Hargrave Military Academy Tuition Cost: A Comprehensive Overview
Hargrave Military Academy, located at 200 Military Drive, Chatham, VA 24531, is a college preparatory boarding school committed to developing young men into leaders of character. Established in 1909, Hargrave offers a structured environment that emphasizes academics, character development, and physical fitness. This article provides a detailed overview of the tuition costs associated with attending Hargrave Military Academy, along with insights into the school's programs, values, and offerings.
Hargrave Military Academy: An Overview
Hargrave Military Academy is a private, all-male, military boarding school affiliated with the Baptist General Association of Virginia, emphasizing Christian values. The academy prepares young men for college and service academies, serving students in grades 7 through post-graduate (PG) from around the world. Hargrave's mission is to build young men into leaders of character prepared for lifelong success.
The academy focuses on developing the "whole-person" by addressing academic excellence, personal responsibility, fitness, and moral character. Hargrave aims to turn potential into opportunity, challenging students to give their best effort in all things. Upon graduation, cadets are well-prepared to face the challenges of college and life with a genuine sense of accomplishment.
Tuition and Fees
Hargrave Military Academy is committed to honest and transparent pricing. The tuition rates are inclusive of academic instruction, room and board, initial uniform issue, book rental, laundry, dry cleaning, haircuts, lab fees, infirmary fees (including dispensing of medication), and club and sports activities.
Yearly Tuition (Boarding Students)
The yearly tuition for boarding students is $45,000. This price is before tuition assistance; families will never pay more than the listed price before aid.
Read also: Service Member Scholarship Guide
Yearly Tuition (Day Students)
The yearly tuition for day students is $17,850. As with boarding students, this price is before any tuition assistance.
Tuition for International Students
The tuition for international students is $55,000.
Summer Program Cost
Hargrave Military Academy offers a summer program with a cost of $4,800. For international students, the summer program cost is $5,200. The summer camp aims to create a structured environment for success, focusing on accountability, discipline, and individualized attention.
Financial Aid and Scholarships
Hargrave Military Academy offers financial aid to students, with an average financial aid grant of $11,000. Merit-based financial aid is prioritized. While merit scholarships are not explicitly offered, the academy considers individual circumstances when determining financial aid packages.
Academic Programs
Hargrave Military Academy offers a comprehensive college preparatory curriculum, including challenging core classes, dual enrollment (high school and college credit), Advanced Placement (AP) courses, and Honors courses. The academy is endorsed by both the US Military Academy (West Point) and US Naval Academy (Annapolis) as a preparatory school.
Read also: Pakistan's Military College Jhelum
How to Study Program
Hargrave implements a "How to Study" program to teach students effective and efficient study methods. Cadets learn note-taking, reading strategies, material organization, test preparation, and creating conducive study environments. These methods are reinforced through study halls, homework sessions, group study, and peer tutoring.
Academic Learning Center
The Academic Learning Center provides assessment and placement in Math, Reading, and English classes. It offers support for online learning, assistance for struggling students, accelerated learning opportunities, and tutoring via faculty, peers, group, and collaborative study. Advanced and enhanced learning is also available through online courses.
Faculty and Class Size
Hargrave maintains a low teacher-to-student ratio of 1:10 or better, ensuring smaller classes and more individual attention. Over 50% of the faculty have advanced degrees. Study hall time is built into the schedule, along with Individual Instruction Time (IIT) for one-on-one interaction between students and teachers.
College Acceptance
Hargrave Military Academy consistently achieves 100% college acceptance rates, averaging over $4 million in scholarships annually. The academy has a strong track record of students being accepted into US Service Academies, with over 75 current and former students admitted.
Athletics
Hargrave Military Academy offers 12 varsity sports and daily physical fitness and conditioning for all students. Coaches are trained through the Positive Coaching Alliance, serving as positive role models, mentors, guides, and teachers.
Read also: Duty, Honor, Achievement at NMMI
The academy's athletic facilities include an Olympic-sized pool, three basketball courts, a premier tennis facility, and a new strength and conditioning facility. A Marine Corps certified obstacle course and leader reaction course promotes teamwork and decision-making skills. Additional facilities include a trap and skeet range, paintball course, climbing wall, and rappel tower. The campus provides over 200 acres for outdoor activities.
Hargrave Military Academy offers 17 interscholastic sports: Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Cross Country Running, Diving, Drill Team, Football, Golf, Marksmanship, Riflery, Soccer, Swimming, Swimming and Diving, Tennis, Track, Track and Field and Wrestling.
Character Development
Since 2016, Hargrave Military Academy is the only Virginia military high school certified as a National School of Character through Character.org. Character trait learning is integrated into every aspect of student life, including academics, sports, residential life, and Biblical application. Students learn and live out core values such as commitment, trustworthiness, and loyalty.
The Center for Leadership and Ethics spearheads the Character Across the Campus program, providing a leadership curriculum. All students are required to take Leadership 1 as an elective, with Leadership 2 offered as a continuation. These courses are specifically designed for lower school (7th-9th grades) and upper school (10th-12th grades).
Faith and Spiritual Development
Hargrave uses a variety of tools to develop cadets spiritually, regardless of their individual faith background. Spiritual development is a deliberate opportunity for cadets to grow in their faith, develop an ethical decision-making foundation, and cultivate a lifelong passion for spiritual growth.
Chapel services are held twice a week, led by the youth minister/chaplain. Time for individual, small-group, or large-group devotion, personal reflection, and quiet time is scheduled every evening. Cadets can participate in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes program and attend Sunday services at local churches. A weekly group Bible study is offered, and cadet leaders are taught how to lead a devotion. Spiritual Emphasis Week includes guest speakers, preachers, special music, and group-bonding experiences.
Military Structure and Discipline
Hargrave Military Academy utilizes the military model to promote structure, accountability, and character. Cadets are taught military routines, discipline, and accountability through uniforms, room inspections, formations, and parades. The school aims to instill values such as perseverance, focus, encouragement, guidance, leadership, humility, and patience.
Corps of Cadets
The Corps of Cadets consists of a battalion divided into four companies: Alpha, Bravo, Delta, and Band, with a small number of cadets assigned to the Battalion staff. Every six weeks grading period, an "Honor Company" is chosen based on overall academic and military performance. Cadets can obtain NCO ranks and positions after attending Non-Commissioned Officers (SNCO) School. One cadet is appointed to the rank of Command Sergeant Major, serving on Battalion staff as the highest-ranking NCO.
Cadets have the option of attending Officer Candidate School (OCS) before their senior year, allowing them to obtain commissioned officer ranks. The OCS Completion Ribbon is awarded to those cadets who finish OCS. Cadet officers can hold leadership positions ranging from auxiliary to Battalion Commander. The corps is run by the cadet officers and supervised by the military faculty members.
Honor Code
The honor code prohibits cadets from lying, cheating, or stealing. This code is a cornerstone of the academy's commitment to developing young men of integrity.
Notable Alumni
Hargrave Military Academy has produced numerous notable alumni, including:
- Ward Burton '82: 2002 Daytona 500 Champion; NASCAR Winston Cup Driver
- Walter B. Jones '61: Congressman (R), 3rd District North Carolina
- Dr. Art Chandler, Jr. '49: Ophthalmologist; Voice of Duke Basketball
- MG William Caldwell, IV '72: Major General, USA
- Larry Brown '59: Former NBA Detroit Pistons Head Coach
- Torry Holt '95: NFL Player - St. Louis Rams
Accreditation and Affiliations
Hargrave Military Academy holds accreditations from the Virginia Association of Independent Schools (VAIS), Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS), National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), and The Association of Boarding Schools (TABS).
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