Today our spotlight is on the United States Coast Guard Academy, located in New London, CT. Founded in 1876, the Academy has long been considered one of the finest colleges in the country. It is the only federal military service academy to provide a traditional small college feel. The Academy’s core values of honor, respect, and devotion to duty provide the bedrock for the Academy’s goals to develop leaders of character, groom fleet-ready ensigns, and create lifelong learners.
The USCGA offers cadets an all-encompassing campus experience. With an 8-to-1 student-to-teacher ratio and a typical class size of 20 or fewer, the USCGA provides ample student access to leading civilian and military faculty in five academic departments: Engineering, Humanities, Management, Mathematics, and Science.
Outside the classroom, the USGA is devoted to cadets’ physical health and wellness. Daily sports, physical education classes, and required co-curricular physical activity are considered key in leadership development. During their summers, USCGA cadets receive professional hands-on training and participate in actual Coast Guard missions across the country. This training combined with over 65 campus clubs and organizations allows cadets to forge strong bonds that last well beyond graduation.
Academy students not only enjoy free tuition and room and board, but also benefit from guaranteed leadership positions in the U.S. Coast Guard after graduation — with excellent pay and benefits. In addition, all cadets receive pay totaling over $11,000 per year for uniforms, equipment, textbooks, and other expenses incidental to training. Admission to the Academy is a highly selective process, which annually identifies the best 400 candidates from a pool of over 5,000 applicants.
> To learn more, visit United States Coast Guard Academy online.
