Understanding Room and Board Costs at the Naval Academy

Does anyone know how room and board costs work at the Naval Academy, especially for incoming students? I'm trying to get a sense of overall expenses, but information seems a bit scattered. Any insights would be super helpful!

Attending a service academy like the United States Naval Academy is actually quite unique in terms of financial obligations, compared to traditional colleges and universities.

At the United States Naval Academy, there is no cost for tuition, room, or board for students, referred to as Midshipmen. This is because the cost of these educational components is fully funded by the Navy in return for active-duty service commitments upon graduation.

Along with covering room and board, the Navy also provides a monthly stipend for Midshipmen. In your first year, the stipend is $1,087.80 per month. However, much of the stipend goes towards other expenses such as for uniforms, books, and professional publications, laundry, barber, cobbler, activities fee, class dues, and other necessary incidentals, so your take-home pay will be less.

A unique cost is there's a one-time payment of approximately $2,000 collected at the beginning of your time at the academy to cover initial uniform purchases and other necessary items. Sometimes, this can be deducted from your pay over time if upfront payment is a difficulty.

Remember, accepting an appointment to the Naval Academy means that you're committing to at least five years of active-duty service upon graduation, so make sure to consider that commitment when making your decision. Good luck with your academy journey!