Costs of Attending Annapolis Naval Academy

I've heard that attending the Naval Academy is free, but are there any hidden expenses to be aware of? I'm trying to understand if there are costs like uniforms or textbooks. Any insights would be appreciated!

Yes, it's accurate that there are no tuition costs associated with attending the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis—these are funded by the U.S. government.

However, there are some expenses involved such as a student activity fee and small class fee, which go toward uniforms, textbooks, a laptop, and other necessary supplies. This cost typically amounts to around $2,000 per year.

It's important to note that students, often referred to as midshipmen, receive a monthly stipend as part of their service commitment. This initially appears to be a considerable amount (over $1,000 per month), but remember that the majority of this stipend goes toward paying off those aforementioned costs. The remainder of the stipend is for personal expenses, and the amount that midshipmen get for their discretionary use increases each year.

One major cost-related factor to consider is the service commitment following graduation. After graduating from the Naval Academy, midshipmen must serve at least 5 years on active duty. This is not a financial cost per se, but it's a significant commitment to be aware of.

I hope this helps paint a clearer picture of the cost structure at the U.S. Naval Academy! It's definitely a unique environment when compared to traditional universities.