Founded in the 1876 as part of the Department of Treasury, the Coast Guard protects U.S. interests at home and around the world. Located on the west bank of the Thames River, with an enrollment of approximately 850, the U.S. Coast Guard Academy is considered to be one of the finest and most selective colleges in America. For the Class of 2005, less than 400 cadets were selected from a pool of 5,600 applicants. The smallest of the five federal service academies, the Coast Guard Academy provides a four-year Bachelor of Science program with a full scholarship for each individual. Unlike the other federal service academies, however, there are no congressional appointments. Graduates of the academy are obligated to serve five years.