There are many reasons why parents consider sending their children to a military school.
Military schools for girls are generally very prestigious as they offer first-class academics along with military training.
Students that receive their education at a military prep academy are more likely to get noticed from highly-esteemed universities along with the U.S. Armed Forces.
What are the best military schools for girls in the United States?
There are several excellent choices based on your current location.
For this reason, OMK has divided the top military schools for girls based on region (Northeast, Southeast, Midwest, Southwest, and West).
All these selections are pre-school level/prep school military institutions (K-12) or university-level institutions, which are different from the famous military academies.
The premier military schools for girls were selected based on prestige, acceptance rate, affordability, and SAT output.
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Top 3 Military Schools for Girls – Northeast
#1 – New York Military Academy
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- Location: 78 Academy Ave, Cornwall-On-Hudson, NY 12520
- Acceptance Rate: 50%
- Grades: 8-12
- Founded: 1889
- Official website: https://www.nyma.org/
The New York Military Academy is highly considered among the most prestigious military schools for girls, especially in the Northeast portion of the United States.
The Northeast region of the United States is especially flooded with prestigious military prep schools, which makes its selection at the top of the list even more impressive.
New York Military Academy operates 60 miles north of New York City in the small rural community of Cornwall.
It is one of the oldest military schools in the United States, as the academy was founded in 1889.
New York Military Academy was originally an all-boys school, however, it began admitting girls in the 1970s.
The academy has produced over 10,000 graduates including one U.S. president.
It sports an impressive 100% success rate in helping students reach college.
The New York Military Academy curriculum is challenging and students also receive an introduction to military culture.
The selective admission process only admits 50% of new applicants.
Its gorgeous 135-acre campus currently hosts the NYMA Leadership Program.
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#2 – Maine Maritime Academy
- Location: 1 Pleasant St., Castine, ME 04420
- Acceptance Rate: 55%
- Grades: 4-year college
- Founded: 1941
- Official website: https://mainemaritime.edu/
The Maine Maritime Academy is a public college and military prep school for girls and boys.
The military school is situated in Castine, Maine, and has educated students for 80 years.
Maine Maritime Academy is one of a few non-federal, maritime training colleges in the United States.
Additionally, it is different from other federal service academies in that a congressional recommendation is not required to attend the school.
Nonetheless, selection to the Maine Maritime Academy is selective as just over half of the students that apply are granted admission.
Maine Maritime Academy is one of only two maritime training schools in the nation to feature a Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps (NROTC) unit.
Like most military prep schools, students are not obligated to serve the country following graduation.
However, the prep school and training college can do wonders if you are looking to eventually serve the country at sea.
The student life includes residential housing and dining along with many other campus clubs and programs.
#3 – SUNY Maritime College
- Location: 6 Pennyfield Ave, The Bronx, NY 10466
- Acceptance Rate: 74%
- Grades: 4-year college
- Founded: 1874
- Official website: https://www.sunymaritime.edu/
State University of New York Maritime College, or SUNY Maritime College, is a public college in New York City.
The military school for girls is a fragment of the State University of New York (SUNY) education system.
SUNY Maritime College has a long history as the institution was founded in 1874.
At the time, it was a legendary accomplishment as there were no other federally approved military institutions of its kind in the late 19th century.
Today, the State University of New York Maritime College is one of a handful of degree-granting maritime academies in the United States, along with the previously mentioned Maine Maritime Academy.
SUNY Maritime College in New York features a variety of undergraduate programs along with graduate studies.
The campus provides training for the United States Navy and Marine Corps Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC), the only of its kind in metropolitan NYC.
Graduates of SUNY Maritime College progress to earn a median salary of $145,000 – the highest annual salary of any university graduates in the United States.
Related Article – Joining The Military After College: How To Do It The “Right” Way
Top 3 Military Schools for Girls – Southeast
#1 – Massanutten Military Academy
- Location: 614 S Maint St, Woodstock, VA 22664
- Acceptance Rate: 75%
- Grades: 5-12 / College Prep
- Founded: 1899
- Official website: https://www.militaryschool.com/
The Massanutten Military Academy (MMA) is traditionally believed to represent one of the best military schools for girls in the southeastern United States.
The military prep school introduces students to military life as early as the fifth grade and extends up to one academic postgraduate year.
As a result, the Massanutten Military Academy is one of the leaders in preparing a new generation of college students and military officers.
The military academy is based out of Woodstock, Virginia, and is named after a famous nearby mountain.
