How does financial aid work at the US Naval Academy?

I'm considering applying to the US Naval Academy and am curious about how financial aid operates there. Since cadets receive a salary, does that mean I won't need traditional financial aid like grants or loans?

The U.S. Naval Academy, along with the other U.S. service academies, operates a bit differently from other universities when it comes to paying for your education. Instead of paying tuition, students are actually paid a monthly stipend during their time at the academy.

When you become a midshipman (the term for students) at the U.S. Naval Academy, your tuition, room, and board are fully covered by the U.S. Navy. In addition, you receive a monthly stipend, which starts at around $1,087.20 per month your first year, part of which is automatically deducted for laundry, barber, cobbler, activities fees, yearbook and other service charges. This stipend increases each year you're at the academy.

It's important to know that accepting this financial arrangement comes with a commitment to serve in the military after graduation. At the Naval Academy, that commitment is typically five years of active duty service, but it can be longer depending on your specific career path.

As such, the standard forms of financial aid like Pell Grants, student loans, and work-study programs aren't relevant in the same way they are at other institutions. You won't need to worry about affording tuition or room and board, so many of the traditional financial concerns that come with attending college are less relevant. However, expenses such as textbooks or other personal expenditures would still be a factor to consider and something that your stipend could help cover.