Delaware Valley University

Delaware Valley University, often called DelVal, is a private university located in Doylestown Township and New Britain, Pennsylvania. It was founded in 1896 and sits on a beautiful suburban campus that covers 570 acres. Students can choose from over 28 undergraduate majors, as well as 12 master's programs, a doctoral program, and courses for adult learners.

The university has around 2,178 students who enjoy learning in a peaceful, green setting. With its Doylestown postal address, DelVal provides many opportunities for students to explore their interests and prepare for future careers.

History

Delaware Valley University started in 1896 as the National Farm School in Doylestown, Pennsylvania. Its founder, Joseph Krauskopf, wanted to help Jewish immigrants learn farming skills. The school began with just two teachers and eight students. Over time, it grew and added more programs. It became a four-year college after the Second World War and was called Delaware Valley College of Science and Agriculture. In 2015, it became Delaware Valley University. The school also opened a larger campus in Jamison, Pennsylvania in 2011.

Enrollment

In 2022, the university had 1,777 students studying for their first degrees and 401 students studying for higher degrees.

Academics

Delaware Valley University has three schools: the School of Agriculture and Environmental Science, the School of Business, Arts and Sciences, and the School of Graduate and Professional Studies.

The university used to have a program where students worked 500 hours in their chosen field, but now it has changed to a new program called E360. This program helps students connect what they learn in class with real-world experiences. Many graduates from Delaware Valley University go on to work in industries like pharmaceuticals and food, join government or businesses, become veterinarians, or start their own companies.

Undergraduate

Delaware Valley University offers bachelor's degree and associate degree programs in three schools: the School of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, the School of Business and Humanities, and the School of Life and Physical Sciences. It also has special programs for students who want smaller classes, more personalized learning, and chances to study in other countries.

Graduate

The School of Graduate and Professional Studies offers programs for people who want to get a master’s degree or a doctoral degree in educational leadership.

Continuing and Professional Studies

The Office of Continuing and Professional Studies offers different degrees and certificates that people can earn while also having options that don’t give credit toward a degree.

Campus life

The campus at Delaware Valley University has nine places for students to live. New students who are studying full-time stay on campus for their first two years. After that, they can choose to keep living there or move off campus.

There are more than 70 groups and clubs for students to join. These include groups for different jobs they might want in the future, groups for things they are interested in, groups for cultures and identities, honor groups, and the student government, among others.

Rankings

The Princeton Review placed Delaware Valley University on its 2019 Best in the Northeast list. The university has been recognized as one of the top schools in this area by The Princeton Review for nine years in a row.

U.S. News & World Report also ranked Delaware Valley College #19 among the best regional colleges in the North in its 2015 edition.

Athletics

DelVal teams are called the Aggies. They have 27 men's and women's teams that compete in Division III of the NCAA. DelVal is part of the MAC Freedom of the Middle Atlantic Conferences.

The men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, lacrosse, soccer, tennis, track and field (both indoor and outdoor), and wrestling. The women's sports include basketball, cheerleading, cross country, field hockey, golf, lacrosse, soccer, softball, tennis, track and field (both indoor and outdoor), volleyball, and wrestling.

DelVal also has three co-ed programs: equestrian - dressage, equestrian - hunt seat, and e-sports. The school is part of the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA), where students can compete in Hunt Seat and Western shows. Dressage riders can also compete in Intercollegiate Dressage Association (IDA) shows. The school has a vaulting team as well.

Delaware Valley University has had 12 individual national champions in its sports history. The Aggies have had 146 student-athletes earn All-America honors, and the school has 13 Academic All-Americans and 30 Scholar All-Americans for doing well in both sports and schoolwork.

Points of interest

Delaware Valley University has special places you can visit, like the Henry Schmieder Arboretum and the Roth Living Farm Museum. These spots let students and visitors learn about nature and farming.

Notable alumni

Delaware Valley University has many successful graduates. Some well-known alumni include Jacob Joseph Taubenhaus, who became a plant pathologist, and Charles R. Wira, a physiologist and neurobiologist. Other notable graduates are Ted Cottrell, a professional football player and coach, and Rasheed Bailey and Aaron Wilmer, both professional football players. The university has produced many leaders in many fields.