Massanutten Military Academy was established at the turn of the 20th century and is unique in that it has admitted female students since its inception.
In fact, the first graduating class of 1902 consisted of both of male and female graduates.
Therefore, the history of Massanutten Military Academy in terms of accepting female students is heralded among the best in the nation.
The academics are noteworthy and STEM-based, which is the case with most of the top military schools for girls.
The JROTC program is exceptionally active at Massanutten Military Academy.
Furthermore, students regularly earn thousands in scholarships, which helps fund their college education after leaving MMA.
#2 – Georgia Military College Preparatory School
- Location: 201 E Greene St, Milledgeville, GA 31061
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Grades: K-12
- Founded: 1879
- Official website: https://www.gmcprep.com/
The Military College of Georgia (GMC) Preparatory School is refreshing in that it offers a public option compared to most of the private schools on the list.
The public school is separated between elementary, middle school, and high school levels, along with a military junior college program.
It was originally known as the Middle Georgia Military and Agricultural College with origins that date to the early 20th century.
The campus is located in urban Milledgeville, Georgia, and includes the old state capitol which was in operation until 1868.
All in all, the Military College of Georgia has 13 different campuses along with a Global Online College that serves nearly 16,500 students.
The Elementary Prep School, for grades K-5, is held in Jenkins Hall, while the Middle and High School Military Prep program is held at Usery Hall.
The Military College of Georgia (GMC) is one of only 4 junior colleges in the nation that participates in the U.S. Army’s Early Commissioning Program.
Consequently, those that graduate from the Military College of Georgia receive a commission from the U.S. Army upon completing the 2-year program.
Meanwhile, the GMC prep school introduces less than 600 middle school and high school students to ROTC along with a demanding curriculum.
The preparatory school enables students to take high school classes while also earning junior college credits through the dual enrollment program.
#3 – Franklin Military Academy
- Location: 701 North 37th Street, Richmond, VA 23223
- Acceptance Rate: N/A
- Grades: 9-12
- Founded: 1980
- Official website: https://fma.rvaschools.net/
Franklin Military Academy accepts grades 9-12 for its military prep school.
The coed school is part of the Richmond City Public School District and has been in operation for 4 decades.
The academy was the first public military school offered in the United States when it was created in 1980.
As a result, students may pursue an affordable military prep school that will also challenge them academically.
The Franklin Military Academy has received a bronze ranking from U.S. News and World Report for representing one of the top high schools in the country.
In addition to academics, female students begin military training as well as participate in varsity sports including basketball and track.
The campus is centrally located in a single building in downtown Richmond, Virginia.
It prides itself on a strict regimented military-style curriculum along with small class sizes (average teacher-to-student radio 15:1).
Students complete the Officer’s Training Corps (JROTC) while focusing on different disciplines that prepare them for college or military service.
Related Article: Does The National Guard Pay For College?
Top 3 Military Schools for Girls – Midwest
#1 – Great Lakes Maritime Academy
- Location: 715 E Front St., Traverse City, MI 49486
- Acceptance Rate: 24%
- Grades: 2- to 4-year college
- Founded: 1969
- Official website: https://www.nmc.edu/maritime/
The Great Lakes Maritime Academy is part of Northwestern Michigan College.
You can find the campus on West Grand Traverse Bay in Traverse City, Michigan.
The military academy was established in the late 1960s to provide another maritime training college in the northern United States.
The objective of the school is to train licensed men and women for duties at sea.
As a result, the Great Lakes Maritime Academy is one of only 6 state-operated maritime academies in the nation.
It is the only maritime academy that offers students the opportunity to earn First Class Great Lakes Pilotage.
Furthermore, Great Lakes Maritime Academy is the only institution located near fresh water for a different variety of training in the water.
Students that graduate from Great Lakes Maritime Academy receive a U.S. Coast Guard license.
Cadets participate in a variety of commercial sea projects while studying at Great Lakes Maritime Academy, including training on the T/S State of Michigan.
Graduates have the decision between joining the military or becoming a licensed sailor on the Great Lakes through the opportunity.
#2 – Culver Military Academy
- Location: 1300 Academy Rd, Culver, IN 46511
- Acceptance Rate: 65%
- Grades: 9-12
- Founded: 1894 (1971 co-ed)
- Official website: https://www.culver.org/culver-girls-academy/
The Culver Military Academy is part of a larger network within Indiana in terms of military college prep schools.
