The 10 Best Military Schools in the US

Military Schools in the US. There are as many motivations to attend college as there are possible majors, almost everyone enrolls in a higher education facility for the same reason.

They aspire to better themselves as well as the world around them. Military institutions are among the best at achieving these objectives in higher education. Military schools come in a variety of forms, including high schools, junior colleges, and graduate-only institutions with a military focus. Military focused universities are unique in that they offer both four-year academic degrees and training for the armed forces. Senior Military Colleges, Maritime Colleges, and Federal Service Academies all give their students the best college education while preparing them for active-duty service.

Students are sometimes referred to as “cadets,” and they engage in activities that will prepare them for military life, like donning a uniform and doing prescribed tasks. In addition, they give them access to some of the world’s top educators, allowing them to get a liberal arts education that will benefit both their military and civilian professions. Without highlighting any one branch of the armed forces, this list examines the top 10 military schools in the United States. You may start your search for the best school for you and begin your path to bettering yourself and serving your country with the help of this list.

1. US Naval Academy

The US Naval Academy gets the top spot in our ranking of the greatest military colleges in the US. The USNA is a four-year, coed federal service academy that is situated in Annapolis, Maryland. The USNA trains officers for the Marine Corps and the Navy and is the second oldest of the five United States academies.

The academy’s 338-acre site, which was previously Fort Severn, is a designated National Historic Landmark. The Navy pays for every officer-in-or training’s midshipman’s Bachelor of Science tuition in exchange for active-duty service. Around 1,000 midshipmen, who are among the highest paid graduates in the nation, will graduate from the USNA each year.

2. West Point

One of the top military colleges in the US is the United States Military Academy, also known as West Point. The academy, a four-year coeducational federal service academy, is often known as the USMA, Army, Army West Point, The Academy, or The Point. The grounds, which are in West Point, New York, were first built as a military fort with a view of the Hudson River.

It is located 50 miles north of New York City in a beautiful setting. For those enrolling in the program to finish active-duty service as an Army soldier, a Bachelor of Science degree is awarded. Most graduates are given second lieutenant commissions. The school has over 45 majors available and a high application rate. Only slightly more than 12 percent of applicants are accepted, making it a very tough application procedure.

3. Texas A&M University

Texas A&M University, one of the six senior military colleges in the US, was founded in 1871. The sixth-largest university in America is situated in College Station, Texas. There are currently considerably over 50,000 students enrolled.

The university has produced over 225 flag and general officers for the armed forces and has had students participating in American conflict since 1875, providing cadets with an unparalleled opportunity. Cadets are given the chance to select a profession through a hands-on procedure, whether this is in the military or for successful civilian employment.

4. US Air Force Academy

The next school on our ranking of the top military colleges in the US is the US Air Force Academy. The school is a military academy for Air Force officer cadets and is situated in El Paso County, Colorado. Its inaugural class was only 59 years ago, making it the newest of the five US service academies. After finishing the four-year curriculum, graduates are commissioned as second lieutenants and receive a Bachelor of Science degree.

5. Norwich University

Norwich University, one of the six senior military colleges, was founded in 1819. It was originally established as the American Literary Scientifica and Military Academy and is now a private university in Northfield, Vermont. Norwich, the birthplace of the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps, has about 3,500 pupils.

The school’s slogan is “I will try,” and its students are a mix of cadets and civilians. The university boasts a high academic quality, a typical military aesthetic, six academic divisions, and 29 majors. More than 130 generals for the armed forces have graduated from the school.

6. Virginia Military Institute

The Virginia Military Institute, which is situated in Lexington, Virginia, is the country’s first military college to receive state funding. VMI exclusively accepts cadets as one of the top military institutions in the US. The institute, which confers baccalaureate degrees, is a very physically and intellectually challenging setting.

All VMI registered cadets are required to take part in the ROTC program of the United States Armed Forces, which is sometimes referred to as the West Point of the South. “In peace a glorious asset, in battle a tower of strength,” is the slogan of the Virginia Military Institute.

7. The Citadel

The Military College of South Carolina, also known as The Citadel, is a comprehensive university funded by the state. One of the six senior military institutions in America, the college was founded in 1842 and is situated in Charleston, South Carolina.

