VALLEY FORGE MILITARY COLLEGE
Wayne, Pennsylvania
The College and Its Mission
Valley Forge Military College (VFMC) is a private men's residential college that offers the freshman and sophomore years of college. The primary mission of the College is to prepare students for transfer to competitive senior colleges and universities. The College, established in 1935, has a long tradition of fostering personal growth through a comprehensive system built on the five cornerstones that make Valley Forge unique: academics, character development, self-discipline, physical development, and leadership to all students regardless of race, creed, or national origin. The diverse student body represents more than twenty-seven states and twenty-three countries. The College has an excellent transfer record, with 95 percent of cadets accepted to their first or second choice. More than 65 percent were admitted to the top- and second-tier schools in the country.
Valley Forge Military College is the only college in the northeastern United States that offers qualified freshmen the opportunity to participate in an Early Commissioning Program, leading to a commission as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army Reserves at the end of their sophomore year. The U.S. Air Force Academy, the U.S. Military Academy, the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, and the U.S. Naval Academy have all sponsored young men through their Foundation Scholars Program to attend Valley Forge Military College.
The College is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools and is approved by the Pennsylvania State Council of Education and the Commission on Higher Education of the Pennsylvania State Department of Education. The College is a member of the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, the Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities, and the Association of Military Colleges and Schools in the United States.
Academic Programs
All students are required to complete a core program of approximately 45 credits that is designed to establish the essential competencies necessary for continued intellectual development and to facilitate the transfer process. Included in the core program are two semesters of English, one semester of literature, one semester of Western civilization, two semesters of mathematics, one semester of science, and one semester of computer science. Qualified cadets must also complete a minimum of two semesters of military science. All sophomores participate in the sophomore writing seminar, a guided research experience. To satisfy the requirement for an associate degree, cadets must complete at least 15 additional credits in courses related to their selected area of concentration. Associate degrees are awarded upon completion of the degree requirements with a quality point average of 2.0 or better.
Associate Degree ProgramsValley Forge Military College offers concentrations in the liberal arts, business, criminal justice, leadership and entrepreneurial studies, and general studies, leading to an Associate of Arts degree, as well as concentrations in pre-engineering, physical sciences, life sciences, and general studies, leading to an Associate of Science degree.
Transfer ArrangementsTransfer of academic credits and completion of the baccalaureate degree is facilitated by established relationships with a number of outstanding colleges and universities.
Credit for Nontraditional Learning Experiences
Valley Forge Military College may give credit for demonstrated proficiency in areas related to college-level courses. Sources used to determine such proficiency are the College-Level Examination Program (CLEP), Advanced Placement Examination (AP), Defense Activity for Nontraditional Education Support (DANTES), and the Office of Education Credit and Credentials of the American Council on Education (ACE).
Costs
The annual charge for 200405 was $26,450. This charge included tuition, room and board, uniforms, maintenance, haircuts, and other fees. Optional expenses may include fee-based courses, such as scuba, aviation, and driver's education, or membership in the cavalry troop or artillery battery. A fee is charged for Health Center confinement over 24 hours' duration. For information on the payment plan, students should contact the Finance Office.
Financial Aid
The College offers merit-based scholarships, merit- and need-based endowed scholarships, and need-based grants to help VFMC cadets finance their education. The academic scholarship rewards incoming and returning cadets who have demonstrated academic excellence. Performance scholarships are awarded to eligible cadets who participate in the athletic teams, band, or choir. Many Friends of Valley Forge have established various special and endowed scholarships, with a range of merit- and/or need-based criteria, to help cadets finance their education. Need-based grants are offered to eligible cadets with demonstrated financial need based on the filing of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). In addition, qualified cadets in the advanced ROTC commissioning program are eligible for two-year, full tuition scholarships. These scholarships are supplemented by assistance for room and board provided by the College.
Valley Forge Military College offers federal student aid to eligible cadets in the form of Federal Pell Grants, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOG), Federal Work-Study (FWS) Program positions, and federally guaranteed student and parent loans through the Federal Family Education Loan Program. Applicants must file the FAFSA and the VFMC financial aid application for consideration.
Faculty
There are 13 full-time and 17 part-time faculty members holding the academic rank of professor, associate professor, assistant professor, or instructor. These faculty members are selected for their professional ability and strong personal leadership qualities. Faculty members perform additional duties as athletic coaches and advisers of extracurricular activities. The Military Science Department has 5 active-duty Army officers and 4 noncommissioned officers assigned as full-time faculty members for the ROTC program. The faculty-student ratio is approximately 1:10. Classes are small, and the classroom atmosphere contributes to a harmonious relationship between faculty members and the students.
