The Value of a Lutheran/Private Education

• The most valuable aspects of a private education are those that cannot be given a price tag.  As a result of the ability to allocate funds where needed, private universities are often more responsive to the needs of students, families, and the marketplace and able to invest in quality resources beyond traditional academics, such as study centers/exchange programs abroad, implementing faith-based learning into the required curriculum, volunteer programs, etc. (Sources: Articles, “The Value of Private Education”, “Public Vs. Private Colleges”)
  
• Lutheran college alumni report perceptions of higher quality teaching, reputation, and academic facilities. (Source: lutherancolleges.org)
  
• Lutheran college alumni are significantly more likely than alumni of other faiths to report that their college helped them integrate faith into their daily lives. (Source: lutherancolleges.org)
  
• Private/Lutheran universities have the ability to offer smaller class sizes, providing opportunity for one-on-one communication and the development of mentoring relationships between professors and students.  (Source: lutherancolleges.org)
  
• Classes at most private/Lutheran institutions are taught by actual professors – not teaching assistants – because focus is typically on student achievement first and faculty research second. (Source: Article, “The Value of Private Education”)
  
• Private/Lutheran universities hold a higher four-year graduation rate than public universities.  (Source: The National Center for Education Statistics)
  
• Employers value the broad analytical and communication skills young adults acquire through a private, liberal arts education. (Source: lutherancolleges.org)

The Valparaiso University Advantage

• 67% of Valpo undergraduate students graduate in four years.  The national average is 63.9% - 5 year rate for private, selective MA institutions.
• Valparaiso University offers a broad-based liberal arts/general education curriculum combined with professional vocational training in addition to a multitude of leadership opportunities.  This unique combination broadens students’ critical thinking and communication skills while providing them with the top-notch technical expertise needed to become “in demand” by employers and excel at the top of their fields.
• Valpo’s student/faculty ratio is 12:1, and the average class size is 20.  These low numbers allow for personal attention and the development of mentoring relationships between professors and students.
• Approximately 88% of full-time Valpo faculty hold their terminal degree (highest degree in their field.)  Classes are taught by professors, not teaching assistants.
• Job/Graduate School placement rates within six months of graduation for 2007 include:
  • Overall Undergraduate: 95%
  • College of Arts & Sciences: 93%
  • College of Business Administration: 98%
  • College of Engineering: 100%
  • College of Nursing: 98%
• 92% of Valpo students receive financial aid through scholarships, grants, loans, and/or campus employment to help pay for college.
• The average annual aid award (including grants, scholarships, and loans) for new Valpo undergraduate students was $19,000 in the 2007-2008 academic year.
• The total amount of financial assistance awarded to students by Valparaiso University is $57,000,000 + annually.
  

Public Funding vs. Private Funding

• Public institutions receive the majority of their operational funding from the state.  The fund allocation is also determined by the state.  Because the state controls where the money is allocated, scholarships and rich, beyond-the-classroom experiences may be limited. (Source: collegeconfidential.com)
• Private schools typically rely on tuition, gifts, and endowments from other sources, such as alumni, for their operating expenses. Since there is no mandate from the state on how these dollars should be allocated, private schools have the power to distribute the funds in ways best suited for their operations. Because of this, private universities are often able to make many more scholarships available to admitted students than public universities. (Source: collegeconfidential.com)