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Home / Admissions / Admission Requirements

Admission Requirements

The Coast Guard Academy is ranked among the nation’s elite undergraduate colleges. This is reflected in our highly selective admission process, which annually admits about 300 cadets from thousands of applicants.

Unlike the other federal service academies, the Coast Guard Academy does not require a Congressional nomination.

Deadlines

Required/supplemental forms and standardized test scores will be accepted for 14 days after the deadlines above.

To be considered for admission you must submit a complete application by the deadline.

Eligibility

You are eligible to apply for the Coast Guard Academy if you are:

  • A U.S. citizen of sound moral character
  • Unmarried with no dependents or financial debt
  • 17-22 years of age on last Monday in June
  • A high school graduate or GED recipient (or will be prior to entry)

If you are not a U.S. citizen, you may want to consider applying to be an International Cadet.

Online Application

The initial application data allows us to start a file on you.

Essays

Essays are available online as part of the online application.

Required Forms

Forms are available online as you complete the online application.
  • High school transcript(s)
  • Math instructor letter of recommendation
  • English instructor letter of recommendation
  • High school counselor letter of recommendation
  • Physical Fitness Examination (PFE)

Medical Exam

Though not required for review of your application, a qualifying DoDMERB Medical Exam must be on file before an appointment to the Academy can be offered.

Supplemental Information

  • Resume (optional)
  • Standardized test scores
  • Request to waive use of standardized test scores (conditional)
  • Up to two extra letters of recommendation (optional)
  • Commanding Officer recommendation (if currently serving in the military)
  • College transcripts (if you are or were in college)

SAT/ACT

Submit as follows:

  • Self-report by uploading your score reports in the Personal Statements section of the online application
  • Via your high school transcript
  • Via your Guidance Office
  • Through the College Board or ACT

To send your scores from the testing agency, contact College Board or ACT, or list the Academy code when you take the test. Our SAT code is 5807 and our ACT code is 0600. Please visit the College Board or ACT websites to register:

SAT
ACT

Interview

Admissions may request to interview applicants and prospective applicants in order to best meet your needs and the Academy’s enrollment goals. If so, a representative of Admissions will contact you. If selected for an interview, participation is required. The format of the interview – online, by phone, or face-to-face – will be based on the mutual consent of all parties, with health and safety the paramount concern.

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Sponsor Family Application

Thank you for submitting your application to be part of the Sponsor Family Program. Your application will be processed in the upcoming week. Coast Guard Academy’s policy on background screening now requires all adults (everyone 18 and older living in the home) who volunteer to mentor, teach, coach or sponsor cadets, whether on or off Coast Guard Academy grounds, to be screened every 5 years. They are required to provide personal information (name, birth date and social security number) for the purpose of conducting a criminal background check.

The Security Officer at the Coast Guard Academy, CWO2 Gina Polkowski, is overseeing this process. Her email is: Gina.M.Polkowski@uscg.mil.

Sponsor Family designations fall into several different categories. Below are the guidelines to help you determine how best to meet the background screening requirement:

  1. If you are Coast Guard active duty you do not need to apply for an additional Background Check. You will be vetted through the Coast Guard system by CWO2 Polkowski.
  2. If you are a Civilian working for the Coast Guard you do not need to apply for an additional Background Check. You will be vetted through the Coast Guard system by CWO2 Polkowski.
  3. If you are non-Coast Guard Active Duty, you are required to provide proof of your current security clearance or National Agency Check that is to be emailed by your Command Security Officer (CSO)/ Security Office to CWO2 Polkowski at  Gina.M.Polkowski@uscg.mil.
  4. If you are non-Coast Guard civilian who has a current security clearance or National Agency check, you are required to provide proof of your current security clearance or National Agency Check that is to be emailed by your Command Security Officer (CSO)/ Security Office to CWO2 Polkowski at  Gina.M.Polkowski@uscg.mil.
  5. All civilians in the families who are 18 years or older and do not have a security clearance or a National Agency Check are required to be vetted through Mind Your Business, the third party vendor hired by the Coast Guard Academy for the vetting process.

After you complete your application, please e-mail the Sponsor Family Program Coordinator at CadetFamilySponsorProgram@uscga.edu. In your e-mail, you must include the e-mail address and phone number of every adult living in the home. The Sponsor Family Coordinator will then initiate the background check process and you will receive an email with further instructions.

Important things to note:

There is a Sponsor Family Training that is a one-hour training which we ask sponsors to attend once every four years. This training is designed to give you an overview of the program, what is expected of you as a sponsor, and what you can expect from your cadets. This training will also help familiarize you with the cadet regulations onboard CGA. You will be notified via e-mail once the training is scheduled.

The matching process of swabs to families will occur during July and August. Please bear with us and remain flexible through this process. There will be a meet and greet scheduled on Campus, typically in late August. This will give families an opportunity to formally meet their cadet if they have not already done so. Details on this will also be via email.

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