National university
#12 Best colleges in IndianaValparaiso University
Valparaiso, IN · Private nonprofit · 4-year
Your real cost
Average price after aid $18,578 a year
Median debt at graduation: $26,942 (all students)
Estimate your own price · the college’s net price calculator
Rankings
Where this college places on our top lists. Lists are worked out from official data and our own research; places in the top quarter of each list are shown. See every list
In America
- Colleges with the best earnings for the price in America#109 of 681
- Best colleges for criminal justice in America#192 of 1,046
- Colleges with the highest graduation rates in America#392 of 1,829
- Most affordable colleges with strong academics in America#148 of 690
- Best colleges for exercise science and kinesiology in America#226 of 950
- Best colleges for social work in America#144 of 605
In Indiana
- Best colleges for criminal justice in Indiana#3 of 33
- Best colleges for nursing in Indiana#4 of 30
- Best colleges for social work in Indiana#4 of 21
- Colleges with the best earnings for the price in Indiana#4 of 21
- Colleges with the highest graduation rates in Indiana#10 of 45
- Best colleges for accounting in Indiana#7 of 31
Show 13 more
- Best colleges for finance in Indiana#5 of 22
- Best colleges for marketing in Indiana#6 of 26
- Best colleges for communications and journalism in Indiana#9 of 39
- Best colleges for education in Indiana#9 of 39
- Best colleges for business in Indiana#10 of 41
- Best colleges for exercise science and kinesiology in Indiana#7 of 27
- Best colleges for psychology in Indiana#11 of 42
- Best mid-size colleges in Indiana#5 of 19
- Best colleges in Indiana#12 of 45
- Best colleges for English in Indiana#10 of 37
- Colleges with the biggest discount off the sticker price in Indiana#6 of 21
- Colleges with the most faculty per student in Indiana#6 of 21
- Best colleges under $20,000 a year in Indiana#3 of 9
Academic Excellence
Each measure counts for the share shown.
- Graduation rate 35% of scoreThis measure counts for 35% of the Academic Excellence score.70%
- First-year retention 20% of scoreThis measure counts for 20% of the Academic Excellence score.75%
- Entering students' test scores 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.SAT 1,178 · ACT 27
- Student-to-faculty ratio 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.10 to 1
- Instructional spending per student 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.$11,626
Bars show points on each measure’s scale. How Academic Excellence is computed.
Source: College Scorecard (College Scorecard, most recent cohorts (data release 06/10/2026))
What families pay, by income
Average yearly price after grants and scholarships, for students who receive federal aid.
| Family income | Price after aid |
|---|---|
| Up to $30,000 | |
| $30,001–$48,000 | |
| $48,001–$75,000 | |
| $75,001–$110,000 | |
| Over $110,000 |
Full cost of attendance before aid: $58,437 a year.
Use the college’s net price calculator for your own estimate.
Cost and value
Federal data: what families pay after aid, what graduates earn, and what they owe.
| Undergraduate students Fall enrollment (IPEDS) | 2,255 |
|---|---|
| Men and women College Scorecard, fall 2023 | Men 43% · Women 57% |
| First-generation students College Scorecard | 29% |
| First-year students from another state IPEDS, fall 2023 | 44% |
| Total students | 2,846 |
| Average net price (per year) After grants and scholarships, for students receiving federal aid | $18,578 |
| Cost of attendance (per year) | $58,437 |
| Median federal debt at graduation | $26,942 |
| Graduation rate First-time, full-time students finishing within 150% of normal time | 70% |
| Graduation rate for Pell grant recipients College Scorecard, within 6 years | 67% |
| Graduation rate for first-generation students College Scorecard, within 6 years | 68% |
| Borrowers paying down their loans within 3 years College Scorecard, within 3 years | 77% |
| First-year retention | 75% |
| Median earnings 10 years after entry | $63,191 |
| Admission rate | 89% |
| Application fee IPEDS, 2023–24 | No application fee |
| Typical rent HUD fair market rent, FY2026 | About $1,581 a month for a one-bedroom |
| Students receiving Pell grants | 27% |
| Average SAT | 1178 |
|---|---|
| SAT reading & writing | 540–640 |
| SAT math | 520–640 |
| ACT composite | 23–31 |
| Test policy | Considered but not required |
Value: Good · Top 37% (how it’s computed)
Sources: College Scorecard · IPEDS College Navigator · Net price calculator
College Scorecard, most recent cohorts (data release 06/10/2026); IPEDS 2024-25 directory and institutional characteristics; fall 2023 enrollment.
