The Pennsylvania Promise

To be eligible, a student must:

• Be a Pennsylvania resident at the time of application.

  • Pennsylvania State Grant residency criteria as defined by the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA).

• Be admitted and enrolled full-time in a degree-seeking program at Valley Forge Military College.

• Be a recent high school graduate, having completed high school or earned an equivalent diploma within 12 months prior to the first term of enrollment (transfer students are not eligible).

• Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and all required state and institutional aid forms by the published deadlines.

Remain in good academic and disciplinary standing each semester.

Demonstrated financial need is calculated using your Student Aid Index (SAI) from the FAFSA and any additional documentation required by the College.

Valley Forge Military College will combine all eligible federal and state aid, Pennsylvania State Grant funding, outside scholarships, institutional scholarships, and eligible federal student and parent loans to meet 100% of each qualifying student’s demonstrated financial need.

All eligible federal and state financial aid, as well as any outside scholarships, will be applied first toward meeting the student’s demonstrated need before any institutional funds are awarded. 

Eligible federal student and parent loans are included as part of this calculation; however, families may choose whether or not to accept them. If a student or family declines federal loans, they are responsible for covering that portion of the cost.

This means your total out-of-pocket cost for tuition, room and board, fees, and uniforms will be fully covered by a combination of these aid sources.

What the Pennsylvania Promise Covers

• Tuition (full-time enrollment up to 21 credits)

• Room and board (standard double occupancy and meal plan)

• Uniform package and required fees

   

What It Does Not Cover

• Books and personal expenses

• Travel or optional course/lab fees

The Pennsylvania Promise is renewable for up to two academic years at Valley Forge Military College, provided the student:

• Files the FAFSA each year by June 30th.

• Maintains full-time enrollment and Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP), including both GPA and completion-rate requirements, as defined in the College’s SAP Policy.

• Continues to demonstrate Pennsylvania residency and financial need.

Students who fail to meet SAP standards may regain eligibility through an approved appeal or after meeting SAP standards in a subsequent evaluation period.

• Aid offers are subject to the availability of federal, state, and institutional funds.

• All eligible federal and state financial aid, as well as any outside scholarships, will be applied toward meeting the student’s demonstrated financial need before any institutional funds are awarded.

• Valley Forge Military College reserves the right to adjust aid packages if information on financial status, enrollment, or residency changes.

• The program applies only to undergraduate, degree-seeking Pennsylvania residents.

• The Pennsylvania Promise applies to new students first enrolling in Fall 2026 or later. Returning or continuing Pennsylvania resident students enrolled prior to Fall 2026 are not automatically eligible but may be reviewed for comparable institutional aid at the discretion of the Financial Aid Office.