As the training ground for tomorrow's Air Force leaders, the scenic 18,500 acre campus doubles as a university and boot camp. Each year approximately 10,000 men and women vie for roughly 1,300 slots available for entering freshman. There are more than 4,300 cadets attending the academy. Of the more than 40,000 cadets who have graduated in 50 classes, nearly half are still on active duty.  (Current as of April 2009)

The base is open for visitors between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. 7 days a week.  Both the North and South gates will be staffed and identification will be checked.  Visitors will enter the base using the far right visitor lane and must present a valid state issued drivers license to the sentry at the gate, visitors will be asked to open their trunk for a cursory visual search prior to entering USAFA. (During some special events such as home football games and graduation, a visitor cordon will be restored and access to parts of the United States Air Force Academy will be temporarily restricted.)