Skip to main content
School Types

Military Schools for Girls

Options for girls seeking military-style education, from the nation's only all-female cadet program to coed academies with strong traditions of female leadership.

Published January 4, 2026

Browse by State

Southwest

NM OK TX

Military Schools for Girls: Understanding Your Options

Here's the honest truth: there are no all-girls military boarding schools in the United States. Military education was historically male-only, and while most schools have gone coed, none have flipped to all-female.

But that doesn't mean girls lack options—quite the opposite. Today's military schools actively welcome female cadets, and several have built strong traditions of developing women leaders.

A Brief History

Military schools in America were male-only for most of their history. The shift began at the federal level:

  • 1976 — West Point, Annapolis, and the Air Force Academy admit women for the first time
  • 1995 — The Citadel admits its first female cadet (after legal challenges)
  • 1997 — VMI admits women following a Supreme Court ruling

Most private military schools followed suit in the 1990s and 2000s. Today, the vast majority of military schools—public and private—are fully coeducational.

The One All-Female Program

Virginia Women's Institute for Leadership (VWIL) at Mary Baldwin University in Staunton, VA is the nation's only all-female corps of cadets. Founded in 1995 as an alternative when VMI was still all-male, VWIL has continued as a unique program for women seeking military-style leadership training.

  • College level (not K-12)
  • Army ROTC commissioning available
  • About 100 cadets
  • Strong focus on women's leadership development

Best Coed Options for Girls

Schools with Dedicated Girls Programs

Culver Academies (Culver, IN) — Culver operates two schools on one campus: Culver Military Academy for boys and Culver Girls Academy for girls. CGA has its own leadership structure, traditions, and residential experience while sharing academics with the boys' school. The Equestriennes (girls' equestrian unit) have ridden in 18 presidential inaugural parades. ~$67,000/year.

Coed Military Boarding Schools

These schools have established track records of developing female leaders:

Randolph-Macon Academy (Front Royal, VA) — Coed since 1974, one of the earliest private military schools to welcome women. Air Force JROTC (unusual—most schools are Army). Grades 6-12. ~$52,000/year.

Massanutten Military Academy (Woodstock, VA) — Coed Army JROTC school in the Shenandoah Valley. Grades 8-12. ~$35,000/year.

New Mexico Military Institute (Roswell, NM) — State-supported school with very affordable tuition. Coed since 1977. Grades 9-12 plus junior college. ~$8,000/year in-state, ~$18,000 out-of-state.

TMI Episcopal (San Antonio, TX) — Coed Episcopal school with Army JROTC. Grades 6-12. ~$32,000/year.

San Marcos Academy (San Marcos, TX) — Coed Baptist school, K-12 with boarding from 7th grade. Army JROTC. ~$35,000/year.

Oak Ridge Military Academy (Oak Ridge, NC) — One of the oldest military schools in the nation (1852), coed since 1972. Grades 7-12. ~$38,000/year.

Florida Preparatory Academy (Melbourne, FL) — Coed school on Florida's Space Coast with aviation program. Grades 6-12. ~$45,000/year.

Admiral Farragut Academy (St. Petersburg, FL) — Coed Naval JROTC school with aviation and marine science programs. Grades PreK-12 with boarding 8-12. ~$52,000/year.

Public Military Schools (Free)

All public military schools are coed:

Service Academies

All five federal service academies have been coed since 1976:

Youth Challenge Programs

All 40+ National Guard Youth Challenge programs across the country are coed and free. These are intervention programs for at-risk youth ages 16-18.

The Reality Today

The landscape has shifted dramatically. While only VWIL remains as an all-female military program, today's coed schools actively recruit and develop female leaders. Girls regularly serve as:

  • Battalion commanders and top cadet officers
  • Corps leaders at senior military colleges
  • Distinguished graduates at service academies

The question is no longer "Can girls attend military school?" but "Which military school is the best fit?"

How to Choose

For families with daughters considering military school:

  1. Visit Campus — See how female cadets are integrated and represented in leadership
  2. Ask About Female Alumni — Schools with strong female alumni networks show commitment to developing women
  3. Check Leadership Stats — What percentage of top cadet positions are held by women?
  4. Consider VWIL — If an all-female environment is important and she's college-age
  5. Look at Culver — The only school with a dedicated girls program at the high school level

Browse all coed schools in our directory to find the right fit.

Next Steps

Explore the benefits of military school for young women. Learn how to evaluate military schools during your campus visit.