In 1896, Joseph Krauskopf, D.D., purchased a 100-acre farm, arranged for the construction of a small classroom building, employed a faculty of two, enrolled six students, and so founded The National Farm School. The National Farm School provided a three-year program combining academics and work experience that continued through World War II. Then, in 1945, the school was reorganized to strengthen its academic program, and it became The National Farm School and Junior College. Before its revamped three-year program had completed a full cycle, it was recognized that advances in the pure and applied sciences mandated further expansion of the program. In 1948 the senior college level was approved by the State Council of Education and the institution’s name was changed to National Agricultural College.

The growth of the college and its programs following World War II, undertaken under the leadership of James Work, a 1913 graduate of The National Farm School, included the addition of new programs in Food Industry (1951), Biology and Chemistry (1958) and Business Administration (1965). To reflect these additions to its program the college’s name was changed to Delaware Valley College of Science and Agriculture in 1960. The college has continued to enhance its program offerings, the newest additions being a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English, and the Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics, Criminal Justice Administration, and Secondary Education. To reflect its broadened educational program, in 1989 the Board of Trustees approved an abbreviation of the college’s name to Delaware Valley College. In 1998, the college embarked on graduate education with its first Master of Science Degree in Educational Leadership.