Educational options that rely on military style discipline and organization often are designated as a military academy. These schools usually have on-campus residences and require students to wear uniforms and conduct themselves in either a military or quasi-military manner.

Examples of top-level American military academies include the service academies which educate and prepare commissioned officers for the United States Army, Air Force, Navy, Coast Guard and Merchant Marines. Admission to a service academy is usually reserved to the most talented and intelligent college-age students in the country. Applicants go through a thorough vetting process that considers their academic, leadership, community service and physical fitness credentials. Oftentimes, admission requires a nomination from a US congressman or senator from the applicants district or the Vice President, but there are other paths to admission for active duty service members, high school Junior ROTC graduates, children of alumni and others who meet current official criteria for admission.

Graduates from a US service academy receive active duty commissions and are obligated to serve in the armed forces for a certain length of time. However, those who continue past the first two years at an academy are obligated to active duty service regardless of whether or not they graduate.

Another type of military academy in the United States is the senior military college. Six of these colleges operate of three types of collegiate ROTC programs and offer four-year degrees. Admission to these colleges is based on competitive standards, although not all students are required to participate in military training and not all are required to accept a military commission upon graduation.

Junior military colleges are another type of military academy. These are schools that provide opportunities for students to earn early commissions in the US military reserves in two years.

Many American high schools operate as a military academy, although they are not officially connected with the US military. They usually offer Junior ROTC programs that provide military-style training and prepare students for future military service at a service academy or on active duty. However, graduation from a boarding school designated as a military academy does not require any obligation for military service.