The United States Naval Academy is an academy.
The United States Naval Academy ( also known as USNA , Annapolis , or simply Navy ) is a four-year coeducational federal service academy in Annapolis , Maryland , United States . Established on 10 October 1845 , under Secretary of the Navy George Bancroft , it is the second oldest of the United States ' five service academies , and educates officers for commissioning primarily into the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps . It replaced Philadelphia Naval Asylum , in Philadelphia , that served as the first United States Naval Academy from 1838 to 1845 when the Naval Academy formed in Annapolis . Approximately 1,200 `` plebes '' ( an abbreviation of the Ancient Roman word plebeian ) enter the Academy each summer for the rigorous Plebe Summer , but only about 1,000 midshipmen graduate . Midshipmen are required to adhere to the academy 's Honor Concept .