The U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) welcomes applicants from a variety of backgrounds and offers specific pathways for candidates with unique circumstances, including active duty service members, international students, and those needing additional academic preparation.

Secretarial Appointments

If you are unable to secure a mandatory congressional nomination, you may still have a path to admission. The Secretary of Transportation has the authority to appoint up to 50 qualified applicants to the Academy each year.

• Eligibility: There is no separate application process. Any applicant who completes their application before the deadline and meets all physical, medical, and character requirements can be considered.
• Selection: The Academy recommends individuals for a Secretarial appointment who demonstrate strong aptitude in math and science, possess physical resilience for a career at sea, and exhibit high leadership potential.

Sponsored Preparatory School Program

For students who have great potential but require more academic preparation to handle the Academy's rigorous curriculum, the USMMA Sponsored Preparatory School Program provides a foundation for future success.

• How to Apply: You cannot apply directly to the prep school program. All candidates applying to USMMA are automatically considered for a sponsorship. 
• Program Details: The one-year program takes place at either New Mexico Military Institute (NMMI) or Marion Military Institute (MMI). The sponsorship provides $10,000 toward the cost of attendance, and the curriculum focuses heavily on chemistry, physics, and calculus.
• Earning an Appointment: Sponsored Prep students must reapply to USMMA the following year. An appointment is offered if the candidate completes the curriculum with a minimum 2.5 GPA, passes the Navy Physical Readiness Test (PRT), meets all medical requirements, and receives positive endorsements from the prep school.

Prior Service (Armed Forces Enlisted Personnel)

Enlisted members of the U.S. Armed Forces, including both Active Duty and Reserve components, are highly encouraged to apply. The application process follows the standard steps, including the February 1st deadline, medical and physical exams, and the requirement to secure a congressional nomination. Enlisted members can receive a congressional nomination from either their original home state of residence or the state where they currently reside.

• Evaluations: Enlisted applicants may substitute two of the required school official evaluations with letters of recommendation from commissioned and non-commissioned officers in their current chain-of-command.
• Conditional Release: You must request a conditional release via your chain of command as soon as you decide to start the application.
• Age Limits: Like all candidates, prior service applicants must not have passed their 25th birthday by July 1 of the year they wish to enter the Academy.
• Note: Applications from enlisted members are evaluated for direct admission, but those who do not meet the academic requirements may be considered for the Sponsored Preparatory School Program.

International Students

By federal regulation, the Academy can appoint a limited number of midshipmen from nations other than the United States. See international student fees here.

• Application Deadline: All completed international applications must be received much earlier, no later than January 1st of the entry year.
• Testing: Applicants must take the SAT or ACT. If you live in a country where English is not the native language, you are also required to take the TOEFL examination. 
• Transcripts: Any high school or university transcripts must be in English or accompanied by an official, certified English translation. University coursework requires a minimum 2.5 cumulative GPA. 
• Financial Responsibility: The United States does not offer financial aid, scholarships, or grants to international students; you are entirely responsible for your educational expenses and must demonstrate the ability to pay. However, the Academy does provide required uniforms and textbooks.
• Government Endorsement: You must be approved by your home government and endorsed by the U.S. Department of State or Department of the Interior.