigns, the USNA Office of Admissions Facebook account had 52,400 content interactions, with their Instagram reaching 681,400 accounts and 148,300 content interactions. The Office of Admissions incorporated a virtual tour on its website in 2021, and recently completed an upgrade to provide a more robust view of the campus to viewers unable to visit the Yard in-person. Since incorporation, more than 70,604 personnel have visited the Academy through the virtual tour.
OPERATION INFORMATION EVENTS
This last year, the Office of Admissions conducts an Operation Information (OPINFO) program with 455 midshipmen and seven TAD ensigns or second lieutenants who traveled back to their hometowns the week before or after Thanksgiving. They supported numerous in-person and online engagement events, including school visits, information sessions and radio and TV spots centered on academics, athletics, extracurricular activities, “A Day in the Life” and service opportunities at USNA. Groups of midshipmen were sent to several key geographic regions across the county and engaged
STEM EVENTS
Leveraging the Naval Academy Summer STEM program, an additional one-day STEM program for students who were not admitted to STEM Camp in June was conducted in August. It was a huge success overall and included 209 students from 35 states. USNA also partnered with the Society of American Mechanical Engineers (SAME) to participate in STEM Camps at Port Hueneme, CA; Quantico, VA; Jacksonville, FL; Camp Lejeune; and Scott AFB. During the Academic Year, smaller scale STEM on Deck and STEM Underway programs were conducted to provide opportunities for students from grades 9th to 11th to participate in STEM programs at USNA or in their local community. Students are exposed to STEM concepts and can interact with midshipmen as well as USNA faculty members. During the 2023-2024 Academic Year, the Office of Admissions conducted STEM Underway programs with students from school districts in Atlanta, GA; Dallas, TX; Detroit, MI; Memphis, TN; Pascagoula, MS; St. Louis, MO; and Washington, DC.
INSPIRE PROGRAM
The INSPIRE program was launched in the fall of 2021 to enhance application completion rates and compete with other elite institutions for highly qualified minority candidates from underrepresented groups. The program offers these candidates and at least one parent a personalized experience, which includes direct interactions with minority graduates stationed at USNA, pairing with a minority midshipman, a dedicated dining experience involving midshipmen affinity group leaders and personalized engagement with admissions staff. Over the past year, two INSPIRE programs were held. In September 2023, 77 high school seniors applying for the Class of 2028 attended a program at USNA with their parents; a second program held in February 2023 included 99 high school juniors. Of the INSPIRE attendees, more than 84% completed their applications for the Class of 2028, compared to the class average of 32%, and 83 offers of appointment were extended for the Class of 2028 or a preparatory program (NAPS or Foundation). Moreover, all 72 juniors who attended the March 2024 program completed applications for Summer Seminar.
CANDIDATE BRIEFINGS
The Office of Admissions conducts two daily briefings open to the public, providing detailed information about the admissions process and requirements, including valuable suggestions for prospective candidates. These briefings also cover the Summer STEM and Summer Seminar programs. Over the past year, the Office of Admissions has conducted briefings on 332 days, engaging with a total of 3,358 individuals, including potential USNA candidates.
REGIONAL FORUMS
The Candidate Guidance Office successfully completed 18 Regional Forums, engaging with 2,038 individuals, including 987 students who are potential USNA candidates. These forums provided an excellent opportunity to interact with and guide prospective candidates through the admissions process, offering personalized advice and addressing specific questions and concerns.
LOOKING AHEAD
The Class of 2028 admission cycle achieved success largely due to the influence of private support. Current trends in college admissions and American society show a decline in both high school graduation rates and college enrollment; this especially impacts service academies and recruiters, leading to reduced interest in starting and completing application processes. Department of Defense surveys reveal that only about 2% of today’s youth are deemed suitable and inclined to serve, and although many parents have a positive view of the military, they often lack detailed knowledge and confidence as to whether it’s a suitable path for their children.
Moving forward, attracting today’s youth will involve rebuilding connections within local communities with students, parents and influencers. Recent updates from the DoD suggest that grandparents now play a more significant role in influencing their grandchildren’s interest in military service. It is crucial to demonstrate how Navy core values align with students’ career, work and life values. Expanding outreach through digitals channels, including social media, is essential in engaging qualified students and adapting to changing demographics. Efforts outlined above, including working with a marketing consultant, leveraging smartphone technology and utilizing virtual platforms, have shown positive results, but more is needed to meet the strategic goals set by the Navy’s leadership.
THANK YOU
Thank you for your support of Admissions Excellence. Philanthropic support is instrumental in our continued mission to engage and inspire students nationwide, preparing them to become the future leaders of the Navy and Marine Corps.
