Culver Academies upholds the values of Duty, Honor, Service, and Truth in achieving its vision: to lead the world in whole-person education. We have been developing courageous leaders of honorable character, who are global citizens and lifelong scholars, since 1894.
Located on 1,800 acres along the shores of Lake Maxinkuckee in Culver, Indiana, Culver offers a co-educational, residential experience beyond that of the typical boarding school for students in grades 9-12.
Quick Stats (2025)
- Grades: 9-12
- Enrollment: 835 students
- Yearly Tuition (Boarding Students): $61,000
- Acceptance rate: 49%
- Average class size: 14 students
- Application Deadline: Jan. 15 / rolling
- Source: Verified school update
Top Rankings
Culver Academies ranks among the top 20 boarding schools (out of 280 schools) for:
Category
Attribute
Boarding Focus
School Resources
School Resources
Offering Breadth
Offering Breadth
School Overview
School Focus
College Preparatory
College Preparatory
Grades Offered
9-12
9-12
School Type
Co-ed
Co-ed
Year Founded
1894
1907
Campus Size
1800 acres
125 acres
School Calendar
Student Body
Enrollment
835 students
319 students
% Students of Color
26%
27%
% International Students
20%
21%
% Students Boarding
100%
67%
SAT range (25th-75th percentile)
1120 - 1410
-
Offers Post-Grad Year
No
No
Academics and Faculty
Saturday Classes
No
No
Student : Teacher Ratio
6:1
7:1
# of AP / Advanced Courses Offered
26
18
% Faculty with Advanced Degree
87%
72%
Summer Program Details
Tuition Cost
Endowment Size
$540 million
$30 million
Yearly Tuition
(Boarding Students)
(Boarding Students)
$61,000
(Additional costs, such as uniforms and optional instruction vary. See website for details.)
(Additional costs, such as uniforms and optional instruction vary. See website for details.)
$66,900
Yearly Tuition
(Day Students)
(Day Students)
n/a
$35,500
Summer Program Cost
$7,850
(Additional costs and program fees vary. See website for details.)
(Additional costs and program fees vary. See website for details.)
% Students on Financial Aid
36%
40%
Avg. Financial Aid Grant
$36,100
$25,000
Admissions
Application Deadline
Jan. 15 / rolling
Jan. 15
Acceptance Rate
49%
64%
Director of Admissions
Steven Pietraszek
Application URL
AP / Advanced Courses
# of AP / Advanced Courses Offered
26
18
Courses
A Computer Science Principles, AP Biology, AP Chemistry, AP Chinese Language & Culture, AP Comparative Government & Politics, AP English Language & Composition, AP English Literature & Composition, AP Environmental Science, AP European History, AP French Language & Culture, AP German Language, AP Latin - Vergil, AP Macroeconomics, AP Microeconomics, AP Music Theory, AP Physics B, AP Physics C: Mechanics, AP Spanish Language, AP Spanish Literature, AP Statistics, AP U.S. Government & Politics, AP U.S. History, AP World History, Art History, Calculus AB, Calculus BC
Sports
# Interscholastic Sports Offered
30
16
Sports
Baseball, Basketball, Cheering, Crew, Cross Country, Cross Country Running, Dance, Diving, Drill Team, Equestrian, Fencing, Football, Golf, Ice Hockey, Lacrosse, Polo, Riding, Riflery, Rugby, Sailing, Soccer, Softball, Swimming, Swimming and Diving, Tennis, Track, Track and Field, Volleyball, Winter Track, Wrestling
Extracurriculars
Total Extracurricular Organizations
47
23
Extracurriculars
Club or Organization:
A Capella, Badminton Club, Black Student Union (BSU), Boy Scouts Troop 209, CGA Rugby Club, Chinese Culture Club, Coding Club, Culver e sports, Culver Pipe and Drums, Discussing American Topics (DAT), Diversity Club, Docent Corps (Visual Arts), Dungeons and Dragons Club, French Club, Green Life, Human Rights Council, Junior Classical League Latin Club, Knitting Club, Leadership Committee for Africa, Living History, Math Forum, Model United Nations, Nutrition and Dietetics Club of Culver, Peer Coaching, Performing Caring Collaborating (PCC), Quizbowl, Rifle Club, Robotics Club, Roll Call (Yearbook Club), Rubik's Cube Club, Shotgun Sports Club, Sin Fornteras "without borders", Speech Team, Stamp Club, Student Ambassador Organization (SAO), Table Tennis, The Last Supper, The Narrative (Introduction to the Bible), The Quill (Fine Arts Magazine), Theater Tech, Usher Corps, Vedette (Student Magazine), Video Broadcasting Team (VBT), W.R.A.P. Women’s Rights Awareness Program, Women in STEM, Writing Center, Youth Community Organization (CYCO)
