A private Christian university in Pennsylvania has more than 33 acres of new land to utilize after finalizing an agreement with nearby Valley Forge Military Academy & College (VFMAC).
Eastern University and its St. David campus located less than one mile from VFMAC will receive a football stadium, track and athletic fieldhouse that Eastern previously had been leasing from VFMAC since 2021. The deal announced this week includes several apartment buildings that used to house Eastern’s expanding on-campus community in addition to other fields, buildings and pickleball courts.
“Eastern’s community, both online and on-campus, is growing rapidly and we’ve needed to expand our physical campus to accommodate the growth,” an Eastern University spokesperson told Military.com. “The deal felt like a natural fit since we already had a relationship with VFMAC and are currently leasing their facilities.
“We’ve been grateful for our partnership with VFMAC and the relationships we’ve built thus far, and look forward to continuing to grow our relationship with the college.”
VFMAC spokesperson Michael Blymier told Military.com that the agreement is practical for both parties.
“Eastern was looking for a more permanent solution to support its growing athletic programs, while VFMC having limited long-term use for that section of campus,” Blymier said. “The timing made sense for both institutions. VFMC will still continue to have access to the space for its cadets’ physical training and activities.”
Five Months Away
It’s not yet a done deal. The agreement is contingent on various approvals and regulatory requirements which officials anticipate to be completed throughout the next five months.
Terms of the agreement were not disclosed with Military.com, with school and VFMC officials saying they are confidential until the due diligence period has passed.
As the deal waits to be finalized, the Eastern spokesperson said Valley Forge's operations are currently independent and will remain so.
“Eastern has agreed to provide Valley Forge with access to certain facilities, reflecting the cooperative relationship that both institutions have built over many years,” they said. “Both organizations will continue to manage their own schedules.”
End of an Era
The agreement also comes on the heels of other change at the military institution.
In September, the VFMA Board of Trustees announced that the 98th graduation of the Corps of Cadets will be the last. The Academy will close following the conclusion of the 2025-26 academic year and cease operations on May 30, 2026.
Officials said that the decision was made for two main reasons: rising costs on a boarding school education, plus changes in Pennsylvania law that increased the Academy’s liability exposure and led to steep insurance premium increases—the latter reducing the number of insurers willing to provide coverage. Such factors made the Academy’s future “unsustainable,” officials said.
They added that the decision will not impact the separately governed and accredited Valley Forge Military College, which is a distinct institution and has its own independent board of trustees, leadership, and operations.
“For nearly 100 years, we have maintained a strong tradition of developing resilient young men of character,” said Gray Beck, board chairman, Valley Forge Military Academy, in a statement. “Despite [the] announcement the legacy of Valley Forge Military Academy will live on in the thousands of graduates, faculty and staff members, and supporters.”
