The United States Air Force Academy (USAFA), located in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains north of Colorado Springs, Colorado, is a military service academy that educates and trains cadets for service in the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force. Established on April 1, 1954, the academy is the youngest of the five service academies, with its first class graduating in 1959. After considering 580 sites in 45 states, the location near Colorado Springs was selected, with Colorado contributing $1 million toward the purchase of the property.
USAFA offers a four-year program that leads to a Bachelor of Science degree and a commission as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force or U.S. Space Force. The academy's curriculum includes courses in basic science, engineering, social sciences, humanities, military studies, and physical education. Cadets can choose from 31 major areas of study, with popular options including management, biology, and various engineering fields. The majority of the academy's faculty members are Air Force officers, and about 40% hold doctorate degrees. As of 2026, the academy has a student body of over 4,000 cadets. The academy's class of 2020 was the first to graduate officers into the U.S. Space Force.