There are 18 academic departments spread over the academy’s five schools. The college is willing to provide both civilian and cadet degrees and provides 28 minors in addition to its 22 majors. The civilian route is one of eight undergraduate and 24 graduate programs, while the military route offers a bachelor’s degree. Duty, Honor, and Respect is their motto.

8. US Merchant Marine Academy

There is no other service that more perfectly embodies the Merchant Marine Service’s motto, “Deeds not words,” than this one. Few people think about how important maritime transportation is, but it should be noted that the military does. In fact, the Merchant Marines, which are essentially privately owned, U.S. flagged transports, give the armed forces this capability because the U.S. Navy lacks the sealift capacity needed to move large numbers of military formations (personnel, equipment, and supplies) to various locations around the world.

Of course, the ability to transport products across the world’s waterways is another service that the Merchant Marines offer as the backbone of global trade. It soon became clear that this effort needed a higher education facility to train seafaring commanders. One of the 5 federal service academies that prepares its students for military (or, in the case of the Merchant Marine and Coast Guard, military-related) service is the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA), which was founded in 1942 with this exact objective in mind.

USMMA, which is based in Kings Point, New York, enrolls just over 900 undergraduates. But getting in is not simple. A stellar high school student may even find it simpler to get accepted to Harvard or Yale. Aspiring USMMA candidates are required to have high SAT/ACT scores, submit an essay, get three letters of recommendation, pass a physical fitness test, and get nominated by a member of Congress (either a U.S. Senator or Representative). If successful, students are accepted into the Regiment of Midshipmen after a period of indoctrination the summer before their first academic year at USMMA.

All costs are covered by the government, as is the case with all federal service academies (and one of the benefits of enrolling). Additionally, each student is given a monthly stipend. But regiment life is roughly what one would anticipate for a military academy. Midshipmen join the U.S. Navy reserve when they take their oath of office in their first year. Hence, welcome to the armed forces! At USMMA, a structured military environment is the norm (with the exception of the Coast Guard Academy), but the focus is maritime as opposed to other academies.

Marine transportation or marine engineering are the two maritime-related fields on which midshipmen concentrate their academic study. Six separate majors offer courses that lead to a bachelor’s degree in science as well as maritime accreditation and license. Midshipmen in the USMMA receive a significant amount of practical training as well.

Midshipmen are obliged to serve as cadets on active U.S. merchant ships between their sophomore and junior years. Students will spend nearly a year away from the academy and average 18 foreign nations throughout this time. Midshipmen graduate with a variety of possibilities after four years of rigorous academic study, leadership development, physical training, and military training. USMMA alumni are in charge of carrying out their government commitments on their own initiative, unlike graduates of other military academies who are required to serve on active duty for a number of years after graduation.

In essence, USMMA graduates have a choice between joining one of the 4 U.S. armed services as an officer or finding work in a civilian marine career that has been approved. Graduates are granted an unrestricted license as a merchant marine officer, a B.S. degree, and a commission in the U.S. Naval Reserve (unless they opt to choose an active-duty appointment) (3rd mate or 3rd asst. engineer). In conclusion, the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy is a very alluring choice for those seeking both a career on the seven seas and a high caliber education.

9. Valley Forge Military Academy and College

Valley Forge, which is formally known as the Military College of Pennsylvania, is a unique college because it offers both secondary and postsecondary education. The school, which was established in 1928 and is situated in Wayne, Pennsylvania, educates young men in grades 7 through 12 (junior high and high school), as well as a two-year post-secondary program.

In fact, through the army’s Early Commissioning Program, Valley Forge is one of only five military junior colleges that grants a straight commission into the army after just two years of study. In essence, Valley Forge pupils can start their indoctrination into the military at a very young age and continue it all the way through college.

The school’s small student body (in comparison to larger universities) creates a particularly cozy feel on campus. About 600 people attend Valley Forge as a whole, with the college accounting for just over half of them. Students at this military school are members of a corps of cadets and are expected to uphold a strong, no-nonsense honor code. It’s fascinating to note how autonomous the corps of cadets is said to be. This means that the corps’ student leaders are in charge of overseeing the daily management, training, and other needs of the other students.

