Online Program FAQ

Only current members of the U.S. military (active duty, Reserve, or National Guard) and military veterans are eligible to enroll in online courses through this program. Proof of service is required as part of the admissions process.

VFMC is a nonprofit, regionally accredited institution founded in 1935 and recognized as a Guard Friendly School by the Pennsylvania National Guard Association.  A Valley Forge education is founded on Five Cornerstones of Academic Excellence, Leadership, Character Development, Personal Motivation, and Physical Development, meaning that your coursework is designed to develop a person of character and not just a successful student.

Yes, VFMC is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, an institutional accrediting agency recognized by the US Secretary of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).

Online courses are designed to be largely self-directed and available to the student whenever they are available to learn.  However, each class is moderated by a member of the VFMC faculty who is available to answer questions and guide you through the material when you face challenges.

Yes.  Earning a degree is one of the most important investments you can make for your career.  Our goal at VFMC is to make your education affordable.  We have designed our program to be financially possible through the military educational assistance program. 

Additional support may be available and you should speak with our Financial Aid Office to learn more about financial aid opportunities.

Our courses are compatible with Mac or PC platforms.  In order to be signed up for our online classes, you should have regular access to the internet and email, as well as be familiar with creating, formatting, and uploading Google Documents. 

Online students are required to have a working webcam and microphone, both of which may be either built into their existing computers or purchased as external devices.  VFMC does not recommend Chromebooks or tablets/mobile devices for online coursework due to limited functionality.

While every course is unique, we can guarantee the following:

• Your course will use a learning management system where you will find all of your assignments, course content, and discussion boards for interacting with your classmates and instructor.
• The course will be asynchronous and partially interactive and use a variety of activities such as recorded lectures, video segments, games, case studies, research papers, and programming assignments.
• The course will be of the same academic rigor and quality of all other courses.

These conversations will happen through email, discussion boards, and occasional Zoom calls.  Class moderators will be available most directly through email, but will engage in some classes using the learning management system discussion function and chat function.

The online classroom environment provides students with a unique way to engage with course material.  The online environment is a self-paced world designed to meet your schedule and provide you with the support you need to meet the challenges you face.  Since most exchanges of information in an online class take place through text-based readings and discussions, students will have to commit to spending time engaged with that material. 

Our goal is that students will develop valuable tech skills and professional communications skills that are valuable to their future careers.

Students enrolled in a 3-credit, 8-week course should expect to spend at least 7 hours a week on course content and homework such as lectures, readings, discussion boards, and written assignments.

Students who excel in the online environment are self-motivated, organized, and manage their time wisely.  They are proactive and start assignments early and seek help when they need it from mentors or other students.  They are also comfortable using the computer and the internet.

After you submit your application, an admissions representative will walk you through the steps you need to get started.  In addition, the registrar will evaluate your transcripts and lived and military experience and identify the coursework necessary to complete your degree.  The registrar will then assign courses and students will be enrolled in VF105: Introduction to Online Learning.

As an undergraduate student with previous academic credits, you will need to provide a previous college transcript, which will be given a transfer credit evaluation.  This evaluation will identify the coursework necessary to complete your degree.

Students can transfer a maximum of 30 credits. 

The cost per credit is $330, however, certain programs also include additional fees.  The total cost per program is based on completing all the credits required for the program in which you are registered, minus any credits you transfer. 

As an accredited university, we are able to accept many forms of financing from public and private sources, including military tuition assistance and federal student aid.

Online classes run annually in five sessions, with start dates determined a year in advance.  Classes are opened at midnight on the start dates of the five sessions: August 25, 2024, October 20, 2025, January 12, 2026, March 9, 2026, May 11, 2026.  Students are expected to begin their classes as soon as possible to give themselves the most time available to complete their work.

No. Whether you complete your courses online or on campus, you will earn the same accredited degree from Valley Forge Military College. There is no distinction on your diploma or transcript.

On the first day of class, students are expected to open the class, review the course syllabus and familiarize themselves with the layout of the course.  Students should move through the course material that is available and identify all course expectations.  Students should then use the first day to build a timeline for themselves to ensure that they will stay on track to complete all required work on time.  While courses are structured to walk students through the material, students should determine how best to fit their coursework into their own schedules and available study time.

Credit for life experience is available.  VFMC will award credit for certain courses based on a review of a student’s Experiential Learning Credit Application.

Credit for military service is available.  VFMC will award credit for certain courses based on a review of a student’s Joint Service Transcript, as well as through the Experiential Learning Credit Application.

 No. No standardized test is required for admission to VFMC.