Candidates must meet certain requirements specified by public law in order to be considered for admission to West Point. 

You must: 

• Be at least age 17, but not 23 or older, on July 1 of the year you enter West Point
• Be a U.S. Citizen (See Information for International Cadets for exceptions)
• Not be married
• Not be pregnant
• Not be legally responsible for child support

If you are a naturalized citizen, you must provide documentation.

Not old enough to apply yet?  Join our mailing list to stay in touch until you are.

Start your application by opening an account on our Candidate Portal.  The application window opens February 1st of your junior year in high school.  To start an application you will need:

• Your birthday
• Your home address
• Your high school's address
• Your Congressional District

Applications are due January 31st of your senior year.

Test scores are required, and applicants may choose either the SAT or the ACT. If you are a junior, it is to your advantage to take the SAT or ACT by the end of your junior year.

TIP: Take the tests as many times as you wish. There is no penalty for multiple attempts, and we will super-score your results, meaning we will consider your best performance in each category.

The West Point Admissions Committee remains committed to a holistic assessment of applicant credentials, which include reviews of academic achievement, academic aptitude, leadership experiences, physical fitness, and other unique attributes during the application process.

West Point Field Force members are local volunteer Admissions representatives of the U.S. Military Academy. Field Force members are an invaluable resource when navigating the application process at West Point.  All applications must include an interview.  A Field Force representative will contact you to schedule the interview.

TIP:  Dress as you would for a job interview.

A nomination is required to attend West Point. There are two types: Congressional (your Representative or one of your State’s Senators) and Service-Connected. 

Each Congressional Representative and Senator has their own requirements and deadlines for nomination applications, but all of them are due sometime in the fall.  As soon as you confirm your basic eligibility, you should check your Representative's and Senators' websites for their specific nomination timelines and requirements.

We strongly recommend that you apply to ALL possible nomination sources.  No single nomination path will guarantee your appointment to West Point.

Locate your Congressional Representative or Senator.

The Department of Defense Medical Examination Review Board (DoDMERB) will provide the location and date of your exam. The DoDMERB website is useful to Track Your Medical Status

Take your medical exam as soon as possible! It can take several months to get qualified. USMA will send your information to DoDMERB, who will then contact you. If you haven’t been scheduled by DoDMERB by the fall of your high school senior year, contact your regional Admissions Officer.

Qualified Applicants will receive an email directing them to the CFA Testing Instructions. The CFA consists of six events:

• Basketball throw (from a kneeling position)
• Cadence pull-ups or flexed-arm hang (women's option)
• 40-yard shuttle run (for time)
• Modified Sit-ups (number completed in 2 minutes)
• Push-ups (number completed in 2 minutes)
• 1-mile run (for time)

You should train for and practice the events prior to taking the examination.