Military education and training are part of the long history of the United States. Almost since its establishment as a nation, there have been military institutions in America and these have played critical roles in developing military officers. The United States Military Academy, also known as West Point, is one of the longest-standing military academies and was originally intended as a school for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. (See how much the American military makes at every pay grade.)
West Point, located in Orange County in upstate New York, is not only the longest-standing military academy in the nation but also the world. It is renowned for its rigorous academic and physical training programs, preparing cadets for leadership roles in the military, and has its roots dating back to George Washington, though it was President Thomas Jefferson who signed legislation to establish the academy. West Point has produced many distinguished graduates, including two U.S. presidents, several members of Congress, and numerous military leaders.
In addition to West Point, there are numerous military schools nationwide. 24/7 Wall St. reviewed an online directory of military academies produced by Military School USA to determine the 35 oldest U.S. military academies. These academies are ranked according to their founding date, starting before the year 1930. Supplemental data on the school’s location, type, student population, and whether or not it is coed also came from Military School USA.
The United States Naval Academy is another prestigious military academy. Founded in 1845, It is located in Annapolis, Maryland, and has been training naval officers for over 175 years. The mission at the Naval Academy is focused on developing cadets “with the highest ideals of duty, honor, and loyalty in order to graduate leaders who are dedicated to a career of naval service and have the potential for future development in mind and character to assume the highest responsibilities of command, citizenship, and government.”
Several of these military colleges and universities throughout the U.S. predate the Civil War. These include The Citadel in South Carolina, founded in 1842, and Virginia Military Institute, founded in 1839. (Today, this is the largest US Military contractor in every state.) These longest-standing military academies in the United States are mostly on the East Coast, where the country was founded. Only one of the 10 oldest academies is located outside of the East Coast.
Here are the longest-standing active military academies in the US
35. Valley Forge Military Academy and College
- Founding date: 1928
- Population: 280
- Location: Wayne, Pennsylvania
- Coed: Boys
- Type: College preparatory
34. Leonard Hall Junior Naval Academy
- Founding date: 1909
- Population: 50
- Location: Leonardtown, Maryland
- Coed: Coed
- Type: College preparatory
33. Hargrave Military Academy
- Founding date: 1909
- Population: 230
- Location: Chatham, Virginia
- Coed: Boys
- Type: College preparatory
32. Riverside Preparatory Academy
- Founding date: 1907
- Population: 530
- Location: Gainesville, Georgia
- Coed: Boys
- Type: College preparatory
31. San Marcos Academy
- Founding date: 1907
- Population: 300
- Location: San Marcos, Texas
- Coed: Boys
- Type: College preparatory
30. Benedictine Military School
- Founding date: 1902
- Population: 400
- Location: Savannah, Georgia
- Coed: Boys
- Type: College preparatory
29. Georgia Military College
- Founding date: 1900
- Population: 8,000
- Location: Milledgeville, Georgia
- Coed: Coed
- Type: Junior College
28. Massanutten Military Academy
- Founding date: 1899
- Population: 120
- Location: Woodstock, Virginia
- Coed: Coed
- Type: College preparatory
27. Southern Prep Academy
- Founding date: 1898
- Population: 115
- Location: Camp Hill, Alabama
- Coed: Boys
- Type: College preparatory
26. Fork Union Military Academy
- Founding date: 1898
- Population: 500
- Location: Fork Union, Virginia
- Coed: Boys
- Type: College preparatory
25. Culver Military Academy
- Founding date: 1894
- Population: 850
- Location: Culver, Indiana
- Coed: Coed
- Type: College preparatory
24. Texas Military Institute
- Founding date: 1893
- Population: 450
- Location: San Antonio, Texas
- Coed: Coed
- Type: College preparatory
23. Randolph-Macon Academy
- Founding date: 1892
- Population: 370
- Location: Front Royal, Virginia
- Coed: Coed
- Type: College preparatory
22. New Mexico Military Institute
- Founding date: 1891
- Population: 870
- Location: Roswell, New Mexico
- Coed: Coed
- Type: Junior College, College Preparatory
21. St. Catherine’s Academy
- Founding date: 1889
- Population: 150
- Location: Anaheim, California
- Coed: Boys
- Type: Kindergarten – 8th grade
20. Missouri Military Academy
- Founding date: 1889
- Population: 250
- Location: Mexico, Missouri
- Coed: Boys
- Type: College preparatory
19. New York Military Academy
- Founding date: 1889
- Population: 120
- Location: Cornwall-on-Hudson, New York
- Coed: Coed
- Type: College preparatory
18. Kenosha Military Academy
- Founding date: 1889
- Population: 900
- Location: Kenosha, Wisconsin
- Coed: Coed
- Type: College preparatory
17. St. John’s Military School
- Founding date: 1887
- Population: 230
- Location: Salina, Kansas
- Coed: Boys
- Type: College preparatory
16. St. Thomas Academy
- Founding date: 1885
- Population: 695
- Location: Mendota Heights, Minnesota
- Coed: Boys
- Type: College preparatory
15. US Naval War College
- Founding date: 1884
- Population: 4,000
- Location: Newport, Rhode Island
- Coed: Coed
- Type: Undergraduate
14. St. John’s Northwestern Military Academy
- Founding date: 1884
- Population: 265
- Location: Delafield, Wisconsin
- Coed: Coed
- Type: College preparatory
13. Fishburne Military School
- Founding date: 1879
- Population: 200
- Location: Waynesboro, Virginia
- Coed: Boys
- Type: College preparatory
12. US Coast Guard Academy
- Founding date: 1876
- Population: 1,200
- Location: New London, Connecticut
- Coed: Coed
- Type: Undergraduate
11. SUNY Maritime College
- Founding date: 1874
- Population: 1,850
- Location: Throggs Neck, New York
- Coed: Coed
- Type: Undergraduate, Postgraduate
10. The Military College of Georgia
- Founding date: 1873
- Population: 6,500
- Location: Dahlonega, Georgia
- Coed: Coed
- Type: Undergraduate, Postgraduate
9. Maur Hill Mount Academy
- Founding date: 1863
- Population: 220
- Location: Atchison, Kansas
- Coed: Coed
- Type: College preparatory
8. Christian Brothers Academy
- Founding date: 1859
- Population: 300
- Location: Albany, New York
- Coed: Boys
- Type: College preparatory
7. Oak Ridge Military Academy
- Founding date: 1852
- Population: 65
- Location: Oak Ridge, North Carolina
- Coed: Coed
- Type: College preparatory
6. La Salle Institute
- Founding date: 1850
- Population: 410
- Location: Troy, New York
- Coed: Coed
- Type: College preparatory
5. United States Naval Academy
- Founding date: 1845
- Population: 4,500
- Location: Annapolis, Maryland
- Coed: Coed
- Type: Undergraduate
4. The Citadel
- Founding date: 1842
- Population: 2,300
- Location: Charleston, South Carolina
- Coed: Boys
- Type: Undergraduate
3. Virginia Military Institute
- Founding date: 1839
- Population: 1,600
- Location: Lexington, Virginia
- Coed: Boys
- Type: Undergraduate
2. Norwich University
- Founding date: 1819
- Population: 3,450
- Location: Northfield, Vermont
- Coed: Boys
- Type: Undergraduate
1. Military Academy at West Point
- Founding date: 1802
- Population: 4,600
- Location: West Point, New York
- Coed: Coed
- Type: Undergraduate
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