The Citadel, in Charleston, South Carolina, is one of the six senior military colleges in the U.S. But unlike the country’s five service academies, its graduates are not required to serve in the military upon graduation, though many choose that route: one in three graduates earns an officer commission.
Either way, students tend to be successful, with 70% graduating within six years and median earnings of more than $74,000 four years after graduating. The school says 90% of cadets are employed, in graduate school or accepted into the military within six months of earning their degree.
Campus life here is very structured. Students in the Corps of Cadets, as undergraduates are known, wear uniforms and march in military formations. Developing leadership skills is a major focus, as is regular physical training. The Citadel says 83% of students receive financial aid (and 65% of them receive non-loan awards).
One of the Citadel's most famous students was renowned author Pat Conroy, who talked about his experiences at the school as inspiration for the novel "The Lords of Discipline," which was adapted into a film.