Earnings by major
Median earnings of bachelor’s graduates a few years after finishing, by major (College Scorecard).
| Major | Median earnings |
|---|---|
| Health sciences | |
| Computer engineering | |
| Computer science | |
| Mechanical engineering | |
| Electrical engineering | |
| Management science | |
| Nursing | |
| Civil engineering | |
| Business administration | |
| Finance | |
| Accounting | |
| Marketing | |
| Criminology | |
| Chemistry | |
| Mathematics | |
| Biology | |
| Liberal arts | |
| Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology | |
| Psychology | |
| Social work | |
| Political science | |
| Health administration | |
| Secondary education | |
| Teacher education | |
| English | |
| Romance languages | |
| Communication studies | |
| Kinesiology and exercise science |
Also offered (no earnings published yet): Area studies, Astronomy and Astrophysics, Biochemistry, Biomedical/Medical Engineering, Broadcasting, Business (general), Classics, Economics, Engineering (general), Engineering-Related Fields, Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering, Fine arts, Geography, German, Global studies, History, Interdisciplinary studies, International business, International relations, Mathematics and Computer Science, Music, Natural resources and conservation, Philosophy, Physics, Public health, Rehabilitation and therapy, Sociology, Statistics, Theatre, Theology, Writing and rhetoric.
What students study most
Share of bachelor’s degrees by field, first majors in 2023–24 (IPEDS).
| Field | Share of degrees |
|---|---|
| Health professions | |
| Engineering | |
| Business | |
| Physical sciences | |
| Social sciences |
Campus life
| School colors | |
|---|---|
| Setting | Suburb |
| Part-time undergraduates | 1% |
| Undergraduates aged 25 and older | 4% |
| On-campus room and board (per year) | $13,618 |
| Sports | NCAA Division I · Missouri Valley Conference |
| ROTC | Army · Air Force |
| Study abroad | Offered |
| Students per faculty member | 10 to 1 |
| Undergraduates registered with the disability office | About 9%IPEDS, 2023–24 |
| Disability services | Visit the office’s pageThe college’s own page |
| Faculty who are full-time | 70%College Scorecard, fall 2023 |
| Endowment per student | $117,175IPEDS, 2023, per student |
| Dorm space | For about 74% of studentsBeds per undergraduate; not who lives on campus |
| Nearest airport with airline service | South Bend International Airport (SBN)About 41 miles away · about 1 hour 15 minutes by car |
| Nearest major airport | Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW)About 43 miles away |
| Town population | 34,733Census, 2020–2024 |
| Nearest city of 250,000 people or more | ChicagoAbout 42 miles away · about 1 hour 20 minutes by car |
| Typical weather | 26°F in January · 75°F in JulyNOAA, 1991–2020, from Valparaiso Porter Co Municipal Airport, IN |
Federal data (IPEDS and College Scorecard), except school colors.
Campus safety reports
On-campus crimes reported in 2024, per 1,000 students.
| Category | This campus | U.S. rate |
|---|---|---|
| Rape | 1.16 | 0.07 |
| Robbery | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Aggravated assault | 0.00 | 0.04 |
| Burglary | 1.16 | 0.08 |
| Motor vehicle theft | 0.00 | 0.15 |
Numbers reflect what each campus reported. They differ with campus size and how reporting is done, so compare with care. U.S. rate: total reported offenses divided by total students at every institution in the report.
Questions families ask
- What is Valparaiso University’s Compass Score?
- Very good (grade B+). It ranks in the top 31% of rated colleges. The grade comes from outcomes (40%: graduation, retention and earnings), entering students (40%: test scores and selectivity), cost (15%: debt and price after aid) and teaching (5%: class size), all from federal data.
- How much does Valparaiso University cost after financial aid?
- The average net price is $18,578 a year for students who receive federal aid, after grants and scholarships. What your family pays depends on income; the college’s net price calculator gives your own estimate.
- How hard is it to get into Valparaiso University?
- Valparaiso University admitted 89% of applicants in the most recent federal data.
- How do Valparaiso University’s graduates do?
- 70% of first-time, full-time students graduate within six years; the median earnings of former students ten years after entry are $63,191; the median federal debt at graduation is $26,942.
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About this school’s data
- IPEDS unit ID 152600
- Carnegie classification: Doctoral/professional university
- Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (U.S. Department of Education DAPIP)
- Religious affiliation (IPEDS): Lutheran Church in America
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