Valparaiso University is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Valparaiso, Indiana. It enrolls 2,083 students (a mid-sized student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Strong
71/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes64
Value72
Affordability47
Selectivity37
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 89.4%, Valparaiso University is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
89.4%
Easy
SAT Range (25th–75th)
1060 – 1280
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
23 – 31
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Valparaiso University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Becoming less selective ↑
6.4 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Valparaiso University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $18,578 per year. That's below the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$18,578
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
27%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
52%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$48,450
Room & Board (on-campus)
$13,618
Room & Board (off-campus)
$11,800
Books & Supplies
$1,200
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$1,870
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$1,870
Total Cost of Attendance
$58,437
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$11,043
$30,001 – $48,000
$12,055
$48,001 – $75,000
$15,279
$75,001 – $110,000
$22,311
Over $110,000
$24,780
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$5,50010%percentile
$11,50025%percentile
$26,942Medianpercentile
$30,00075%percentile
$35,75090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $24,500
↓ $2,442
No Pell $20,500
↓ $6,442
Dependent students $22,125
↓ $4,817
Independent students $22,154
↓ $4,788
Female students $22,499
↓ $4,443
Male students $21,500
↓ $5,442
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $8,751, less than completers ($26,942), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
72% of full-time students who enrolled at Valparaiso University graduate within six years, and 77% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
72%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
77%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Valparaiso University earn a median of $63,191 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$63,191
Earning > $25K
86%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$46,800
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$63,000
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$50,600
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$51,300
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$57,000
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $16,200, about 26% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
8.3 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Excellent. 88% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Valparaiso University is home to 2,083 students, a mid-sized community.
Total Enrolled
2,083
Part-Time
1%
First-Generation
29%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 66.4%1,383
Hispanic 13.8%287
Black 6.3%131
Other 4.5%93
International 4.0%84
Asian 3.7%77
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Valparaiso University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Small SuburbValparaiso, Indiana
Housing
Strongly residential1,660 beds for 2,083 students
Adult Learners
4%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Religiously affiliated
What You Can Study
Valparaiso University offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
79 distinct programs across
25 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Valparaiso University is 11:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
11:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$450M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$72,183
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
211 instructional faculty across 5 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
51
24%
$85,035
Associate Professors
66
31%
$72,615
Assistant Professors
70
33%
$66,536
Instructors
5
2%
$59,065
Lecturers
19
9%
$60,442
Pros & Cons of Valparaiso University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Valparaiso University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
Above-average graduation rate
Solid post-graduation earnings
CONS
Modest first-year retention
Best for:
Based on the data, Valparaiso University is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier.
Frequently Asked Questions about Valparaiso University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Valparaiso University.
Is Valparaiso University hard to get into?
Valparaiso University has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 89.4%.
What is the acceptance rate at Valparaiso University?
Valparaiso University has an acceptance rate of 89.4%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Valparaiso University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Valparaiso University scored between 1060 and 1280 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for Valparaiso University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Valparaiso University scored between 23 and 31 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Valparaiso University cost?
The average net price after aid at Valparaiso University is $18,578 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Valparaiso University worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $63,191 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $18,578 per year. That's roughly 3.4x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Valparaiso University known for?
Valparaiso University is best known for its programs in Information Systems, Nursing, Health Sciences. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Valparaiso University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Valparaiso University are $63,191, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Valparaiso University accredited?
Yes. Valparaiso University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend Valparaiso University?
Valparaiso University enrolls 2,083 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Valparaiso University?
Valparaiso University graduates 72% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Valparaiso University a public or private college?
Valparaiso University is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Valparaiso University located?
Valparaiso University is located in Valparaiso, Indiana.
What programs does Valparaiso University offer?
Valparaiso University offers 79 distinct programs. The most popular include Information Systems, Nursing, Health Sciences.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Valparaiso University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Valparaiso University is 11:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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Rankings That Feature Valparaiso University
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