A Capella, Badminton Club, Black Student Union (BSU), Boy Scouts Troop 209, CGA Rugby Club, Chinese Culture Club, Coding Club, Culver e sports, Culver Pipe and Drums, Discussing American Topics (DAT), Diversity Club, Docent Corps (Visual Arts), Dungeons and Dragons Club, French Club, Green Life, Human Rights Council, Junior Classical League Latin Club, Knitting Club, Leadership Committee for Africa, Living History, Math Forum, Model United Nations, Nutrition and Dietetics Club of Culver, Peer Coaching, Performing Caring Collaborating (PCC), Quizbowl, Rifle Club, Robotics Club, Roll Call (Yearbook Club), Rubik's Cube Club, Shotgun Sports Club, Sin Fornteras "without borders", Speech Team, Stamp Club, Student Ambassador Organization (SAO), Table Tennis, The Last Supper, The Narrative (Introduction to the Bible), The Quill (Fine Arts Magazine), Theater Tech, Usher Corps, Vedette (Student Magazine), Video Broadcasting Team (VBT), W.R.A.P. Women’s Rights Awareness Program, Women in STEM, Writing Center, Youth Community Organization (CYCO)
College Matriculation
Year: 2022
10 Most Popular College Choices (# Enrolled)
Indiana University of Bloomington
12
Purdue University
9
University of Pennsylvania
7
Miami University - Oxford
6
University of Southern California
5
Butler University
4
George Washington University
4
Princeton University
4
United States Naval Academy
4
University of Chicago
4
School Notes
- School Motto: Truth and Wisdom
- Culver Military Academy, established in 1894, and Culver Girls Academy, founded in 1971, compose Culver Academies, one of the leading college preparatory boarding schools in North America. We are located in Culver, Indiana, on a beautiful 1,800-acre campus on the shores of Lake Maxinkuckee. Enrollment is approximately 840 students, made up of about 57% boys and 43% girls in grades nine through 12. We admit students capable of pursuing a rigorous college-preparatory curriculum while becoming responsible citizens and leaders. Candidates are selected for their potential to meet Culver`s high academic standards and to contribute to Culver`s nationally-recognized leadership and extracurricular programs. The diverse student body includes representatives from 24 countries and 40 states. Consistent with the Culver mission of educating students for leadership and responsible citizenship in society, we believe what distinguishes Culver from other fine secondary schools is that while we offer academic training and extracurricular opportunities that are second to none, Culver is the leader in delivering practical experience and instruction in leadership for all students and emphasizing high expectations for personal responsibility and integrity. The leadership principles we teach and develop are those that apply to leaders in all walks of life.
- Culver Academies accreditations: TABS, NAIS,AMCSUS, ISACS, NCA
- Sample of notable school alumni/alumnae:
- Kath Lingenfelter - Television writer and producer (Westworld, Caprica, The Leftovers, House M.D.)
- Hal Holbrook - Oscar-Nominated Actor
- Frank Batten - Weather Channel founder
- George Steinbrenner - New York Yankees owner
- Bernardo Quintana - Chairman and CEO, ICA Corporation
- Mitchell Henderson - Head Basketball Coach, Princeton University
- Molly Engstrom - Two-time Olympian
- Jon Scieszka - Children's Book Author
- Dr. Sally Hodder - HIV/AIDS researcher
- Miles White - Chairman, Former CEO, Abbott Laboratories
Source: Verified school update
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Culver Academies cost?
