Valparaiso University: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes

Valparaiso University is a private institution located in Valparaiso, Indiana. For the most recent reporting cycle, Valparaiso University admits the majority of qualified applicants, with an overall admission rate of 90%. Admitted students typically post an average SAT around 1178. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $18,578 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price.

What GPA does my child need for Valparaiso University?

64% of enrolled students at Valparaiso University had a high school GPA of 3.50 or above, and the average was 3.68, according to its 2025-2026 Common Data Set.

What does Valparaiso University weight in admissions?

Valparaiso University reports these factor weights in its Common Data Set (2025-2026). What the weights mean

How Valparaiso University reads an application: what each weighting means for your child, plus waitlist, transfer and early-round odds

SAT and ACT scores Valparaiso University typically admits

The middle-50 SAT Math range is 520–640. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 23–31. Many applicants here submit scores; even slightly below the average can be competitive when combined with a strong GPA and curriculum.

Where admitted students ranked in their high school class

Class rank distribution gives parents a clear sense of how academically dominant a typical admitted student was within their own high school cohort, often a more meaningful signal than absolute GPA.

How much does Valparaiso University actually cost?

Published tuition is $48,450 for in-state students and $48,450 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $13,618 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $18,578 per year, and that is the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 27% of students receive Pell Grants.

Application deadlines and early decision data for Valparaiso University

Will my child graduate from Valparaiso University?

These predict outcomes at Valparaiso University better than its acceptance rate does. How to read retention and graduation rates

Most popular majors at Valparaiso University

The most popular undergraduate programs at Valparaiso University, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing, Mechanical Engineering and Psychology, General. Across all programs, Valparaiso University confers roughly 372 bachelor's degrees a year. Graduates of its Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing program report a median income of about $79,968 five years after entering college. What these figures mean

Is Valparaiso University safe? Campus crime & safety

In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), Valparaiso University disclosed 7 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 3.4 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 0 violent offenses and 4 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Why per-1,000 rates, not counts

What is campus life like at Valparaiso University?

About 52% of undergraduates at Valparaiso University live in campus housing, making it a largely residential campus. In Greek life, 27% of men join a fraternity and 27% of women join a sorority. Residential rate and Greek participation shape day-to-day social life and are worth weighing alongside academics and cost.

Other colleges in Indiana parents ask about

• Indiana State University
  81% acceptance
• Indiana University-Indianapolis
  76% acceptance
• University of Notre Dame
  11% acceptance
• Purdue University-Main Campus
  50% acceptance
• Indiana University-Bloomington
  78% acceptance
• DePauw University
  57% acceptance
• Wabash College
  63% acceptance
• Earlham College
  73% acceptance

Common questions parents ask about Valparaiso University