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Are you curious about military boarding school? Whether you’re a young person wanting to prepare for your future, or a parent trying to find the best educational options for your kid, you might be looking to learn more about this particular kind of schooling. Many students thrive in the military boarding school environment, with its specialized focus, skill-building, and structure, enfolded in a personalized college preparatory education. As with any other kind of school, there are a number of important factors to consider with military boarding schools, including location, tuition, academic success, college placement, and extracurricular opportunities.

What Are the Benefits of Military Boarding Schools?

While boarding schools are only one option for military education, they can be particularly effective in allowing students to immerse themselves fully in the routine and structure of the school. According to the Association of Military Colleges & Schools of the United States (), the military education model can help students “gain critical thinking and leadership skills while learning the importance of values, character, and personal responsibility.”

It’s a common misconception that students who attend military boarding schools will go on to join the military. But this isn’t necessarily the case! While some students may decide to attend a military college and pursue a career in the armed forces, many others follow their passions into a multitude of college studies and future careers! The skills, resilience, and self-discipline that students learn in the military boarding school environment can prepare them for their future pursuits, regardless of their chosen field.

What Are the Best Military Boarding Schools in the US?

We’ve compiled the following list of the best military boarding schools in the US to help you learn more about the available options. Every student is different, so the best-fit school for each student may also be different. For each school in our ranking, we’ve provided some important highlights—both quantitative and qualitative—so you can narrow down your choices based on the criteria that matter most to you.

1)

• Location: St. Petersburg, FL
• Tuition: $52,800–$67,000
• Type: Co-ed
• Grade level: K-12 (boarding 8-12)
• Enrollment: 467 students
• Student/teacher ratio: 15:1
• Average SAT/ACT: 1036/1600 and 20/36

Highlights: Farragut has been named the #1 school in Tampa Bay, and ranks as a top boarding school and prep school nationally. They offer merit- and need-based scholarships, and have special resources for Florida residents and Gold Star families. Their international boarding program welcomes students from around the country and the world, as well as offering a 5-day boarding option for students living in Tampa Bay or the surrounding areas. Farragut boasts a 100% college acceptance rate.

2) 

• Location: Camden, SC
• Tuition: $29,590–$36,995
• Type: All-boys
• Grade level: 7-12
• Enrollment: 300 students
• Student/teacher ratio: 12:1
• Average SAT/ACT: 1000/1600 and 21/36

Highlights: Camden is ranked the #1 most affordable private military boarding school in the US. The State of South Carolina recognizes Camden as the official state military academy. Camden is also a Christian school, and students attend weekly chapel services and have weekly prayer sessions and Bible study available as well.

3) 

• Location: Culver, IN
• Tuition: $65,000
• Type: Co-ed
• Grade level: 9-12
• Enrollment: 835
• Student/teacher ratio: 6:1

Highlights: Culver Academies is comprised of the all-boys Culver Military Academy and the all-girls Culver Girls Academy, as well as the Culver Summer Schools and Camps program. While the academies overlap in campus, classes, and some extracurriculars, the military educational structure is only a part of the Culver Military Academy. There are merit- and need-based scholarships available, and 37% of families receive need-based financial aid.

4) 

• Location: Waynesboro, VA
• Tuition: $36,900–$41,900
• Type: All-boys
• Grade level: 6-12 (boarding 8-12)
• Enrollment: 95 students
• Student/teacher ratio: 8:1

Highlights: FMS is the oldest and smallest of Virginia’s military boarding schools. As an Honor Unit with Distinction, FMS is one of a small number of schools in the nation that can nominate students for any of the US Service Academies. They offer need-based grants, merit-based scholarships, and tuition reductions to qualifying students.

5) 

• Location: Fork Union, VA
• Tuition: $39,950–$46,450
• Type: All-boys
• Grade level: 7-12
• Enrollment: 300
• Student/teacher ratio: 8:1
• Average SAT: 1110/1600

Highlights: FUMA has been called “the West Point of high schools” and boasts a high number of advanced classes, and a highly-regarded athletics program that has produced Olympians, Division I athletes, and professional athletes. Upper School students follow a “One-Subject Plan” of study, focusing on a single major subject every seven weeks. FUMA has a 100% college acceptance rate.