Student Body Profile
The military structure of Valley Forge provides extraordinary opportunities for the student to develop and exercise his leadership abilities. The Corps of Cadets is a self-administering body organized in nine company units along military lines, with a cadet officer and noncommissioned officer organization for cadet control and administration. The College's cadets are appointed to major command positions in the Corps. The first captain is generally a sophomore in the College. Cadet leadership and positive peer pressure within this structured setting results in a brotherhood and camaraderie among cadets. Cadets, through their student representatives, cooperate with the administration in enforcing regulations regarding student conduct. A Student Advisory Council represents the cadets in the school administration. The Dean's Council meets regularly to discuss aspects of academic life.
Student Activities
The proximity to many colleges and universities ensures a full schedule of local college-oriented events in addition to Valley Forge's own activities. Cadets are encouraged to become involved in community-service activities. The scholarship-supported Regimental Band has performed for U.S. presidents, royalty, and countless military and social events. The Regimental Chorus has performed at the Capitol Building in Washington, D.C.; the Philadelphia Academy of Music; and New York's Carnegie Hall. In addition, eligible students can participate in VFMC honor societies: Phi Theta Kappa, Lambda Alpha Epsilon, or Alpha Beta Gamma. Other available activities include business and political clubs, Rotoract, flight training, and the Mask and Spur Theater Society.
SportsAthletics and physical well-being are important elements in a Valley Forge education. The aim of the program is to develop all-around fitness, alertness, character, esprit de corps, leadership, courage, competitive spirit, and genuine desire for physical and mental achievement. For students aspiring to compete at the Division I-A or Division I-AA level, Valley Forge's residential college football and basketball programs offer a distinctive opportunity that combines such a strong academic transfer program with a highly successful athletic program that has habitually placed players at the national level. Continuing a legacy that began with its high school program, in only eight years, the College has placed 40 players on national-level teams in basketball and football. In the last three years, the Valley Forge wrestling program has also produced two National Collegiate Wrestling Association Champions and one All American National Collegiate Wrestling Association Champion. Students may also compete at the collegiate level in cross country, lacrosse, soccer, tennis, and wrestling. Club and interscholastic teams are available in golf, polo, and riflery. The Valley Forge polo team is consistently among the top-ranked polo teams in the nation.
Facilities and Resources
Campus buildings are modern and well equipped to meet student needs. A fiber-optic, Internet-capable computer network connects all classrooms, laboratories, library, and dormitory rooms on the campus. All rooms are computer accessible and provide access to CadetNET, the institutional local area network. This network provides access to the library and the Internet. College classrooms are located in two buildings and contain chemistry, biology, and physics laboratories. A recently renovated computer laboratory supports the computer science curriculum and student requirementsw through a local area network.
Library and Audiovisual ServicesThe Mary H. Baker Memorial Library is a learning resource center for independent study and research. The library has more than 100,000 volumes and audiovisual materials, microfilm, and periodicals and houses the newly created Cadet Achievement Center. It provides online database access, membership in the Tri-State Library Consortium, and computer links to ACCESS Pennsylvania and other databases to support the College requirements.
Location
Valley Forge Military College is on a beautifully landscaped 120-acre campus in the Main Line community of Wayne, 15 miles west of Philadelphia and close to the Valley Forge National Historic Park. Ample opportunities exist for cadets to enjoy cultural and entertainment resources and activities in the Philadelphia area.
Admission Requirements
Admission to the College is based upon review of an applicant's SAT or ACT scores, high school transcript, recommendations from a guidance counselor, and personal interview. Students may be accepted for midyear admission. Minimum requirements for admission on a nonprobational status are a high school diploma or equivalency diploma with a minimum 2.0 average, rank in the upper half of the class, and a minimum combined SAT score of 850 or ACT score of 17. An international student for whom English is a second language must have a minimum score of 500 on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Up to 20 percent of an entering class may be admitted on a conditional or probationary status, and individual entrance requirements may be waived by the dean of the College for students who display a sincere commitment to pursuing a college degree.
Application and Information
Valley Forge Military College follows a program of rolling admissions. Applicants are notified of the admission decision as soon as their files are complete. A nonrefundable registration fee of $25 is required of all applicants.
For application forms and further information, students should contact:
Football
