Hilbert College, in Hamburg, N.Y., announced it has completed the acquisition of Valley College, a career-focused college with campuses in West Virginia and Ohio. After the merger, the two colleges will serve more than 2,000 students across New York, West Virginia, and Ohio with traditional and online programs.
“We look forward to welcoming Valley College students and alumni to Hilbert College with open arms,” Hilbert College President Michael Brophy said. “At Hilbert, we have a passion for expanding access to higher education, and this next step will increase our geographical reach and the types of programs and pathways that we offer.”
Following the acquisition, the two schools will operate independently as separate colleges. A press release noted that immediate plans between the two colleges include “the establishment of transfer articulations in their respective online degree programs, the sharing of best practices, and expanded tuition waiver benefits for employees at both colleges.”
According to a press release, the acquisition creates “immediate synergies” in the form of new online degree pathways – from certificate programs and Associate’s degrees at Valley College through Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees at Hilbert College. These advanced degree tracks will be available to Valley College students and graduates of Valley College both in-person at Hilbert’s Hamburg, N.Y., campus and online through Hilbert College Global.
Prior to the merger, Hilbert College had 150 students enrolled in online and graduate programs, and Valley College has 1,000 students enrolled using an online modality.
