If you’re seeking an education directly within a military setting — one that combines traditional instruction with military education, drilling, leadership, and service — you might be a good candidate for a military academy. Military or service academies are a great option if you plan to enter into a military career immediately following your formal education. This is especially true if you hope to become an officer or a part of the military’s leadership structure.
These schools are often quite competitive, requiring strong academic performance for admission. But if you qualify, many of these schools do provide generous scholarships or even free admission.
Federal Military Academies
The five major federal military universities are distinguished by a high level of competition for admission and by their academic excellence. In order to gain entrance into the Military Academy in West Point, for instance, an applicant is required, alongside top academic marks, to present a letter of commendation from a Senator or congressperson, or failing that, the President or Vice President of the United States.
If you should gain entrance into one of these institutions, however, you will attend school free of charge. Admission into the U.S. Military, Air Force, Naval, or Coast Guard Academy comes with a full scholarship, funded by the military branch in question. This scholarship covers tuition, housing and, in some cases, provides a stipend for fees, books, and/or living expenses. The Merchant Marine Academy charges no tuition and is largely funded directly by the federal government. In each of these cases, bear in mind that your admission will come with a mandatory service obligation. If you are prepared to make that commitment, admission into one of the following federal military institutions would be entirely free of charge.
- United States Military Academy (West Point, New York)
- United States Air Force Academy (El Paso County, Colorado)
- United States Naval Academy (Annapolis, Maryland)
- United States Coast Guard Academy (New London, Connecticut)
- United States Merchant Marine Academy (Kings Point, New York)
In addition to these federal academies, the military maintains affiliations with a fairly broad range of institutions, both public and private, and at the prep and college levels, that provide a wide spectrum of scholarship opportunities for aspiring cadets. To be considered for a scholarship or a free ride, reach out directly to the college or prep school of your choice listed below:
Private College Prep Schools
- Admiral Farragut Academy (St. Petersburg, Florida; coeducational)
- Army and Navy Academy (Carlsbad, California)
- Benedictine College Preparatory (Goochland, Virginia)
- Camden Military Academy (Camden, South Carolina)
- Carson Long Military Institute (New Bloomfield, Pennsylvania)
- Chamberlain-Hunt Academy (Port Gibson, Mississippi; coeducational)
- Christian Brothers Academy (Albany, New York)
- Culver Military Academy (Culver, Indiana)
- Fishburne Military School (Waynesboro, Virginia)
- Florida Preparatory Academy (Melbourne, Florida; coeducational)
- Fork Union Military Academy (Fork Union, Virginia)
- Hargrave Military Academy (Chatham, Virginia)
- Howe Military School (Howe, Indiana; coeducational)
- La Salle Institute (Troy, New York)
- Leonard Hall Junior Naval Academy (Leonardtown, Maryland; coeducational)
- Lyman Ward Military Academy (Camp Hill, Alabama)
- Marine Military Academy (Harlingen, Texas)
- Marion Military Institute (Marion, Alabama; coeducational)
- Massanutten Academy (Woodstock, Virginia; coeducational)
- Millersburg Military Institute (Millersburg, Kentucky)
- Missouri Military Academy (Mexico, Missouri)
- New Mexico Military Institute (Roswell, New Mexico; coeducational)
- New York Military Academy (Cornwall on Hudson, New York; coeducational)
- Oak Ridge Military Academy (Oak Ridge, North Carolina; coeducational)
- Randolph-Macon Academy (Front Royal, Virginia; coeducational)
- Riverside Military Academy (Gainesville, Georgia)
- San Marcos Baptist Academy (San Marcos, Texas)
- St. Catherine’s Academy (Anaheim, California)
- St. John’s College High School (Washington, DC; coeducational)
- St. John’s Military School (Salina, Kansas)
- St. John’s Northwestern Military Academy (Delafield, Wisconsin)
- St. Thomas Academy (Mendota Heights, Minnesota)
- Southeastern Military Academy (Port St. Lucie, Florida)
- TMI — The Episcopal School of Texas (San Antonio, Texas)
- Valley Forge Military Academy and College (Wayne, Pennsylvania)
Public Military Schools
The following public military academies are part of the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) program, and are therefore funded directly through the United States Department of Defense.
- Air Force Academy High School (Chicago, Illinois)
- Bataan Military Academy (Albuquerque, New Mexico)
- Carver Military Academy (Chicago, Illinois)
- Chicago Military Academy (Chicago, Illinois)
- Cleveland Junior Naval Academy (St. Louis, Missouri)
- Delaware Military Academy (Wilmington, Delaware)
- Forestville Military Academy (Forestville, Maryland)
- Franklin Military Academy (Richmond, Virginia)
- Georgia Military College (Milledgeville, Georgia)
- Hollywood Hills Military Academy (Hollywood, Florida)
- Kenosha Military Academy (Kenosha, Wisconsin)
- Marine Academy of Science and Technology (Sandy Hook, New Jersey)
- Marine Math and Science Academy (Chicago, Illinois)
- New Orleans Military and Maritime Academy (New Orleans, Louisiana)
- Oakland Military Institute (Oakland, California)
- Philadelphia Military Academy (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
- Phoenix Military Academy (Chicago, Illinois)
- Rickover Naval Academy (Chicago, Illinois)
- Sarasota Military Academy (Sarasota, Florida)
- Summerlin Military Academy (Bartow, Florida)
- Utah Military Academy (Riverdale, Utah)
State-supported maritime colleges and universities
- California State University Maritime Academy (part of the California State University system)
- Great Lakes Maritime Academy (a division of Northwestern Michigan College)
- Maine Maritime Academy
- Massachusetts Maritime Academy
- State University of New York Maritime College (part of the State University of New York (SUNY) system)
- Texas A&M Maritime Academy (part of the Texas A&M University System)
Senior Military Colleges
- Virginia Military Institute (Lexington, Virginia)
- The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina (Charleston, South Carolina; four-year public college; civilians are only allowed in graduate programs)
- Texas A&M University (College Station, Texas)
- University of North Georgia (Dahlonega, Georgia)
- Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Blacksburg, Virginia)
- Norwich University (Northfield, Vermont)
For more information and resources on getting a quality education, earning a degree or getting a great job, return to the Military Education Headquarters.