Valparaiso Sign
About

At Valpo, Our Light is for Everyone

Since our University was founded in 1859, Valpo has been dedicated to helping students cast their light around the world. We are known for our close-knit community, our dedicated faculty, and the radiance of our Beacons.

Grounded, we shine.
Grounded, we serve.
Grounded, we radiate.

Valparaiso University.

2024 The Wall Street Journal Best Colleges
2023 Washington Monthly Best National University
2024 U.S. News & World Report Best National Universities
2024 U.S. News & World Report Best Value National Universities
2024 Phi Theta Kappa Transfer Honor Roll
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Discover Your Joy at Valpo:

The Valpo experience is all about discovery. Fostered by a supportive campus, our students discover their vocation, purpose, and joy through service and leadership – Beacons shining their light far and wide.

The bright path forward isn’t limited to the classroom or a major. This path is open to all Beacons in pursuit of their passions, our student-athletes on the starting block, servant-leaders making a difference, and well-versed faculty. It illuminates every aspect of Beacon life: in-field internships, friendships, service, spirituality, and more – the human joy found in service of something greater.

Here, our heritage colors of brown and gold shine for all, grounding Valpo in a rich history and ever vibrant future.

Academic Programs and Assets

  • Dozens of specialized majors across five undergraduate colleges
  • Flexible graduate programs, including online and hybrid options
  • Valpo Core intensive seminar for first-year students
  • Dedicated Valpo Study Centers in England, Germany, and Costa Rica.
  • 40+ additional study abroad programs in Africa, Asia, Australia, Central America, Europe, and South America

Graduate Success

  • Our graduate outcome rate is 97%, meaning the majority of Valpo graduates are employed or enrolled in graduate school within nine months of graduating
  • 96% of Valpo graduates are satisfied with their first career job – and 96% have utilized our on-campus career center
  • Christ College – The Honors College Scholars boast a 100% graduate outcome rate
  • 100% of graduates of Valpo’s renowned College of Engineering are employed within nine months of graduation, with 100% of recent graduates participating in experiential learning while on campus
  • Graduates from Valpo’s award-winning College of Business enjoy a 98.8% overall outcomes rate, with 100% of graduates completing an internship prior to graduation
  • Valpo’s nationally recognized College of Nursing and Health Professions boasts a 99.2% graduate placement rate
  • Alumni from our College of Arts and Sciences have a 97.3% graduate outcomes rate
  • Our alumni network is more than 60,000 graduates strong
Graduate Outcomes »

Division I Athletics and Student Life

  • 19 NCAA sports teams in the Missouri Valley Conference, Pioneer Football League, and more
  • Club sports, e-sports, intramural sports, and cheer and dance teams
  • 100+ student clubs and organizations
  • 10 fraternities and seven sororities 
  • Two first-year residence halls and six upperclassmen residence halls and apartments
  • Beacons are invited to participate annually in concerts, plays, and exhibitions, and have access to state-of-the-art performance facilities
  • More than 55 hours of service are logged per student each year, totaling more than 247,000 hours of community outreach and service-learning
  • Valpo’s University colors of brown and gold

Student Body

2,277 Undergraduates
591 Graduate Students

Teaching Faculty

190 full-time faculty
89% highest degree in field
13:1 student-faculty ratio
20 average class size
100% of courses are taught by professors, not TAs

Academic Profile of Freshman Class

3.73 average GPA (4.0 scale)

Tuition and Affordability

$46,588 2023–2024 undergraduate tuition and fees
$13,306 on-campus room/meals
97% of undergraduate students receive financial assistance
$110+ million amount of assistance awarded annually

  • The Wall Street Journal has named Valpo as one of the 2024 Wall Street Journal Best Colleges. Other reports from recent years also recognize Valpo for overall resources, engagement, environment, and outcomes.
  • The 2024 U.S. News & World Report National Universities list names Valpo one of the best universities in the nation.
  • Valpo has secured a top 50 spot in the 2024 U.S. News & World Report Best Value National Universities rankings, offering students the highest academic quality at the lowest possible cost.
  • Valpo’s acclaimed business program earned a spot on the list of 2024 U.S. News & World Report Best Business Programs. The College of Business is also accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), placing it in the top 5% of business schools worldwide.
  • Valpo is listed in the 2024 U.S. News & World Report Best Computer Science Programs rankings. All undergraduate computer science programs are rated on overall quality by top academics and officials, as well as Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) accreditation.
  • Valpo’s undergraduate engineering program is seated at number 14 in the 2024 U.S. News & World Report Undergraduate Engineering Programs without a doctorate, evaluated by peer assessment surveys, Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) accreditation, and offerings of both bachelor’s and master’s degrees.
  • Rated by top academics and officials on overall quality, Valpo’s undergraduate bachelor of science in nursing program is seen as one of the best in the nation according to the 2024 U.S. News & World Report Best Nursing (BSN) Programs list.
  • Valpo is known for fostering the growth of economically disadvantaged students and encouraging the graduation rate of first-generation students, which earned the University a spot on the 2024 U.S. News & World Report Top Performers on Social Mobility rankings.
  • Valpo is listed on the 2023 Washington Monthly Best Bang for the Buck Universities: Midwest rankings, which identifies qualifying institutions based on how well they help students attain quality degrees at affordable rates.
  • Valpo is listed on the 2023 Forbes America’s Top Colleges list, ranked based on data focused on overall student success, impressive outcomes for low-income students, return on investment, high graduate salaries, and alumni influence.
  • Washington Monthly listed Valpo as a 2023 Best National Universities based on the number of Pell graduates and their performance, social mobility rank, service rank, and more.
  • Valpo is credited for being one of the best schools for veterans in the 2023 Military Times Best for Vets Colleges list. Student-veterans of all statuses are able to find support, valuable resources, and connections on campus and in our community, with Valpo’s Veteran Student Services offering military and veteran admission, advising, registration, financial aid, counseling, and more.
  • Valpo is recognized for supporting our transfer students on the Phi Theta Kappa Transfer Honor Roll. With over 100 new transfer students just this academic year, our dedication to transfer students continues to grow.
  • Valpo is listed as one of the 2024 Best Colleges in Indiana by Niche.com, ranked based on academic quality, overall value, diversity, and athletics, among others.
  • National Association of Schools of Music
  • The Council on Social Work Education
  • AACSB International (College of Business)
  • ABET (College of Engineering)
  • Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
  • Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant, Inc.
  • Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs
  • The Accreditation Council For Occupational Therapy Education

  • American Music Therapy Association
  • The American Chemical Society
  • Indiana Department of Education-Office of Educator Licensing & Development
  • Indiana State Board of Nursing
  • Valparaiso University participates in the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements.

SARA Participating Institution