About
The United States Coast Guard Academy presents an unrivaled opportunity to attend an elite professional college that charges no tuition and guarantees a challenging and rewarding career upon graduation.
Ranked among the nation’s most prestigious institutions of higher learning, the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut, is proud to educate future leaders of America's multi-mission, maritime military force. Each year, approximately 200 graduates
are commissioned as Coast Guard officers to help ensure the safety, security and stewardship of our nation’s waters.
Mission
“To graduate young men and women with sound bodies, stout hearts and alert minds,
with a liking for the sea and its lore, with that high sense of honor, loyalty and
obedience which goes with trained initiative and leadership; well-grounded in seamanship,
the sciences and amenities, and strong in the resolve to be worthy of the traditions
of commissioned officers in the United States Coast Guard in the service of their
country and humanity.”
Shared Learning Outcomes
Earning a commission and successful service as an Ensign in the United States Coast Guard requires the development of proven attributes and skills. These Shared Learning Outcomes are observable results that define the unique qualities, character, and
knowledge of the graduates of the United States Coast Guard Academy:
Graduates shall be leaders of character who understand and apply sound leadership principles and competencies. This includes the ability to direct, develop, and evaluate diverse groups; to function effectively and ethically as inclusive
leaders, facilitators and members of diverse teams; and conduct constructive assessment of self and others;
Graduates shall maintain a professional lifestyle that embraces the Coast Guard's Core Values of Honor, Respect and Devotion to Duty, including physical fitness and wellness, mental and physical resilience, and an inclusive mindset. Our
graduates must also adhere to customs, courtesies and social skills befitting members of a maritime military service. Finally, graduates must understand the Coast Guard's maritime heritage and the roles that the Coast Guard and the
nation play within the global environment;
Graduates shall have acquired and integrated the in-depth knowledge associated with both an academic major and a military, maritime professional. Officers must also possess the skills and motivation for lifelong learning, including the
ability to identify a need for information, and to locate, evaluate, and effectively use that information to address the issue or problem at hand;
Graduates shall be able to write clearly, concisely, persuasively, and grammatically; prepare and deliver well-organized and polished oral presentations; read and understand a variety of written materials; listen thoughtfully to oral arguments;
respect diverse opinions; and formulate reasoned alternatives and responses;
Graduates shall be able to accomplish complex tasks in a broad range of contexts by applying the basic skills of critical analysis, systems thinking, quantitative reasoning, risk management, creative problem solving, and value-based decision-making.