<p>Many (I believe most) USN officers come from accession sources other than USNA. Non-USNA grads have been CNO. </p>
<p>The general view is that a USNA degree helps in the short term b/c you have spent 4 yrs in the military so are ahead of the curve on basics of military life. However, the general view is also that the non-grads catch up quickly. You can be very successful in the USN with a degree from a civilian school, with or w/o NROTC. </p>
<p>USNA is VERY different from a civilian college. Spend some time investigating what it has to offer and the various commitments, responsibilities, etc. that come along with the benefits. Only you can decide if it’s right for you. I can only say that, if you really have zero interest in making the USN/USMC a career, USNA may not be the best approach for you. It’s not that you must want to be a career officer to attend USNA; however, I’m not sure that using it as a transit point for another career is the best way to start out. Though some may disagree with this view.</p>