To receive an offer of appointment to the Naval Academy, an applicant must obtain a nomination from an official source. There are many nomination sources and applicants are encouraged to apply to all available sources. This normally includes a U.S. Representative, two U.S. Senators and the Vice President of the United States. Below are descriptions and eligibility information for each type of nomination source. You do NOT need to know the source personally in order to receive a nomination. Keep in mind that all sources have their own deadlines, so you need to check the website for each source in advance to find out when you should start the application process.
These sources are open to all US Citizens (not a US citizen?)
Each member of Congress can have five constituents attending the Naval Academy at any time.
At any one time, five students may attend the Naval Academy based on a vice presidential nomination.
Some additional sources are open to certain individuals
One hundred seventy appointments are available annually to regular and reserve Navy and Marine Corps enlisted personnel.
All Navy and Marine Corps ROTC units and all Navy and Marine Corps JROTC units are eligible to nominate three candidates each.
Up to 65 midshipmen may be in attendance at the academy based on nominations as children of military personnel.
Candidates in this special category who are fully qualified for admission are automatically appointed.
An unlimited number of presidential nominations are available for children and legally adopted children of retired officer and enlisted personnel of the armed forces, active or reserve, including the Coast Guard.