Average Net Domestic Boarding Tuition*
Yearly Tuition $22,834
*Average net domestic boarding full academic year tuition/room & board (taking into account financial aid and scholarships)
You're kidding, right?
No, we are not kidding...it's true.
How Do We Get to that Number!?!
FUMA’s Base Tuition is one of the lowest in the country: To start with, FUMA’s “sticker” price is already one of the lowest in the country for boarding schools generally, military schools, or other Christian, college prep schools. We are blessed to be in a low cost of living area, operate with no debt and an endowment.
Financial Aid:The Academy uses the FACTS Grant and Aid Application system to evaluate a family’s financial need and provide generous need-based support. Sadly, even with this generous support, it is not always enough. Sometimes scholarships can fill in gaps, but there are still many young men who cannot afford to come to the Academy (that is why raising scholarship endowment is a main component of the Called to Lead campaign—the Academy’s fundraising campaign).
Scholarships:Through the generous support of alumni and friends, there are scholarships available to deserving young men. Sometimes these scholarships are based on need, sometimes on merit or skill in a particular area, or some other characteristic (such as where a young man is from). Sometimes they are required to be awarded to returning cadets, and sometimes they are available to new families. There is even one, merit-based, full tuition scholarship—the Trustee Scholarship program.
Net Result:The net effect of financial aid and scholarships is how we get to the number above for domestic boarding students (so, excluding day students, international students, and post-graduates who may pay different tuition rates).
Act fast: Complete your application and financial aid information as soon as possible. There is a specific amount in the financial aid budget that is used up over the course of the admission cycle.
Provide Complete Info: Make sure you provide complete information so that your application can be processed promptly
Watch for Deadlines: Pay attention to deadlines given to you by the Admissions office.
Of course, not all families will qualify for financial aid or be awarded scholarships. However, 74% of our domestic boarding cadets receive some level of aid and support through scholarships and the average financial aid award for domestic boarding students is $15,057.
Day Students: Day students are eligible to apply for financial aid. So, you would complete that same process.
Mid-year entries: The Academy tries to reserve some financial aid for young men who come in mid-year, but there is no guaranteed budget for mid-year entries because we cannot predict that process, and the Academy does not want available aid to go unused.
Yes, we understand that a family might want to understand the likely aid (or range) before going through the application process. Contact COL Tripp Billingsley (billingsleyt@fuma.org) at 434.842.4205 or Ben D’Alessandro (dalessandrob@fuma.org) at 434.842.4255 to learn more.
Generally, no, while our aid is very generous, in virtually every case, the family will have to participate in financially supporting their cadet’s education at FUMA. Some of the family’s obligations may be covered by other available sources, such as family members, friends, or scholarships (such as from a church or employer). And, remember, with him at boarding school, you will avoid or reduce everyday expenses like food, entertainment, or travel teams for him.
The Academy does offer a full, merit-based scholarship, called the Trustee Scholarship, which is a full scholarship for tuition, room and board, and the initial uniform allotment.
Because of the Academy’s One Subject Plan, there are multiple points during the academic year in which a young man can enter. Contact the Admissions Dept for an explanation of the tuition based on the entry date. The Admissions Staff can also let you know if there is any aid or scholarships remaining.
The tuition, room and board cost includes the following: academic instruction, residence facilities (air conditioned dorm completed), meals, 24x7 infirmary, college prep counseling, internet/email, library, athletic recreation and facilities, clubs and extracirriculars, special events, and publications.
Uniforms are billed separately. Also, the following are not included: academic materials and supplies other than issued textbooks; travel expenses; purchases at the Sabre Shop or Social Center (snacks, supplies for personal hygiene and room cleaning); and Primary Medical/Health Insurance. Student insurance may be purchased from Fork Union Military Academy's insurance carrier. Please contact the Infirmary Staff (infirmary@fuma.org) at 434.842.4310 for details.
| Tuition, room & board | $33,940 |
| Uniforms (estimated) | 2,850 |
| Infrastructure Service Charge | 500 |
| Technology | 350 |
| Incidentals (estimated) | 500 |
| TOTAL | $38,140 |
| Tuition | $14,950 |
| Uniforms (estimated) | 2,160 |
| Infrastructure Service Charge | 500 |
| Technology | 350 |
| Incidentals (estimated) | 500 |
| TOTAL | $18,460 |
| Tuition, room & board | $42,190 |
| Uniforms (estimated) | 2,850 |
| Infrastructure Service Charge | 500 |
| Technology | 350 |
| Incidentals (estimated) | 500 |
| Health Insurance | 2,260 |
| ESL - if required | 1,500 |
| TOTAL | $50,150 |
Fork Union Military Academy is not free—but it is affordable for families who make it a priority.
