So when was it? 1950’s?? [ VBG ;^) ]
I recall during a BGO briefing where someone had figured out the total operating cost of each academy for a 4 year period, plus the stipends paid to cadets or midshipmen ....divide by number of cadets/midshipmen to get the cost per cadet/midshipman. In 2008, it was about $420K for USNA, $435K for USMA, and $460K for USAFA. Of course, the questions were around about the differences...and we all agreed that USAFA was more expensive because of all the golf courses that were maintained there.
Nooooo, no quite that long ago ...
But it was long enough ago [Class of '76], that my memory may be playing games with me. It may very well have been "$200,000" and not "$20,000" ...
...but that still is sure a lot of nickels ...