How To Get Into The Air Force Academy
What are United States Air Force Academy's admission requirements? While there are a lot of pieces that go into a college application, you should focus on only a few critical things:
- GPA requirements
- Testing requirements, including SAT and ACT requirements
- Application requirements
In this guide we'll cover what you need to get into United States Air Force Academy and build a strong application.
School location: USAF Academy, CO
This school is also known as: AFA, USAFA
Admissions Rate: 11.4%
If you want to get in, the first thing to look at is the acceptance rate. This tells you how competitive the school is and how serious their requirements are.
The acceptance rate at United States Air Force Academy is 11.4%. For every 100 applicants, only 11 are admitted.
This means the school is extremely selective. Meeting their GPA requirements and SAT/ACT requirements is very important to getting past their first round of filters and proving your academic preparation. If you don't meet their expectations, your chance of getting in is nearly zero.
After crossing this hurdle, you'll need to impress United States Air Force Academy application readers through their other application requirements, including extracurriculars, essays, and letters of recommendation. We'll cover more below.
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We know what kinds of students colleges want to admit. We want to get you admitted to your dream schools.
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United States Air Force Academy GPA Requirements
Many schools specify a minimum GPA requirement, but this is often just the bare minimum to submit an application without immediately getting rejected.
The GPA requirement that really matters is the GPA you need for a real chance of getting in. For this, we look at the school's average GPA for its current students.
Average GPA: 3.87
The average GPA at United States Air Force Academy is 3.87.
(Most schools use a weighted GPA out of 4.0, though some report an unweighted GPA.
With a GPA of 3.87, United States Air Force Academy requires you to be near the top of your class, and well above average. Your transcript should show mostly A's. Ideally, you will also have taken several AP or IB classes to show that you can handle academics at a college level.
If you're currently a junior or senior, your GPA is hard to change in time for college applications. If your GPA is at or below the school average of 3.87, you'll need a higher SAT or ACT score to compensate. This will help you compete effectively against other applicants who have higher GPAs than you.
SAT and ACT Requirements
Each school has different requirements for standardized testing. Most schools require the SAT or ACT, and many also require SAT subject tests.
You must take either the SAT or ACT to submit an application to United States Air Force Academy. More importantly, you need to do well to have a strong application.
United States Air Force Academy SAT Requirements
Many schools say they have no SAT score cutoff, but the truth is that there is a hidden SAT requirement. This is based on the school's average score.
Average SAT: 1320
The average SAT score composite at United States Air Force Academy is a 1320 on the 1600 SAT scale.
This score makes United States Air Force Academy Moderately Competitive for SAT test scores.
United States Air Force Academy SAT Score Analysis (New 1600 SAT)
The 25th percentile New SAT score is 1230, and the 75th percentile New SAT score is 1410. In other words, a 1230 on the New SAT places you below average, while a 1410 will move you up to above average.
Here's the breakdown of new SAT scores by section:
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
| Math | 670 | 620 | 720 |
| Reading + Writing | 650 | 610 | 690 |
| Composite | 1320 | 1230 | 1410 |
SAT Score Choice Policy
The Score Choice policy at your school is an important part of your testing strategy.
United States Air Force Academy has the Score Choice policy of "Highest Section."
This is also known as "superscoring." This means that you can choose which SAT tests you want to send to the school. Of all the scores they receive, your application readers will consider your highest section scores across all SAT test dates you submit.
Click below to learn more about how superscoring critically affects your test strategy.
How does superscoring change your test strategy? (Click to Learn)
For example, say you submit the following 3 test scores:
| Section | R+W | Math | Composite |
| Test 1 | 700 | 300 | 1000 |
| Test 2 | 300 | 700 | 1000 |
| Test 3 | 300 | 300 | 600 |
| Superscore | 700 | 700 | 1400 |
Even though the highest total you scored on any one test date was 1000, United States Air Force Academy will take your highest section score from all your test dates, then combine them to form your Superscore. You can raise your composite score from 1000 to 1400 in this example.
This is important for your testing strategy. Because you can choose which tests to send in, and United States Air Force Academy forms your Superscore, you can take the SAT as many times as you want, then submit only the tests that give you the highest Superscore. Your application readers will only see that one score.
Therefore, if your SAT superscore is currently below a 1410, we strongly recommend that you consider prepping for the SAT and retaking it. You have a very good chance of raising your score, which will significantly boost your chances of getting in.
