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Biggest Military Schools in America

24/7 Wall St. Staff

Published: December 16, 2023 8:34 am

United States Military Academies are extremely competitive and typically, only the most qualified candidates will gain acceptance. These academies are also an instrumental part of officer training programs within the U.S. Armed Forces. One of the key strengths of the U.S. military lies in its ability to educate a substantial number of officers through these institutions, with the largest ones capable of producing thousands of officers annually. In addition to these academies offering extensive training and top-tier military education, they also offer many free benefits, one of which is a world-class education.

In terms of the student body, one of the nation’s largest military academies is the United States Military Academy at West Point, situated on the Hudson River in New York State, approximately 50 miles from New York City. Established in 1802, it currently enrolls around 4,600 cadets. West Point is renowned for its comprehensive approach to education, encompassing academic coursework, military training, and character development. However, it ranks as the fourth-largest American military academy in terms of size. (Here’s a roster of the most famous West Point grads.)

24/7 Wall St. was able to identify the 28 largest U.S. military academies by referring to the online database of military academies provided by Military School USA, an online directory of military academies designed to help families understand the ins and outs of military school education. We listed these schools from smallest to largest based on their total student enrollment, listing only schools with 500 or more students enrolled. We supplemented this data with information from Military School USA regarding each school’s location, type, founding date, and whether each is co-educational.

Most of these larger academies are concentrated on the East Coast, often tracing back to historical population density patterns in that region. Nonetheless, three of these academies are in California, with the oldest dating back to 1930 and the other two established in the early 21st century. The largest of all, founded in 1962, is situated in Galveston, Texas. (These are the oldest U.S. military academies still in operation.)

Here are the biggest military schools in America.

28. Fork Union Military Academy

Fork Union Military Academy (CC BY-SA 4.0) by Sparkyhardwood

• Student body: 500
• Founding date: 1898
• Location: Fork Union, Virginia
• Coed or men only: Men only
• Type: College preparatory

27. Marmion Academy

Source: armyrotc / Flickr

• Student body: 525
• Founding date: 1933
• Location: Aurora, Illinois
• Coed or men only: Men only
• Type: College preparatory

26. Carver Military Academy

Source: 416thengineers / Flickr

• Student body: 525
• Founding date: 2000
• Location: Chicago, Illinois
• Coed or boys only: Coed
• Type: College preparatory

25. Riverside Preparatory Academy

Source: Courtesy of Riverside Preparatory Academy via Facebook

• Student body: 530
• Founding date: 1907
• Location: Gainesville, Georgia
• Coed or men only: Men only
• Type: College preparatory

24. Delaware Military Academy

Source: senatorchriscoons / Flickr

• Student body: 560
• Founding date: 2003
• Location: Wilmington, Delaware
• Coed or boys only: Coed
• Type: College preparatory

23. St. Thomas Academy

Source: Courtesy of Saint Thomas Academy via Facebook

• Student body: 695
• Founding date: 1885
• Location: Mendota Heights, Minnesota
• Coed or men only: Men only
• Type: College preparatory

22. Oakland Military Institute

Source: Mx. Granger / Wikimedia Commons

• Student body: 725
• Founding date: 2001
• Location: Oakland, California
• Coed or boys only: Coed
• Type: College preparatory

21. California Military Institute

Source: RichVintage / E+ via Getty Images

• Student body: 750
• Founding date: 2003
• Location: Perris, California
• Coed or boys only: Coed
• Type: College preparatory

20. Culver Military Academy

Culver Military Academy (CC BY 2.0) by FotoGuy 49057

• Student body: 850
• Founding date: 1894
• Location: Culver, Indiana
• Coed or boys only: Coed
• Type: College preparatory

19. California Maritime Academy

TS Golden Bear... (CC BY-SA 3.0) by https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:TS_Golden_Bear.JPG

• Student body: 850
• Founding date: 1930
• Location: Vallejo, California
• Coed or boys only: Coed
• Type: Undergraduate, Postgraduate

18. Maine Maritime Academy

160506-D-PB383-0907 (CC BY 2.0) by Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