Culver Academies include the aforementioned Culver Military Academy (CMA) along with the Culver Girls Academy (CGA) and Culver Summer Schools and Camps (CSSC).
The college prep school offers full-time boarding at all 3 locations in Culver, Indiana.
Culver Military Academy has a terrific reputation as it was founded before the 20th century and admitted a handful of female students prior to the 1970s.
The Culver Girls Academy (CGA) changed all of that and today female students can pursue the same opportunities as their male counterparts.
The fairly selective military academy (65% acceptance rate) places a high emphasis on academics along with athletic participation.
Henderson Arena is home to the Culver Girls Academy hockey team.
Additionally, the White-Devries Rowing Center hosts practices and events for the women’s crew team.
The curriculum at Culver Girls Academy (CGA) prepares young women for opportunities both within the U.S. Armed Forces and in the private sector.
As a result, recent CGA graduates are among female leaders in their respective industries.
#3 – St. John’s Northwestern Military Academy
- Location: 1101 Genesee Street, Delafield, WI 53018
- Acceptance Rate: N/A
- Grades: 6-12
- Founded: 1884
- Official website: https://sjnacademies.org/
The St. John’s Northwestern Military Academy (SJNMA) is an underrated military school for girls in the Midwest.
The private college military prep school is the result of a merger with another military academy in the 1990s.
The boarding school serves boys and girls between the grade levels of 6-12.
There are varying reported acceptance rates as the military school for girls has been in operation for less than a few years.
St. John’s Northwestern Military Academy features a historic campus with several buildings that originate from the 19th and early 20th centuries.
SJNMA has a noteworthy list of alumni including Daniel Gerber, Lt. General Edward A. Craig, Spencer Tracy, and George Kennan.
The military academy regularly hosts summer programs including an adventure camp.
Related Article: Top 15 Military Colleges: Review the Best Military Institutions
Top 3 Military Schools for Girls – Southwest
#1 – TMI Episcopal
- Location: 20955 W Tejas Trail, San Antonio, TX 78257
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Grades: 6-12
- Founded: 1893
- Official website: https://www.tmi-sa.org/
It is difficult to argue with the Texas Military Institute not being among the best military schools for girls in the Southwest.
Texas Military Institute, or TMI Episcopal, is a private college preparatory school in San Antonio, Texas.
The campus offers full-time boarding in a coed setting that allows both male and female students.
The Texas Military Institute (TMI) represents the flagship school for the Episcopal Diocese of West Texas.
Additionally, it is the oldest Episcopal college preparatory school in the southwest region of the United States.
It is often referred to as the “West Point of the Rio Grande” with an outstanding reputation in terms of college preparation as well as military readiness.
The small campus, which is home to less than 500 students, includes several prominent buildings erected almost exclusively from limestone.
The Frost Athletic Center supports a variety of athletics along with The Johnson Amphitheater and The All Saints’ Chapel.
TMI Episcopal currently accepts students from the United States along with international students from Australia, China, South Korea, and Thailand.
#2 – New Mexico Military Institute
- Location: 101 W College Blvd, Roswell, NM 88201
- Acceptance Rate: 88%
- Grades: 9-12 / Junior College
- Founded: 1891
- Official website: https://www.nmmi.edu/
New Mexico Military Institute (NMMI) is a hidden gem that exists in the legendary Roswell, New Mexico.
The institution has an outstanding track record as it was founded well over a hundred years ago.
It is a public junior college with an emphasis on training and learning military culture.
New Mexico Military Institute accepts close to 1,000 cadets for the high school and junior college programs each year.
Consequently, it is one of the larger military schools for girls despite only serving grades 9-12 and the junior college ranks.
It is the only state-supported military college in the western half of the United States.
For this reason, NMMI features an impressive list of alumni including Roger Staubach, Bill Daniels, Carlo D’Este, Sam Donaldson, Julian Ewell, William J. Gray, and Conrad Hilton.
Students can find famous alumni from NMMI in just about every private industry along with several noteworthy military leaders.
The New Mexico Military Institute recognizes the motto “Duty, Honor, and Achievement”.
It trains cadets through the Army ROTC Early Commissioning Program (ECP) and a handful of graduates move on to serve at one of the 5 primary U.S. service academies.
The Colts (high school) and Broncos (junior college) also compete in athletics and many alumni went on to play professionally in a variety of sports.
