United States Air Force Academy

The United States Air Force Academy is a military service academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado. It trains cadets to become officers in the US Air Force and US Space Force. Its program mixes academics, military training and athletics.

The idea for the Academy was approved in 1954, seven years after the Air Force became its own service. A commission traveled 21,000 miles to look at possible sites and picked Colorado Springs as its first choice. The Academy says its experience is 70 years in the making. It is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

More than 4,000 cadets are enrolled. They choose from 31 programs of study and over 40 career paths. The cadet to faculty ratio is 8 to 1. The core curriculum balances science, technology, engineering and math with the arts and humanities. The school also runs a Martinson Honors Program and an Academic Success Center. The Academy reports an 80 percent graduation rate. It says every graduate has a job right after commissioning.

An Academy education is valued at more than $416,000, but cadets pay nothing. In return, they commit to serve as officers in the Air Force and Space Force. The Academy says its core values are Integrity First, Service Before Self and Excellence In All We Do.

Military training includes basic cadet training, squadrons, airmanship, space, cyber, combatives and combat survival training. Cadets can join the Wings of Blue and the Azimuth Space Program. The Academy has 24 research centers. Cadets can join a summer research program. Research areas support the Air Force and society.

Applicants start with a pre-candidate questionnaire. Student applicants begin the process on March 1 of their junior year. A LEAD program lets Airmen and Guardians enter the commissioned ranks. The Academy also runs a Prep School, a summer seminar and a nomination process. Pages for parents and school counselors explain how to support applicants.

Services

• Undergraduate degree programs
• Military training
• Airmanship
• Space and cyber programs
• Research centers
• Cadet summer research
• Prep School
• Enlisted to Officer LEAD program
• Summer seminar
• Admissions and nominations