The daily schedule for cadets includes formation, breakfast, housekeeping duties, academic classes until lunch, and then more classes until mid-afternoon. Cadets are also required to live on campus. After lessons, students engage in extracurricular activities like sports before attending required study halls from 7:30 to 9:30 PM. While this is generally the case for any military school, Valley Forge has several special qualities that set it apart. One is that Valley Forge follows extremely particular British educational standards, unlike other military traditions.

In fact, they are the only school in the United States that continues to hold military exercises and British Drill. The majority of the faculty at the school are either active duty or retired members of the British and American armed forces.
One of the few military colleges in the country that serves all five service academies, and the five branches of the U.S. military is Valley Forge, which also maintains a mounted battalion. Because of its tiny size, Valley Forge is a stronghold of customs that are both common and distinctive, providing a level of education that is not only competitive but also individualized and close-knit.

10. US Coast Guard Academy

It seems appropriate to follow our ninth position with another maritime-related institution that likely went unnoticed by the majority of Americans. The Military Academy of the United States Coast Guard is in charge of producing officers for the U.S. Coast Guard service, and its slogan is “the sea generates knowledge” (or other military services).

The U.S. Coast Guard Academy (USCGA), which is situated in New London, Connecticut, is the smallest of the five federal service academies. Admissions are extremely selective, as they are at all of the federal service academies. USCGA admissions requirements, however, are wholly merit-based, in contrast to those of other military academies. As a result, prospective candidates are not required to receive a nomination from a member of the US Congress.

Nevertheless, the USCGA is regarded for being one of the most difficult institutions to get into, only accepting 16% of candidates (about 400 of 2,500 applicants). Among the service academies, USCGA has the most female students, with female cadets making up around 30% of the student body. The school’s Corps of Cadets is made up of all pupils, male and female.

Like all other federal service academies, the USCGA requires all cadets to be on active duty (Naval Reserve), wear uniforms at all times, and adhere to an extremely rigid daily schedule. The Corps of Cadets is a self-administrating organization, meaning that the members are in charge of overseeing other members’ day-to-day activities (training, discipline, etc.). In order to enable this dynamic, the cadet classes (freshman/4th class, sophomore/3rd class, etc.) are set up in this manner. For instance, the first class consists of pupils who hold the senior leadership positions in the Corps, whereas the fourth class is essentially made up of followers.

The Corps is structured to closely resemble a Coast Guard cutter, even down to its smallest operational component (departments and divisions). Cadets are intended to get relevant and useful leadership experience in this way. Along with the daily military impact, cadets must participate in a variety of rigorous military training exercises over the summer (generally maritime related). Additionally, the USCGA mandates that its students take exceptionally challenging academic courses with a focus on engineering and the sciences. Cadets are commissioned as ensigns and must serve in the U.S. Coast Guard for at least five years after graduating (or apply for commission in another one of the branches of the armed services for a similar length of time).

Given that it is not purely military in character, the Coast Guard is a special kind of service. The CG conducts marine law enforcement in addition to emergency first aid services (and come under the jurisdiction of the Department of Homeland Security and not the Department of Defense). Nevertheless, the Coast Guard’s mandate includes a military element that covers port and harbor security as well as the defense of naval assets. Because of this, the service not only offers a variety of demanding employment prospects, but also calls for a university, like the USCGA, to teach and develop the officers who enable the service to thrive at its purpose.

Conclusion

Education has long been regarded as a prerequisite for achieving personal success. As a result, many people make an effort to find the colleges and universities that will serve this objective. However, knowledge is not the only observable quality required for a fruitful and successful profession. Along with other admirable and desired qualities, integrity, discipline, and honor need to be developed. However, these social skills are rarely highlighted in the conventional academic curriculum.

This is not the case, though, with institutions that incorporate a military tradition into their overall curriculum. Compared to typical schools, these institutions provide a setting that is wholly unique. Military schools combine a military organization with competitive academics, placing a strong emphasis on discipline, teamwork, and goal-oriented accomplishment. The goal is to generate highly qualified graduates who can assume leadership roles in their diverse career aspirations (military or civilian).

FAQS on the 10 Best Military Schools in the US

Recommended for you:

• 9 Major Business Certifications worth getting with reasons
• 12 Free online courses for content writing
• Best aviation schools in Canada 2023
• 9 Free Universities in Greece for International Students
• 10 Best Community College in Hawaii 2023