Fork Union Military Academy
Fork Union, VA
"Body, Mind, and Spirit"
The Verdict
Fork Union isn't just a military school—it's an NFL pipeline disguised as a prep academy. With 120+ NFL alumni, two Heisman Trophy winners, and 30-60 cadets earning NCAA Division I scholarships annually, the athletics program is elite.
But the real innovation is academic: the One-Subject Plan, where cadets study one course at a time for seven weeks—an approach that delivers 100% college acceptance rates by eliminating the distraction of juggling six classes.
Campus & Cadet Life
About
Fork Union Military Academy is a private, all-male, college preparatory Christian military boarding school. Its mission is to provide young men a college preparatory education in a residential, Christian environment, focusing on character, leadership, and scholarship.
Tuition & Costs
2025-2026 RatesBoarding
$39,950
Endowment
$20 million
*Grades 7-12; total ~$45,950 with fees ($2,500 fees + $3,500 uniforms new cadets)
View official tuition pageAdmissions & Selectivity
Admissions Philosophy
selective
Key Requirements
- School transcript
- Character questionnaire
- English and Math teacher recommendations
- Health form and immunization record
- Interview (recommended but not required)
Location
Campus & Facilities
Campus Size
1,000+ acres
Housing
Barracks
Enrollment
252
Student:Teacher
9:1
Barracks Life
Housing Type
barracks
Daily Schedule
Structured day includes 4 hours of single-subject academics, mandatory chapel, drill periods, athletics or clubs, and Call to Quarters (CQ)—two hours of supervised study every school night. Cell phones are prohibited to eliminate distractions.
Discipline Model
Merit/demerit system governed by the 'Blue Book' (Cadet Handbook). Cadets who exceed allowed demerits serve penalty tours. The Commandant's Department enforces standards through the cadet chain of command—Company Commanders, Platoon Leaders, and Squad Leaders. The culture emphasizes peer-led accountability rather than punitive enforcement.
Academics & Outcomes
College Matriculation
100%
Where Graduates Go
Regular appointments to West Point, Annapolis, and Air Force Academy; VMI and The Citadel representatives visit campus regularly
Hall of Fame
Eddie George
1995 Heisman Trophy winner, 4x Pro Bowl RB, NFL first-round pick, College Football Hall of Fame
Vinny Testaverde
1986 Heisman Trophy winner, NFL first-round pick, 21-year NFL career
Kevin Plank
Founder and CEO of Under Armour
Plaxico Burress
Super Bowl XLII Champion (NY Giants), 2x Pro Bowl WR
Michael Thomas
NFL Pro Bowler (New Orleans Saints), 2019 NFL Offensive Player of the Year
Robert H. Scales
U.S. Army Major General (Ret.), former Commandant of the U.S. Army War College
Dexter Coakley
3x Pro Bowl linebacker, College Football Hall of Fame
Athletics & Physical Training
Varsity Sports
Mandatory PT
Daily physical training integrated into the schedule. All cadets participate in athletics or structured physical activity. The postgraduate football, basketball, and lacrosse programs serve as NCAA D1 prep pipelines.
Facilities
1,000+ acre rural campus in Virginia's Piedmont region features multiple athletic fields, gymnasium, swimming pool, wrestling room, weight training facilities, and outdoor training areas. Jacobson Hall barracks (opened 2012) houses 250 cadets in a 90,000 sq ft facility.
External Ratings
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Official Federal Data Sources
Verify information directly from U.S. Department of Education databases:
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