United States Air Force Academy

Inside the Classroom

The USAFA education is one of the best in the country, and it's free. Cadets receive a monthly stipend, plus books, supplies, and a top-of-the-line computer. The military obligation is five years, with a good chance of serving in "hot zones."

USAFA is highly selective, admitting only 17 percent of applicants. The admissions process is a long and arduous one. Applicants must be nominated by at least one member of Congress and/or have a military-affiliated parent meeting certain criteria (children of a parent who has received the Congressional Medal of Honor are eligible, for example). High SAT/ACT scores are a must, and applicants must pass a battery of physical exams.

The life of a cadet is rigorous, but cadets cite the chance to fly or to join the space program as big motivators. Cadets may select one of 31 academic majors (including non-science or engineering-related areas, such as English and social sciences). The workload is extremely heavy, and the academy recommends that cadets spend 100 minutes preparing for each 50-minute class (the average course is 18 hours). The demanding core curriculum at USAFA consists of 96 semester hours in the sciences, aerospace engineering, management, law, foreign languages, and the liberal arts. There are no electives until second degree (junior year).

Class size is small, usually 15-20 cadets. The academy's faculty consists of about 75 percent Air Force officers and 25 percent civilian professors. Faculty members are teachers rather than researchers, and there are no graduate assistants. The faculty is extremely accessible; full professors often spend hours tutoring students who need help. Faculty members also "adopt" squadrons.

Future air and space leaders get a rigorous military education from day one at the academy. All cadets participate in some form of airmanship activity each of their four years at the academy. Basic Cadet Training, or "Beast," takes place the first summer, and is a grueling boot camp experience. The way cadets live and work is organized along military lines; the cadet wing is organized into squadrons commanded by a first-class (senior) cadet.

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