USAFA Admission Requirements

Admission Rate & Difficulty

Acceptance Rate

The acceptance rate at USAFA is 13.9%.  Its admission rate is the lowest in Colorado and the 50th lowest the nation.

Admission Selectivity

How hard is it to get into USAFA and can you get accepted?

USAFA is a very highly competitive school to get into. You have a low chance of acceptance even if you meet the admission criteria. It's important that you meet their GPA requirements to get through the first round of consideration. Last year, only 1,329 out of the 9,543 who applied were admitted.

United States Air Force Academy typically accepts and attracts "A-" average high school students with an average GPA around 3.81. Most incoming freshmen graduate in the top ten percent of their high school class or better. Of those applicants who were admitted, 79% elected to enroll. This indicates that the school is the top choice for most students who apply.

Can you get into USAFA?

14% are accepted, can you get in? Use the admission calculator to see if you have the grades and test scores needed to get in. See your admission chances based on your extracurriculars, intended major, background, and more.

Admission Requirements in Brief

To have the best chance of getting into to United States Air Force Academy you should:

• Have a high school GPA of 3.81 or better
• Earn A- grades in high school
• Score 1350 on the SAT
• Score 29 on the ACT
• Graduate in the top 10% of your high school class

GPA Requirements & Average GPA

What GPA do you need to get into United States Air Force Academy?

GPA Requirements

The GPA requirements for getting into USAFA are to have around a 3.81 high school GPA. You are required to have exceptionally good grades and you should be graduating near the top of your class.

Meeting these GPA requirements alone is not enough for you to gain admission as USAFA is a very selective school.

Average GPA

The average unweighted GPA at USAFA is 3.81 on the 4.0 scale. 29% of students who get in have perfect 4.0 GPA's in high school. To achieve the average GPA for admission, you need to earn A- letter grades and regularly score around 90-92 percent on tests and assignments in high school.  The school ranks #4 in Colorado for highest average GPA.

See additional colleges accepting applicants in the 3.8 GPA range.

Competitiveness by GPA Ranges

The table below outlines the number of admitted freshmen by GPA range as well as how competitive your GPA will be as compared with other applicants.

 What do these chances mean?

GPA Data Source, Peterson's Data 2024

SAT Requirements & Average SAT Score

SAT Scores you need to get in

What are the SAT requirements for you to be admitted to United States Air Force Academy?

Average Score & Range

The average SAT score at USAFA is 1350 out of 1600 and the range for the middle 50% of accepted students is 1250-1450. Students who get into United States Air Force Academy score in the top 18 percent of all SAT test takers..  USAFA ranks #3 in the state of Colorado and #130 in the nation for highest average SAT composite score.

Score for Acceptance

You should target scoring 1350 or above to be most competitive with other applicants. USAFA regularly admits students with SAT scores down to 1250 on a 1600 scale. However, three quarter of admitted students score higher. If you score below a 1250, admission should be considered a reach. Some students may be accepted with minimum SAT's as low as 1150, but scores this low are outside the normal range. A competitive SAT score is very important as 65 percent of applicants submit SAT scores to the school.

View other colleges which accept students in the 1350 SAT score range.

Chance of Acceptance by SAT Score

The table below outlines your predicted admission chances based on SAT score alone. If you are an average applicant with a score of 1350, you have around a 14% chance of being admitted. A 1450 places you well ahead of most other applicants and gives you about a 24% chance of getting in.

ACT Requirements & Average ACT Score

ACT Scores needed to get accepted

What are the ACT requirements for students to get into USAFA?

Score Range

The average ACT score for admitted students to USAFA is 29, while the middle 50% of students (25th to 75th percentile) score between a 26 and 33.  The school ranks #5 in Colorado and #160 in the U.S. for highest average ACT composite score.

Score for Acceptance

For the best chance of admission, you should have an ACT of 29. This will place you in solid competition against other applicants. At a minimum, you should aim for a 26 and score in the score in the top 18 percent nationally. The lowest ACT score likely to be admitted is a 22.

41 percent of applicants submit ACT scores to United States Air Force Academy.

Find other colleges with similar ACT score requirements

Chance of Acceptance by ACT Score

Here are your predicted chances of getting into USAFA for different ACT score ranges. A typical applicant with a 29 score has around 14% chance of getting in. Your odds increase to about 25% with a 33 ACT score.

High School Class Rank

53% of United States Air Force Academy freshman are in the top ten percent of their high school graduating class. For your application to be competitive, you need to graduate at the top of your class.

Admission Statistics

Admission and enrollment rates by gender are detailed the the table below.

Fall 2025 Application Deadline

Application Fee

The cost for prospective students to apply to United States Air Force Academy is $0. The school is free to apply to.

Application Requirements

What are the requirements for admission to United States Air Force Academy and what student information is used for admission decisions?

Credits Accepted

Admission Requirements Summary

Because USAFA is very highly competitive, you have a low likelihood of acceptance. It is important that you earn at least a 3.81 GPA to have a good shot at getting in. Additionally, you need to score a 1350 on the SAT and optimally 1450 to place yourself in a strong position. For ACT scores, you need a 29 to have a competitive chance of getting in.