From R-Day to Graduation: A Look at the Classes of 2029 and 2025

A black and white photo showing New Cadets from the class of 1949 on R-Day.
New Cadets line up during Reception Day. Photo by West Point – The U.S. Military Academy, shared on Facebook June 27, 2019

The Class of 2029

Even us Old Grads can’t forget R-Day. The sweltering July heat. Single-filing off of the busses that brought us in from Newark, JKF, and Laguardia. Holding on to the last moment of freedom before a day that would surely challenge us.

Yet it was also profound, and humbling, to filter between the yelling cadre with our new peers that were elite scholars, athletes, and leaders, from their respective home towns. A look at the recently published stats for the incoming class of 2029 shows just how true this is.

  • 1231: New Cadets arrived on R-Day, June 30, 2025
  • 1312: Average SAT
  • 30: Average ACT
  • 57: Valedictorians
  • 116: Student Body Presidents
  • 806: Varsity Captains
  • 1209: Varsity Athletes
  • 193: USMAPS
  • 64: Prior Service
  • 118: Gold Award or Eagle Scout Recipient
  • 177: JROTC
  • 703: National Honor Society Members
  • 47: National Merit Scholars
  • 317: Boys/Girls State Delegates
  • 14: International Cadets (Armenia, Bangladesh, Cameroon, Germany, Indonesia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Poland, Senegal, Thailand, Republic of Korea, Taiwan, and Zambia)
  • 100: Parent is a USMA Graduate

Class of 2025

Not quite as distant in memory are the events leading up to graduation. Branch night has evolved over the years — from picking branches from a chalkboard, opening envelopes in Ike Auditorium, to whatever they’re doing now — but no one can forget the night they received their branch assignment. How did that play out for the class of 2025?

A pie chart showing the absolute number of Cadets placed in each branch.
A look at how branches were distributed for the class of 2025.

We continue to see Infantry and Field Artillery dominate branch selections. This shouldn’t be a surprise, since Combat Arms branches historically make up 70% or more of the branch slots. Cyber, the newest branch in the Army, continues to increase in strength.

Any guesses at the most popular majors amongst graduates?

  • Defense and Strategic Studies – 63 graduates
  • Mechanical Engineering – 61 graduates
  • Systems Engineering – 58 graduates
  • Economics – 51 graduates
  • Law and Legal Studies – 47 graduates
  • Engineering Management – 46 graduates
  • History – 43 graduates
  • Systems and Decision Sciences – 42 graduates
  • Business Management – 40 graduates
  • Civil Engineering – 36 graduates
  • Computer Science – 36 graduates
  • Chemical Engineering – 30 graduates

DSS remains a populate choice, as do Engineering disciplines.

That’s all for now! What are your thoughts? How does the class of 2025 compare to your year group?

Interested in becoming a member of the West Point Society of Baltimore? Come out, meet fellow grads, and have a great time!

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