The Coast Guard needs officers who are intellectually curious, who seek continuous improvement, and who are committed to service above self. At the Academy, our academic programs provide the intellectual foundation for developing officers with these qualities. The Coast Guard Academy is ranked among the nation's top undergraduate colleges. Our academic program, which awards a Bachelor of Science and a commission as an Ensign in the U.S. Coast Guard, must be completed in four years. It is designed to provide a superb academic foundation in a military environment. The result: future leaders of America. The Academy's distinguished civilian and military faculty view the success of their students as their mission. Additional instruction and tutoring outside the classroom are always available, both through faculty and a strong academic support program. The ratio of instructors to students is 1 to 8 and a typical class has 20 or fewer students.