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What is the dropout rate at the Naval Academy?

Published in Military Education Statistics 1 min read

The dropout rate at the Naval Academy, also referred to as its attrition rate, has been 24% for classes over a 20-year period leading up to 1999. This means that nearly a quarter of every class failed to graduate during that timeframe.

Naval Academy Attrition in Context

The Naval Academy's attrition rate stands in stark contrast to that of other top educational institutions. For instance, the Ivy League schools typically experience a significantly lower attrition rate.

Institution Attrition Rate
Naval Academy 24%
Ivy League Schools < 2%

This substantial difference highlights a unique challenge faced by the Naval Academy in retaining its midshipmen through graduation.

Impact on Officer Production

The high attrition rate directly impacts the number of officers the Naval Academy produces annually for the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps. As a result of 24% of classes failing to graduate, the Academy was producing approximately 790 ensigns for the Navy and about 130 second lieutenants for the Marine Corps each year, as observed during the period. This figure falls short of its potential output if attrition rates were lower.