Academics

The U.S. Coast Guard Academy is ranked among the nation’s top undergraduate colleges. The Academy provides a rigorous, practical education, preparing cadets to lead and succeed in their career as a Coast Guard officer and in civilian life.

Home / Academics

A Learning Environment Beyond Compare

With a low student-to-faculty ratio of just 7:1, the Academy combines the feel of a small New England college with the academic opportunities of a large university and the life-changing impact of a service academy.

The faculty are comprised of Coast Guard leaders and academicians, each having years of research and practical experience to help prepare you for whatever comes your way.

Technical Programs

As a Coast Guard cadet, you’ll study science, math, and engineering—regardless of your major. In every course you’ll apply your technical proficiency, keeping you at the cutting edge of theory and practice.

Why the USCGA?

Today’s most challenging, rewarding and in-demand professions include the application of advanced technical knowledge. You learn it at the Coast Guard Academy.

Careers & Outcomes

There will be no need for sending out resumes or going on job interviews, as an exciting operational leadership position awaits every Academy graduate.

Videos

Hear firsthand from our cadets and faculty about the academic excellence and practical learning that make a Coast Guard Academy education second to none.

ACADEMIC MAJORS

ACADEMIC NEWS

A team of four cadets, the Cyber Guardians, took home 2nd place at the Paris Cyber 9/12 Strategy Challenge. The Team members were 1/c Dillon Nitz, 1/c Zoe Cousineau, 1/c Harlan Brady, and 1/c Alexandra Kukal.

Cadets Excel in Cyber Strategy Challenges

Cadet Lauren Oakes

CGA Takes Home “Best Presentation” At Jean Bartik Computing Symposium

ENS Christine Groves

An Academy First: Ensign Christine Groves, First Academy Graduate Awarded Two Prestigious Scholarships

Antarctica

Getting Hands-On: Celestial Navigation in Antarctica

Sponsor Family Application

Thank you for submitting your application to be part of the Sponsor Family Program. Your application will be processed in the upcoming week. Coast Guard Academy’s policy on background screening now requires all adults (everyone 18 and older living in the home) who volunteer to mentor, teach, coach or sponsor cadets, whether on or off Coast Guard Academy grounds, to be screened every 5 years. They are required to provide personal information (name, birth date and social security number) for the purpose of conducting a criminal background check.

The Security Officer at the Coast Guard Academy, CWO2 Gina Polkowski, is overseeing this process. Her email is: Gina.M.Polkowski@uscg.mil.

Sponsor Family designations fall into several different categories. Below are the guidelines to help you determine how best to meet the background screening requirement:

If you are Coast Guard active duty you do not need to apply for an additional Background Check. You will be vetted through the Coast Guard system by CWO2 Polkowski.
If you are a Civilian working for the Coast Guard you do not need to apply for an additional Background Check. You will be vetted through the Coast Guard system by CWO2 Polkowski.
If you are non-Coast Guard Active Duty, you are required to provide proof of your current security clearance or National Agency Check that is to be emailed by your Command Security Officer (CSO)/ Security Office to CWO2 Polkowski at Gina.M.Polkowski@uscg.mil.
If you are non-Coast Guard civilian who has a current security clearance or National Agency check, you are required to provide proof of your current security clearance or National Agency Check that is to be emailed by your Command Security Officer (CSO)/ Security Office to CWO2 Polkowski at Gina.M.Polkowski@uscg.mil.
All civilians in the families who are 18 years or older and do not have a security clearance or a National Agency Check are required to be vetted through Mind Your Business, the third party vendor hired by the Coast Guard Academy for the vetting process.

After you complete your application, please e-mail the Sponsor Family Program Coordinator at CadetFamilySponsorProgram@uscga.edu. In your e-mail, you must include the e-mail address and phone number of every adult living in the home. The Sponsor Family Coordinator will then initiate the background check process and you will receive an email with further instructions.

Important things to note:

There is a Sponsor Family Training that is a one-hour training which we ask sponsors to attend once every four years. This training is designed to give you an overview of the program, what is expected of you as a sponsor, and what you can expect from your cadets. This training will also help familiarize you with the cadet regulations onboard CGA. You will be notified via e-mail once the training is scheduled.

The matching process of swabs to families will occur during July and August. Please bear with us and remain flexible through this process. There will be a meet and greet scheduled on Campus, typically in late August. This will give families an opportunity to formally meet their cadet if they have not already done so. Details on this will also be via email.