Graduate Education Programs

The Naval Academy offers several graduate education opportunities to qualified midshipmen. These midshipmen typically have validated enough courses to have the space required in their schedule to begin graduate school their senior year. For additional information regarding graduate school opportunities, see the following instructions:

• USNAINST 1520.2AB
• OPNAVINST 1520.23C
• OPNAVINST 1520.24D
• MCO 1500.41A Ch 2
• DoD Instruction 1322.06 of 12OCT16
• DoD Instruction 1322.10 of 29APR08

NOTE:  This website is provided as general information only, and is not maintained up to date on a regular basis. 

For detailed and definitive information, USNA midshipmen and faculty should consult the intranet site.

Immediate Programs

(Start graduate work during senior year or immediately after USNA graduation and commissioning)

Civilian-Funded Scholarship Program

• One- to two-year master’s program at prestigious civilian universities in the U.S. and abroad. Scholarships can be earned from external sources such as the Rhodes or Marshall Scholarship programs or internal sources. Internally awarded scholarships include the FitzGerald, Pownall, Nolan, and Turner Scholarships.

VGEP - Voluntary Graduate Education Program

• One-Year master’s program at area civilian universities, beginning in the second semester of senior year and generally finishing the following December. Past midshipmen have pursued their graduate degrees at Johns Hopkins, Georgetown, and Maryland to name a few.

Bowman Scholarship Program

• One-year STEM-only master’s program at Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) in Monterey, CA. This opportunity is only available for nuclear submarine and ship officers.

Delayed Programs

(Start graduate work after some fleet service)

• Navy Burke Scholarship Program

  • Up to two-year STEM master's program at Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) in Monterey, CA after first fleet tour.

• Marine Corps Burke Scholarship Program

  • Up to two-year master’s program after first fleet tour at NPS or civilian universities.

Foreign Language Graduate Programs

• Two year graduate study at a foreign university in a foreign language. More information can be found on the Languages and Cultures Department page linked here.