Admission requirements are very rigorous

The Academy's admission requirements are extremely rigorous. With the exception of some cases for 24-year-olds who are in the military and cannot attend before their 24th birthday, applicants must be between 17 and 23 years old, unmarried, and have no legal obligation to support a child. High school and college GPAs must be above average, and they must, at a minimum, perform well on the Academy's standardized tests. The standard interquartile range on the old SAT was between 1100 and 1360, and 68% of students should have ranked in the top 5 of their high school class. In addition, to be eligible to apply, candidates must also undergo the Academy's comprehensive physical exam and fitness assessment.

Some other cases may occur such as applicants who have previous college experience but they also do not have the right to transfer schools. This means that no matter how many college credits they have taken before, they still enter the academy as fourth-rate students and go through the entire four-year program. However, if an applicant is deemed academically ineligible and not selected, he or she may receive an offer of admission to the United States Military Academy Preparatory School. After graduation from USMAPS, these applicants will be assigned to the academy if they receive a recommendation from the USMAPS Commander and meet the physical requirements for admission.

For individuals who are qualified but not chosen, the West Point Graduate Association (WPAOG) offers scholarships as well. For private universities, scholarships generally cover roughly $7,000. The recipients of these scholarships will be allowed to enroll in West Point one year after receiving them. AOG-approved programs include Marion Military Academy, New Mexico Military Academy, Georgia Military College, Hargrave Military Academy, Greystone Preparatory School at Schreiner University, and Northwest Preparatory School, where students enrolled prior to receiving a West Point admissions offer.

In sum, candidates when applying for admission to the US Military Academy must go through a rigorous testing process:

• Ages 17 to 23, unmarried and has no legal obligation to support children.
• Perform well on the Academy's standardized tests, and meet the physical requirements for admission.
• The benchmark on the old SAT was between 1100 and 1360 and 68% of students had to rank in the top 5 of their high school class.
• Entered the academy as a fourth-rate student and completed the entire four-year program regardless of prior college attendance.
• Can attend many other training programs before applying to the Academy.