Even better, because of the Superscore, you can focus all your energy on a single section at a time. If your Reading score is lower than your other sections, prep only for the Reading section, then take the SAT. Then focus on Math for the next test, and so on. This will give you the highest Superscore possible.
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United States Air Force Academy ACT Requirements
Just like for the SAT, United States Air Force Academy likely doesn't have a hard ACT cutoff, but if you score too low, your application will get tossed in the trash.
Average ACT: 31
The average ACT score at United States Air Force Academy is 31. This score makes United States Air Force Academy Strongly Competitive for ACT scores.
The 25th percentile ACT score is 28, and the 75th percentile ACT score is 33.
Even though United States Air Force Academy likely says they have no minimum ACT requirement, if you apply with a 28 or below, you'll have a very hard time getting in, unless you have something else very impressive in your application. There are so many applicants scoring 31 and above that a 28 will look academically weak.
ACT Score Sending Policy
If you're taking the ACT as opposed to the SAT, you have a huge advantage in how you send scores, and this dramatically affects your testing strategy.
Here it is: when you send ACT scores to colleges, you have absolute control over which tests you send. You could take 10 tests, and only send your highest one. This is unlike the SAT, where many schools require you to send all your tests ever taken.
This means that you have more chances than you think to improve your ACT score. To try to aim for the school's ACT requirement of 33 and above, you should try to take the ACT as many times as you can. When you have the final score that you're happy with, you can then send only that score to all your schools.
ACT Superscore Policy
By and large, most colleges do not superscore the ACT. (Superscore means that the school takes your best section scores from all the test dates you submit, and then combines them into the best possible composite score). Thus, most schools will just take your highest ACT score from a single sitting.
We weren't able to find the school's exact ACT policy, which most likely means that it does not Superscore. Regardless, you can choose your single best ACT score to send in to United States Air Force Academy, so you should prep until you reach our recommended target ACT score of 33.
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SAT/ACT Writing Section Requirements
Both the SAT and ACT have an optional essay section.
United States Air Force Academy considers the SAT Essay/ACT Writing section optional and may not include it as part of their admissions consideration. You don't need to worry too much about Writing for this school, but other schools you're applying to may require it.
SAT Subject Test Requirements
Schools vary in their SAT subject test requirements. Typically, selective schools tend to require them, while most schools in the country do not.
We did not find information that United States Air Force Academy requires SAT subject tests, and so most likely it does not. At least 6 months before applying, you should still doublecheck just to make sure, so you have enough time to take the test.
Final Admissions Verdict
Because this school is extremely selective, getting a high SAT/ACT score and GPA is vital to having a chance at getting in. If you don't pass their SAT/ACT and GPA requirements, they'll likely reject you without much consideration.
To have the best shot of getting in, you should aim for the 75th percentile, with a 1410 SAT or a 33 ACT. You should also have a 3.87 GPA or higher. If your GPA is lower than this, you need to compensate with a higher SAT/ACT score.
For a school as selective as United States Air Force Academy, you'll also need to impress them with the rest of your application. We'll cover those details next.
But if you apply with a score below a 1410 SAT or a 33 ACT, you unfortunately start out with the odds against you and have a tiny chance of getting in. There are just too many students with high SAT/ACT scores and strong applications, and you need to compete against them.
Want to build the best possible college application?
We can help. PrepScholar Admissions is the world's best admissions consulting service. We combine world-class admissions counselors with our data-driven, proprietary admissions strategies. We've overseen thousands of students get into their top choice schools, from state colleges to the Ivy League.
We know what kinds of students colleges want to admit. We want to get you admitted to your dream schools.
Learn more about PrepScholar Admissions to maximize your chance of getting in.
Admissions Calculator
What are your chances of admission at United States Air Force Academy?
Chances of admission with these scores:
Here's our custom admissions calculator. Plug in your numbers to see what your chances of getting in are.
Pick your test: New SAT ACT
Note: Your admission decision relies not only on your GPA and SAT/ACT scores, but also on your coursework difficulty, extracurriculars, letters of recommendation, and personal statements. This tool provides only a simplistic estimate of your chances of admission. Instead of treating this tool as a crystal ball, we recommend you consider the big picture of what your chance means:
We recommend you apply to schools across a range of chances. Applying to some safety schools will guarantee you have a college to go to, while applying to some reach schools will give you a shot at getting into the school at the top of your range.