6) 

• Location: Chatham, VA
• Tuition: $46,650–$56,650
• Type: All-boys
• Grade level: 7-12
• Enrollment: 195
• Student/teacher ratio: 11:1
• Average SAT: 1030/1600

Highlights: Hargrave is a Baptist-affiliated institution, committed to encouraging the spiritual development of all students, regardless of religious background. Along with Honors, AP, and Dual Enrollment courses, Hargrave also offers a unique leadership program with dedicated leadership courses for all students. Hargrave boasts a decade-long streak of 100% college acceptance.

7) 

• Location: Harlingen, TX
• Tuition: $53,900
• Type: All-boys
• Grade level: 7-12
• Enrollment: 240 students
• Student/teacher ratio: 12:1
• Average SAT: 1070/1600

Highlights: MMA is the only military boarding school in the US that is specifically built on the traditions and values of the US Marine Corps. MMA has a variety of unique STEM-based programs, including cybersecurity courses, and a Flight Training program in which students can earn a pilot’s license within a year. They boast a 100% college acceptance rate.

8) 

• Location: Woodstock, VA
• Tuition: $32,500-$39,950
• Type: Co-ed
• Grade level: 8-12
• Enrollment: 120 students
• Student/teacher ratio: 10:1

Highlights: Unique to military boarding schools, MMA has been co-ed since its founding in 1899. They also offer a 5-day boarding option for local students. MMA has a unique STEM curriculum, in which students each choose a track that most interests them, with specialties including Coding, Robotics, Sustainable Energy, and Virtual Reality. MMA also has a Mentor Program, matching each student with a dedicated faculty or staff member for personalized guidance and one-on-one support.

9) 

• Location: Mexico, MO
• Tuition: $39,500
• Type: All-boys
• Grade level: 7-12
• Enrollment: 220 students
• Student/teacher ratio: 11:1
• Average SAT/ACT: 1148/1600 and 23/36

Highlights: MMA uses a 4×4 block schedule curriculum for students to focus more deeply on four courses per semester. Through the Triumph Program with nearby William Woods University, students can earn up to two years of transferable college credit. As an Honor Unit with Distinction, MMA can nominate students to any of the US Service Academies.

10) 

• Location: Roswell, NM
• Tuition: $23,218–$31,344
• Type: Co-ed
• Grade level: 9-12
• Enrollment: 871 students
• Student/teacher ratio: 15:1
• Average ACT: 23/36

Highlights: NMMI is the only state-supported co-ed college prep military boarding school in the US. As a Land Grant institution, NMMI is able to offer the lowest tuition rates for a school of its kind in the country, with zero-cost options for New Mexico residents, and over $2 million in endowed scholarships offered annually. They boast a 100% college acceptance rate.

11) 

• Location: Cornwall-on-Hudson, NY
• Tuition: $41,910
• Type: Co-ed
• Grade level: 7-12
• Enrollment: 120 students
• Student/teacher ratio: 7:1

Highlights: NYMA is one of the oldest military boarding schools in the country, founded in 1889. They offer tuition assistance and discounts to qualifying families, as well as scholarships for student-athletes. They offer a number of special programs, including a Future Scientist Program for STEM studies, a Language Bridge Program for ESL students, and a Postgraduate Leadership Program for student-athletes.

12) 

• Location: Oak Ridge, NC
• Tuition: $35,000–$40,000
• Type: Co-ed
• Grade level: 7-12
• Enrollment: 120 students
• Student/teacher ratio: 9:1

Highlights: Oak Ridge is the oldest pre-college military academy in the country, founded in 1852, and co-ed since 1854. ORMA has had a 100% college acceptance rate for over a decade. They offer a number of scholarship options and tuition discounts.

13) 

• Location: Front Royal, VA
• Tuition: $56,882
• Type: Co-ed
• Grade level: 6-12
• Enrollment: 315 students
• Student/teacher ratio:14:1

Highlights: R-MA offers unique academic opportunities, such as subject area specializations, and pre-professional pathways in Aviation, Military Career, and Software & Engineering. R-MA has a 100% college acceptance rate, with an average of $16 million in scholarships awarded annually, and at least 15 Service Academy appointments per graduating class.