Culver Academies's tuition is approximately $61,000 for boarding students.
What is the acceptance rate of Culver Academies?
The acceptance rate of Culver Academies is 49%, which is lower than the boarding school average of 64%.
Who are famous alumni from Culver Academies?
Culver Academies famous alumni include: Kath Lingenfelter, Hal Holbrook, Frank Batten, George Steinbrenner, Bernardo Quintana, Mitchell Henderson, Molly Engstrom, Jon Scieszka, Dr. Sally Hodder and Miles White.
What sports does Culver Academies offer?
Culver Academies offers 30 interscholastic sports: Baseball, Basketball, Cheering, Crew, Cross Country, Cross Country Running, Dance, Diving, Drill Team, Equestrian, Fencing, Football, Golf, Ice Hockey, Lacrosse, Polo, Riding, Riflery, Rugby, Sailing, Soccer, Softball, Swimming, Swimming and Diving, Tennis, Track, Track and Field, Volleyball, Winter Track and Wrestling. Culver Academies is ranked as one of the top boarding schools for most sports offered.
Does Culver Academies offer a summer program?
Yes, Culver Academies offers a summer program. Visit their summer school page for more information.
What is Culver Academies's ranking?
Culver Academies ranks among the top 20 boarding schools for High percentage of boarding students, Large financial endowment, Highest endowment/student, Most sports offered and High # of AP/advanced courses offered.
When is the application deadline for Culver Academies?
The application deadline for Culver Academies is Jan. 15 / rolling (applications are due on Jan. 15 but additional applications are reviewed year-round as space permits ).
Alumni Reviews Review School
Review
Description
There is a vast international student acceptance which allows you to learn other cultures. Is also a very good school because it teaches you the importance of manners and routines (this is because is a. . .
One unique aspect of Culver is the requirement of a senior service project for graduation. Personally, I made the most out of this opportunity and took a trip to Morocco to give aid to the. . .
Culver's leadership development programs make it unique among boarding schools. Students are required to enroll in leadership development classes and participate in the leadership system. For boys this takes the form of the military system. . .
Show more reviews (18 reviews)
Related Schools
Show me:
People that viewed Culver Academies also viewed these schools: Lake Forest Academy, Cranbrook Schools, Deerfield Academy, Choate Rosemary Hall and Baylor School.
The nearest boarding school to Culver Academies is La Lumiere School (36.9 miles away)
School
Location
Miles
Grades
Students
452 students 103.6 miles 1500 West Kennedy Road
Lake Forest, IL 60045
(847) 615-3267
Lake Forest, IL 60045
(847) 615-3267
103.6
9-12, PG
452
810 students 187.8 miles PO Box 801 39221 Woodward Ave.
Bloomfield Hills, MI 48303
(248) 645-3610
Bloomfield Hills, MI 48303
(248) 645-3610
187.8
9-12
PK-12
PK-12
810
653 students 715.1 miles 7 Boyden Lane
Deerfield, MA 01342
(413) 774-1400
Deerfield, MA 01342
(413) 774-1400
715.1
9-12, PG
653
867 students 704.9 miles 333 Christian Street
Wallingford, CT 06492
(203) 697-2239
Wallingford, CT 06492
(203) 697-2239
704.9
9-12, PG
867
1,050 students 427.9 miles 171 Baylor School Road
Chattanooga, TN 37405
(423) 267-5902
Chattanooga, TN 37405
(423) 267-5902
427.9
9-12
6-12
6-12
1,050
Recent Articles
Wait A Year Before Going to College
This article explores the benefits of taking a gap year or a postgraduate year before attending college. It discusses how these options can provide students with additional time to refine their academic skills, gain practical experience, and mature before entering higher education. The article highlights the advantages of both paths, including improved college readiness and enhanced personal growth.
The St. Grottlesex Schools
Generous financial aid and a commitment to diversity are hallmarks of the 21st century release of St. Grottlesex. More here.
Financing a Boarding School Education
Financing a boarding school education can be very confusing for many parents. Here are some strategies to help you understand your options.