• Student body: 850
• Founding date: 1941
• Location: Castine, Maine
• Coed or boys only: Coed
• Type: College preparatory

17. New Mexico Military Institute

Source: Courtesy of New Mexico Military Institute

• Student body: 870
• Founding date: 1891
• Location: Roswell, New Mexico
• Coed or boys only: Coed
• Type: Junior College, College Preparatory

16. Kenosha Military Academy

Source: Courtesy of Kenosha Military Academy (KMA) Honor Guard via Facebook

• Student body: 900
• Founding date: 1889
• Location: Kenosha, Wisconsin
• Coed or boys only: Coed
• Type: College preparatory

15. Forestville Military Academy

Source: recep-bg / iStock via Getty Images

• Student body: 930
• Founding date: 1982
• Location: Forestville, Maryland
• Coed or boys only: Coed
• Type: College preparatory

14. U.S. Merchant Marine Academy

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

• Student body: 1,000
• Founding date: 1943
• Location: Kings Point, New York
• Coed or boys only: Coed
• Type: Undergraduate

13. U.S. Coast Guard Academy

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

• Student body: 1,200
• Founding date: 1876
• Location: New London, Connecticut
• Coed or boys only: Coed
• Type: Undergraduate

12. Sarasota Military Academy

Source: Courtesy of Sarasota Military Academy via Facebook

• Student body: 1,350
• Founding date: 2002
• Location: Sarasota, Florida
• Coed or boys only: Coed
• Type: College preparatory

11. Virginia Military Institute

Source: ablokhin / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

• Student body: 1,600
• Founding date: 1839
• Location: Lexington, Virginia
• Coed or men only: Men only
• Type: Undergraduate

10. SUNY Maritime College

Source: SUNY Maritime College

• Student body: 1,850
• Founding date: 1874
• Location: Throggs Neck, New York
• Coed or boys only: Coed
• Type: Undergraduate, Postgraduate

9. The Citadel

Source: sailaway46 / iStock via Getty Images

• Student body: 2,300
• Founding date: 1842
• Location: Charleston, South Carolina
• Coed or men only: Men only
• Type: Undergraduate

8. Norwich University

Source: drum10thmountain / Flickr

• Student body: 3,450
• Founding date: 1819
• Location: Northfield, Vermont
• Coed or men only: Men only
• Type: Undergraduate

7. U.S. Naval War College

Naval War College Current Stra... (CC BY 2.0) by U.S. Naval War College

• Student body: 4,000
• Founding date: 1884
• Location: Newport, Rhode Island
• Coed or boys only: Coed
• Type: Undergraduate

6. United States Air Force Academy

Source: Michael Ciaglo / Getty Images News via Getty Images

• Student body: 4,400
• Founding date: 1954
• Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado
• Coed or boys only: Coed
• Type: Undergraduate

5. United States Naval Academy

Source: usnavy / Flickr

• Student body: 4,500
• Founding date: 1845
• Location: Annapolis, Maryland
• Coed or boys only: Coed
• Type: Undergraduate

4. Military Academy at West Point

Source: Brian Logan / iStock via Getty Images

• Student body: 4,600
• Founding date: 1802
• Location: West Point, New York
• Coed or boys only: Coed
• Type: Undergraduate

3. The Military College of Georgia

Source: Jessica McGowan / Getty Images News via Getty Images

• Student body: 6,500
• Founding date: 1873
• Location: Dahlonega, Georgia
• Coed or boys only: Coed
• Type: Undergraduate, Postgraduate

2. Georgia Military College

Georgia Military College (CC BY-SA 3.0) by Michael Rivera

• Student body: 8,000
• Founding date: 1900
• Location: Milledgeville, Georgia
• Coed or boys only: Coed
• Type: Junior College

1. Texas Maritime Academy

S.S. Cape Gibson, Texas Mariti... (CC BY 2.0) by Patrick Feller

• Student body: 50,000
• Founding date: 1962
• Location: Galveston, Texas
• Coed or boys only: Coed
• Type: Undergraduate