We keep our tuition as low as possible
Operating a high-quality boarding school is not a cheap endeavor, and many boarding schools charges $50,000 to $60,000 or more per year. We, on the other hand, are a not-for-profit Christian school and we do our best to keep our tuition low. Helping students come to Fork Union is something we view as part of our Christian mission. We are dedicated to helping as many young men as we can prepare for college and for life.
We offer payment plans
Fork Union has a flexible array of payment terms which can help smooth out the payment obligation over the course of the year, so that your tuition and fees don't necessarily have to be paid in one lump sum payment. There is an Administrative Fee of $500 for setting up a payment plan, but these payment plans are interest-free and handled in-house by our business office.
Compete for our Trustee Scholarship
Fork Union Military Academy's Board of Trustees offers the prestigious Trustee Scholarship to new students entering in the 8th, 9th, or 10th grade, which awards a full scholarship for tuition, room & board, and uniforms. This scholarship is very competitive and is awarded to the candidate best demonstrating excellence in scholastic achievement, character and citizenship. The scholarship award continues for each year the student remains in good standing at Fork Union Military Academy.
Don't forget to count how much money you'll save!
Don't forget to add up how much money you'll save by not having to feed, house, and entertain your teenage boy for 9 months of the year. Depending on how voracious your son's appetite is, that can be a significant cost savings for you! We've heard so many parents say something like, "I was so worried about how much Fork Union would cost me, that I never realized how much money I would save because you were feeding my son!"
You can utilize your 529 plan, VA education benefits, tuition tax credit scholarship programs, or other programs
You may be able to use funds from your Coverdell Education Savings Account or 529 plan to pay your tuition and expenses. US veterans who have not fully utilized their GI Bill amounts may be eligible to use those amounts for our tuition. You may also qualify for education tax credit scholarships, voucher programs, tax credits/deductions, or other government programs that help fund education. Each of these programs have specific requirements and vary depending on where you live. Our admissions office and business office can help work with you on the details.
"With a little help from my friends"
We have many families each year who have enrolled their student with the financial help of grandparents or other family members. Others have found assistance from their churches or other religious organizations in sponsoring their student. Civic organizations in your community, or even your employer, may offer scholarship grants to supplement what you can pay directly.
Search for private scholarships
There are a huge variety of organizations that offer private scholarships for students in K-12 schools. You should cast a wide net, do a lot of searches on Google or your favorite internet search engine, and ask everyone you know if they are aware of any private scholarship opportunities. In Virginia, the Baptist General Association of Virginia offers scholarships for students attending Fork Union Military Academy.
You can find well-known national foundations, such as the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation, that provide scholarship grants for high school students. There are also many regional, state, and local organizations that provide secondary school scholarship opportunities. Just as an example, in a recent online search I came across The Korean American Scholarship Fund that provides scholarships to Korean American students, as well as to descendants of American veterans who served during the Korean War. These kind of very specific scholarship opportunities are far more available than you might think, but it will take a bit of effort on your part to identify and apply for these scholarships.
Consider getting an educational loan
We partner with the premier private loan provider of low fixed-rate extended-payment options for private school education, Your Tuition Solution (offered by Springstone Financial, LLC). They specialize in the education market and offer education loans with long terms and low monthly payments.
The Sallie Mae K-12 Family Education Loan is a US federal loan program offering educational loans You may also find educational loan opportunities available from your bank or financial services company. Interest rates on such loans may vary by institution.
Do you qualify for our military discount?
Fork Union Military Academy offers a $5,000 discount on tuition for new students entering the Academy in grades 7-12 with a parent or guardian serving on active duty/reserve component, or retired from the US military. Ask our admissions counselors for details. You must complete a FACTS application to be considered for this discount.
Apply for Financial Aid
Simply put, if your son is accepted we will work hard to help find the resources for him to attend. The Academy offers need-based grants to eligible families, though it is important for the family to share in the investment.
More than half of our US domestic boarding students receive some level of financial aid, ranging from $1,000 to $30,000 or more. The average financial aid award is just over $15,000. You must apply for admission before applying for financial aid.
Financial aid grant amounts will only be discussed once a student has been accepted for admission. Any award will only be valid for a stated period of time so that, if an awardee elects not to enroll in the Academy, another family can benefit from the grant assistance. So, apply and enroll early to secure the best possible option for your family.
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