Colleges › Indiana › Valparaiso University
Valparaiso University
Valparaiso University admits nearly everyone — 89.4% of applicants. A feature, not a flaw: the page below asks whether Valparaiso University is worth attending, not whether you'll get in.
Not sure where you stand? Estimate your GPA →
Valparaiso University occupies suburban Valparaiso, IN — a private campus quieter than a downtown one, closer to one than a rural seat. The school maintains its Lutheran Church in America affiliation, which threads through campus life to a degree that varies by program.
Its highest-earning path is Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General, where graduates median $115,095 four years out. Faculty pay averages $97,524 a year here — a rough proxy for what the school spends on the teaching itself. With 2,083 undergraduates and a residential core, weekends happen on campus — and 75.4% of first-years come back for a second year.
Submitters admitted here typically landed between 1080 and 1310 — above the IN middle for four-year schools. Put your own practice estimate on Valparaiso University's range with the SAT calculator, or bring a saved GPA from the grade tools.
Admissions
Scores help here but aren't the gate. If your SAT sits inside the 1080–1310 submitter range, sending it likely helps; below it, Valparaiso University's own policy says you can leave it out.
| Score | 25th | 50th | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Reading & Writing | 540 | 610 | 660 |
| SAT Math | 540 | 590 | 650 |
| ACT Composite | 25 | 29 | 30 |
Percentiles are among students who submitted scores (Fall 2023 admissions cycle).
In the Fall 2023 cycle, Valparaiso University received 6,133 applications and admitted 5,656 (92.2%), with 596 enrolling.
How Valparaiso University compares
| Valparaiso University | Indiana median | National median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 89.4% | 77.9% | 77.2% |
| Tuition (in-state) | $48,450 | $32,352 | $19,591 |
| Median earnings (10 yr) | $63,191 | $52,071 | $53,781 |
Ten years after enrolling, the median Valparaiso University student earns $63,191 — 21% above the Indiana median of $52,071 for college-goers.
Cost, size & completion
Valparaiso University lists tuition at $48,450 for everyone — private schools don't do residency pricing. Valparaiso University's sticker and net price can differ sharply after aid; treat $48,450 as the ceiling, not the bill.
Valparaiso University enrolls 2,083 undergraduates — mid-sized, with the trade-offs Valparaiso University's scale implies: more programs than a small college, more anonymity too.
70.4% of Valparaiso University students finish a bachelor's within six years — 15.5 points above the national 54.9% — and the single best predictor that the $48,450 price above buys a degree, not just enrollment.
Top majors by earnings at Valparaiso University
| Bachelor's program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion |
|---|---|
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General | $115,095 |
| Computer Engineering | $96,079 |
| Computer Science | $94,111 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $90,583 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | $87,944 |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | $86,317 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $81,278 |
| Civil Engineering | $80,173 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $78,163 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $73,880 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $71,848 |
| Marketing | $66,773 |
| Criminology | $63,772 |
| Chemistry | $62,245 |
| Mathematics | $61,564 |
| Biology, General | $61,072 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $60,612 |
| Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology | $60,092 |
| Psychology, General | $58,104 |
| Social Work | $57,609 |
| Political Science and Government | $56,054 |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | $55,485 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | $54,933 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $53,495 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $52,439 |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $50,588 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $50,325 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | $47,644 |
Median earnings for these 28 Valparaiso University programs come from a different federal cohort than the campus-wide $63,191 above — compare rows to each other, not to that 10-year figure. 31 additional Valparaiso University programs have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.
Frequently asked questions
What GPA and test scores do you need for Valparaiso University?
Among admitted students who submitted scores, the middle 50% scored 1080–1310 on the SAT. There's no published GPA cutoff — pair these ranges with the 89.4% admission rate to judge your odds.
What is Valparaiso University's acceptance rate?
92.2% in the Fall 2023 cycle — 5,656 admitted from 6,133 applicants.
How much does Valparaiso University cost?
At Valparaiso University, published tuition is $48,450 — net price after aid usually comes in lower. That number is Valparaiso University's ceiling, not a quote.
What do Valparaiso University graduates earn?
Federal data puts median earnings at $63,191 ten years after enrolling. The table above breaks this down by major.
Similar colleges in Indiana
- Trine University — 85.5% admitted
- Saint Elizabeth School of Nursing — 88.9% admitted
- University of Saint Francis-Fort Wayne — 96% admitted
- Indiana Wesleyan University-Marion — 88.9% admitted
Run your own numbers
Data: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (Jun 2026), IPEDS ADM2023/HD2024. Retrieved 2026-09-01. Figures reflect the latest federal cohorts, which lag the current admissions cycle.