How would your chances improve with a better score?
Take your current SAT score and add 160 points (or take your ACT score and add 4 points) to the calculator above. See how much your chances improve?
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- Our team is made of national SAT/ACT experts. PrepScholar's founders are Harvard graduates and SAT perfect scorers. You'll be studying using the strategies that actually worked for them.
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Application Requirements
Every school requires an application with the bare essentials - high school transcript and GPA, application form, and other core information. Many schools, as explained above, also require SAT and ACT scores, as well as letters of recommendation, application essays, and interviews. We'll cover the exact requirements of United States Air Force Academy here.
Application Requirements Overview
- Common Application Not accepted
- Universal Application Not accepted
- Electronic Application Available
- Essay or Personal Statement Required for all freshmen
- Letters of Recommendation 1
- Interview Required
- Application Fee No fee required
- Fee Waiver Available? None
- Other Notes Authorized nomination, Candidate Fitness Assessment, medical examination required for freshmen
Testing Requirements
- SAT or ACT Required
- SAT Essay or ACT Writing Optional
- SAT Subject Tests
- Scores Due in Office January 31
Coursework Requirements
- Subject Required Years
- English
- Math
- Science
- Foreign Language
- Social Studies
- History
- Electives
Deadlines and Early Admissions
-
- Offered? Deadline Notification
- Regular Admission
- Yes December 31 Rolling, notification begins October 15
- Early Action
- No
- Early Decision
- No
Other Schools For You
If you're interested in United States Air Force Academy, you'll probably be interested in these schools as well. We've divided them into 3 categories depending on how hard they are to get into, relative to United States Air Force Academy.
Reach Schools: Harder to Get Into
These schools are have higher average SAT scores than United States Air Force Academy. If you improve your SAT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School Name | Location | SAT Avg | ACT Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Michigan | Ann Arbor, MI | 1435 | 33 |
| Boston University | Boston, MA | 1420 | 32 |
| Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute | Troy, NY | 1409 | 31 |
| Villanova University | Villanova, PA | 1395 | 33 |
| Binghamton University | Vestal, NY | 1375 | 30 |
| Lehigh University | Bethlehem, PA | 1365 | 31 |
| University of Florida | Gainesville, FL | 1360 | 30 |
Same Level: Equally Hard to Get Into
If you're competitive for United States Air Force Academy, these schools will offer you a similar chance of admission.
| School Name | Location | SAT Avg | ACT Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Washington | Seattle, WA | 1340 | 30 |
| Stony Brook University | Stony Brook, NY | 1335 | 29 |
| California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo | San Luis Obispo, CA | 1335 | 29 |
| University of Connecticut | Storrs, CT | 1315 | 29 |
| University of California, Irvine | Irvine, CA | 1310 | 29 |
| Rochester Institute of Technology | Rochester, NY | 1300 | 30 |
| American University | Washington, DC | 1300 | 29 |
Safety Schools: Easier to Get Into
If you're currently competitive for United States Air Force Academy, you should have no problem getting into these schools. If United States Air Force Academy is currently out of your reach, you might already be competitive for these schools.
| School Name | Location | SAT Avg | ACT Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Syracuse University | Syracuse, NY | 1275 | 28 |
| United States Military Academy | West Point, NY | 1270 | 28 |
| Penn State University Park | University Park, PA | 1265 | 28 |
| University of Cincinnati | Cincinnati, OH | 1265 | 27 |
| Hofstra University | Hempstead, NY | 1250 | 28 |
| Temple University | Philadelphia, PA | 1238 | 27 |
| Seton Hall University | South Orange, NJ | 1231 | 26 |
Want to build the best possible college application?
We can help. PrepScholar Admissions is the world's best admissions consulting service. We combine world-class admissions counselors with our data-driven, proprietary admissions strategies. We've overseen thousands of students get into their top choice schools, from state colleges to the Ivy League.
We know what kinds of students colleges want to admit. We want to get you admitted to your dream schools.
Learn more about PrepScholar Admissions to maximize your chance of getting in.
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How To Get Into The Air Force Academy
Source: https://www.prepscholar.com/sat/s/colleges/United-States-Air-Force-Academy-admission-requirements
Posted by: lyonstionant.blogspot.com
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