Valparaiso: the complete school report for parents

What does Valparaiso actually weigh in admissions?

Valparaiso rates 2 of the 18 factors "Very Important": course rigor, GPA. It does not consider 6 of them at all. Every college reports these weights in section C7 of its Common Data Set; below is Valparaiso's 2025-2026 answer, read from the grid in its own file.

What GPA do admitted students actually have?

64% of enrolled students had a 3.50 GPA or above. The average was 3.68 on a 4 scale, reported for 100% of the entering class. This is the school’s own distribution, not an estimate from its admit rate.

Is transferring in easier than applying as a freshman?

Valparaiso admitted 79.7% of 349 transfer applicants, against 89.9% of first-year applicants. The two routes are similarly competitive here. The minimum college GPA considered is 2.5.

When do we apply, and does timing change the odds?

Valparaiso offers neither Early Decision nor Early Action, so there is no early round to strategize about and every applicant is read in one pool.

What does my child need to take in high school?

Valparaiso requires 16 academic units and recommends 18. A college-preparatory program is recommended.

What will Valparaiso actually cost us?

Families pay an average of $18,578 a year at Valparaiso after grants and scholarships, against a published in-state tuition of $50,650. The published price is not what most families pay. The university reports meeting 94% of demonstrated need on average. It also gave 102 merit awards averaging $28,508 to first-years with no demonstrated need.

69% of Valparaiso graduates borrow, leaving with an average of $38,847 in debt, which the federal data puts at about $286 a month in repayment. Valparaiso’s net price calculator gives your own figure.

Does a degree from Valparaiso pay off?

Graduates earn a median $63,191 ten years after entering, and $55,216 at six years. 84% out-earn a typical high school graduate within six years. 77% are actively paying down their loans three years in.

$87,180 to $43,284, depending on the major. Median earnings five years out at Valparaiso:

College Scorecard, by field of study; highest and lowest shown.

Will my child actually graduate?

77% of first-years return for a second year. 60% graduate within four years and 68% within six (2019 cohort). The rate holds up across income: 53.1% of Pell-grant recipients graduate within six years against 74.9% of everyone else, a gap of 21.9 points.

How big are the classes?

56% of class sections have fewer than 20 students, while 0% have 100 or more. The student-faculty ratio is 10:1, and 70% of faculty are full-time. Accredited by Higher Learning Commission.

What is life at Valparaiso like?

2,056 undergraduates, 37.8% of first-years from out of state. 65% of freshmen live in university housing, falling to 52% across all undergraduates. Greek life is small: 27% of men join a fraternity and 27% of women a sorority. 29% of students are the first in their family to attend college, and the median family income is $72,576.

What this means for your student

• Course rigor is rated Very Important here, so the senior-year schedule should hold its AP, IB or honors depth rather than lighten. Valparaiso recommends 18 academic units.
• 64% of enrolled students are at a 3.50 GPA or above, averaging 3.68. Below that line the rest of the application has to carry real weight.
• Its highest-earning major returns $87,180 five years out against $43,284 at the other end, a gap wider than the one between most schools.
• See where your student actually stands: calculate their GPA and compare it against the distribution above.

Common questions about Valparaiso

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