The Citadel
Nancy Mace's connection to The Citadel, where in 1999 she became the first woman to graduate from the South Carolina Corps of Cadets.
Last updated June 9, 2026
The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina, is a state-supported senior military college in Charleston, South Carolina. Nancy Mace's association with the institution is a defining element of her public biography.
First woman to graduate the Corps of Cadets
In 1999, Mace became the first woman to graduate from The Citadel's Corps of Cadets. The Citadel began admitting women into the Corps of Cadets in 1996, following federal court litigation in which the institution had defended its all-male admissions policy. Mace was therefore among the first cohort of women to enter the Corps and became the first to complete all degree requirements and graduate.
Memoir
Mace wrote a memoir about her experience as one of the first women in the Corps of Cadets. The account is frequently cited in profiles of her and in her own campaign materials.
Significance to her public identity
Her status as a Citadel graduate is regularly referenced in coverage of her career and is a recurring theme in how she presents her background. The distinction is commonly noted in introductions of her in news media and official biographies.
See also
Neutral, public-record entry. "TODO: verify" items are not yet confirmed against a primary source.