14) 

• Location: Gainesville, GA
• Tuition: $58,800–$68,000
• Type: All-boys
• Grade level: 6-12
• Enrollment: 290 students
• Student/teacher ratio: 8:1
• Average SAT/ACT: 1323/1600 and 20/36

Highlights: Riverside is an Honor Unit with Distinction, and can directly nominate students to the US Service Academies. They also offer a Service Academy Preparatory Program for students interested in service appointments. 64% of Riverside families receive need-based financial aid.

15) 

• Location: Camp Hill, AL
• Tuition: $35,000–$42,000
• Type: All-boys (or co-ed day program)
• Grade level: 7-12
• Enrollment: 120 students
• Student/teacher ratio: 10:1

Highlights: Southern Prep offers both an all-boys military boarding school and a co-ed day school with the option to enroll in JROTC courses or the Corps of Cadets. They also offer unique hands-on experience, such as flight training and drone training, as well as an On-Campus Employment Program for job training and skill-building.

16)

• Location: Delafield, WI
• Tuition: $52,600–$59,700
• Type: Co-ed
• Grade level: 6-12
• Enrollment: 222 students
• Student/teacher ratio: 12:1
• Average SAT/ACT: 1130/1600 and 23/36

Highlights: St. John’s Northwestern has three specialized programs: the JROTC Leadership Program, the DME Basketball Academy, and the Engineering, Robotics, & Aviation Program. St. John’s Northwestern has held the record for the most West Point appointments for seven years running, and their JROTC program achieved a rare perfect score. They have 5-day boarding and day student options for local students.

17) 

• Location: Wayne, PA
• Tuition: $52,000–$62,000
• Type: All-boys
• Grade level: 7-12
• Enrollment: 150 students
• Student/teacher ratio: 10:1
• Average SAT: 1103/1600

Highlights: VFMA offers a number of unique academic opportunities, such as immersive experiential learning units and required college-level courses in computer science. Students can earn additional college credits at the adjacent Valley Forge Military College, including earning a Cybersecurity Certificate. VFMA has a 100% college acceptance rate.

Additional Schools Worth Considering

The following military schools also have great reputations but are not all military boarding schools. Some are military day schools or boarding-optional schools. Some of these schools have well-integrated JROTC programs, but it may not be required to participate in this program to attend. If you’re more flexible in your criteria, we recommend taking a look at these options in the military education model as well:

Private Military Schools

1. Army & Navy Academy (Carlsbad, CA)
2. Florida Preparatory Academy (Melbourne, FL)
3. La Salle Institute (Troy, NY)
4. Saint Thomas Academy (Mendota Heights, MN)
5. St. Catherine’s Academy (Anaheim, CA)
6. St. John’s College High School (Washington DC)
7. TMI Episcopal – The Episcopal School of Texas (San Antonio, TX)
8. American Military Academy (Guaynabo, PR)
9. Christian Brothers Academy (Albany, NY)
10. Marmion Academy (Aurora, IL)

Public Military Schools

1. Rickover Naval Academy (Chicago, IL)
2. Franklin Military Academy (Richmond, VA)
3. Sarasota Military Academy (Sarasota, FL)
4. Utah Military Academy (Riverdale, UT)
5. Bridgeport Military Academy (Bridgeport, CT)
6. Chicago Military Academy – Bronzeville (Chicago, IL)
7. First State Military Academy (Clayton, DE)
8. Kenosha Military Academy (Kenosha, WI)
9. New Orleans Military & Maritime Academy (New Orleans, LA)
10. Summerlin Academy (Bartow, FL)

Final Thoughts – Best Military Boarding Schools

We hope our ranking of the Best Military Boarding Schools in the US will be helpful to you as you go forward in your search for the best schooling options for you and your family. Whether you decide on a school within the military education model or not, there are good fit options for every student. It just takes research, curiosity, and patience!

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