#3 – Texas Maritime Academy
- Location: 3031 Seawolf Park Blvd, Galveston, TX 77554
- Acceptance Rate: 55%
- Grades: 4-year college
- Founded: 1962
- Official website: https://www.tamug.edu/corps/
Texas Maritime Academy is an offshoot program of the Texas A&M University at Galveston (TAMUG) education system.
Texas A&M University has a proud ROTC tradition and is one of the most recognizable in the nation.
The ocean-oriented branch of Texas A&M known as TAMUG provides both undergraduate and graduate studies.
Students enrolled at the Texas Maritime Academy are affectionately known as “Sea Aggies.”
Sea Aggies have the benefits of being regular students at Texas A&M University along with receiving specialized military training.
The headquarters of TAMUG is on Pelican Island, which presents an amazing location for maritime training and activities.
For this reason, academic programs are focused on ocean-based careers in marine biology, engineering, and transportation.
Along with the Texas Maritime Academy, students also have the option of pursuing the Navy or Marine Corps ROTC units on the main College Station campus.
Prospective candidates have a strong likelihood of acceptance (55%) at the Texas Maritime Academy while they complete undergraduate or graduate studies.
Related Article: Top 15 Military Schools for Boys
Top 3 Military Schools for Girls – West
#1 – California Military Institute
- Location: 755 N A St, Perris, CA 92570
- Acceptance Rate: N/A
- Grades: 5-12
- Founded: 2003
- Official website: https://www.cmicharter.org/5/home
The California Military Institute is a college prep school that serves Riverside County, California.
This public charter school provides academics and a military lifeftyle environment for kids in grades 5 through 12.
Girls receive a first-class educational experience as well as strong leadership role models to follow. The military staff is provided through the California Cadet Corps (CACC).
Students a CMI compete regularly in CACC competitions, preparing them for a career in the military.
The school’s focus is also on college preparation, especially in the STEM disciplines.
#2 – Oakland Military Institute
- Location: 3877 Lusk St, Oakland, CA 94608
- Acceptance Rate: N/A
- Grades: 6-12
- Founded: 2001
- Official website: https://www.oakmil.org/
The Oakland Military Institute (OMI) functions as a modern military school through the public charter school system.
Oakland Military Institute has been around for less than 20 years, which presents different advantages compared to pursuing a military school with a longer history.
The charter school is managed by the California Military Department You and Community Programs Task Force (YCPTF).
Additionally, the Oakland Unified School District helps support the management of the military charter school.
Oakland Military Institute (OMI) is the first charter school sponsored and managed by the State of California Military Department.
Thus, it functions as the first public military school that is sponsored by the National Guard in the United States.
Since the Oakland Military Institute has only been around a couple of decades, we do not have as many statistics about the institution.
The OMI military school enrolls female students in grade levels 6-12.
The college preparatory/charter school has a mission “to provide a structured and rigorous academic program where cadets develop as leaders, scholars, critical thinkers, and citizens.”
#3 – California Maritime Academy
- Location: 200 Maritime Academy Dr, Vallejo, CA 94590
- Acceptance Rate: 82%
- Grades: 4-year college
- Founded: 1929
- Official website: https://www.csum.edu/
California Maritime Academy is part of the Cal State public university system and is situated in Vallejo, California.
The maritime academy is one of more than 20 campuses that are included in the California State University system.
However, it is the only military institution within the education system as well as the only maritime academy on the West Coast.
California Maritime Academy features 6 different undergraduate areas of study along with one graduate program.
It currently admits both male and female students with a relatively decent shot at enrollment (82% acceptance rate).
There are many options following graduation for students of the California Maritime Academy just like other military schools for girls.
Graduates have an important choice between deciding to serve in the military or pursuing a career in the civilian world.
Conclusion
The best military schools for girls feature an outstanding curriculum as well as initial training for the U.S. Armed Forces.
Students that enroll in a college prep military school (K-12) receive an advanced education while also learning to manage military obligations.
All of these schools are incredibly prestigious which helps you get noticed by the top universities in the country.
Additionally, those that decide to attend a military school that offers undergraduate or graduate programs have a distinct advantage.
These students receive additional training and officer commissioning through an ROTC program while also attending college.
Born and raised in Woodbridge, NJ, he graduated from the New Jersey Institute Of Technology with an MBA in eCommerce.His hobbies include beach volleyball, target shooting, and lifting.
Rob is also a Commercially rated pilot and Certified Flight Instructor (CFI), with over 1,500 hours of flight time.
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