Valencia College Foundation

Valencia Facts

• Valencia is 1st among the nation's 2-year institutions in the total number of associate degrees awarded, 2nd in degrees awarded to Hispanics and 3rd in degrees awarded to African-Americans.(Source: U.S. Dept. of Education)
• Valencia College was founded in 1967 as Valencia Junior College. It became Valencia Community College in 1971 and in 2011 the college changed its name to Valencia College; its president is Sanford C. Shugart, PhD.
• Twice as many high school graduates in Orange and Osceola counties start college at Valencia than at all Florida state universities combined.
• One out of four UCF graduates started at Valencia.
• Since Fall 2011, Valencia College began offering bachelor degree programs. Students on a specific career track can transfer into programs that lead to a bachelor of science in electrical and computer engineering technology, bachelor of science in radiologic and imaging sciences and bachelor of science in cardiopulmonary sciences. Valencia College will also offer the bachelor of science in Nursing and a Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS) in Supervision and Management.
• Disney's Touchstone Pictures filmed part of the movie "Instinct" on Valencia's East Campus in the Student Services Building. Actors Anthony Hopkins, Cuba Gooding Jr. and Donald Sutherland showed up to shoot several scenes in which the East Campus appears as a Miami medical university. Several graduates of Valencia's Film Program worked on the film as crew members.
• Full-time tuition for an in-state student is $2,972 per year; books cost more than $1,100 a year.

• Valencia’s tuition is nearly half that of a state university.
• Valencia has 2,772 faculty and staff members and 67 administrators.
• Almost 60 percent of Valencia students are women.
• The average age of a Valencia student is 24.
• 31.6% of Orange and 30.2% of Osceola high school graduates start at Valencia.
• Valencia Foundation's board comprises nearly 60 community leaders who volunteer their time and talents to support scholarships, faculty chairs and learning programs.
• Sue Foreman leads the foundation board as chairman, with the able assistance of Jess Bailes, secretary and Steven Davis, treasurer.
• Valencia is a national leader in finding innovative ways to help students learn, and has been recognized by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Aspen Institute.
• Community colleges are the fastest-growing mode of higher education, serving nearly half of all first-time freshmen and nearly half of all college and university undergraduates.

To make a tax-deductible, charitable gift to Valencia Foundation, please click here.