Academy ranks high in 2025 U.S. News & World Report rankings
U.S. Air Force Academy ranks second among public schools, eighth among national liberal arts colleges
Published Sept. 25, 2024
U.S. News & World Report has ranked the U.S. Air Force Academy, a military service academy, one of the nation’s best undergraduate educational institutions in its annual “Best Colleges” report released earlier this week.
The Air Force Academy ranks #2 among public schools. The “Best Colleges” report also ranks the Air Force Academy #8 among national liberal arts colleges.
Additionally, many of the Academy’s engineering programs rank in the top 10 in the nation for schools where a doctorate is not offered:
- #6 among best undergraduate engineering programs — up one place from last year
- #6 for civil engineering – up one place from last year
- #9 for electrical engineering
- #6 for mechanical engineering - a jump of four places over last year’s ranking
USAFA cadets have access to 20 academic departments and an interesting, challenging and broad core curriculum. In addition to a rigorous academic experience, cadets participate in military training and athletics, all connecting to the Academy’s mission to develop leaders of character for the Air Force, Space Force and nation.
The academic mission element encompasses nine outcomes that define and distinguish the USAFA cadet experience and what it means to be an Academy graduate: critical thinking; warrior ethos as airmen and citizens; national security of the American republic; application of engineering problem-solving methods; scientific reasoning and the principles of science; the human condition, cultures and societies; leadership, teamwork and organizational management; clear communication; ethics and respect for human dignity.
When cadets graduate from the Academy, they earn a Bachelor of Science degree from an elite academic and leadership development institution and commission into the Air Force, the Space Force or another branch as a second lieutenant.