United States Air Force Academy
A fully funded four-year undergraduate commissioning programme for the US Air Force and US Space Force, with more than 40 career paths and an unusually strong undergraduate research base — the National Science Foundation ranked USAFA first among funded undergraduate research colleges in 2023. Aerospace engineering, astronautical engineering, cyber science and the physical sciences are the signature majors. The application process opens on 1 March of a student's junior year of high school and begins with the Pre-Candidate Questionnaire, followed by nomination, fitness assessment and the full candidate file. Graduates commission as officers and serve an active-duty obligation.