Quad

Valparaiso University

Valparaiso, INQuad's selectivityAccessible
Known forGenerous aidTest-optional heavy
WebsiteAdmissionsApplyVisitFinancial aid

Updates

What changed

New and revised figures from the latest data releases, each with its year.

Published Oct 8, 2026

  • Fall 2025: 4,704 applied (fall 2024: 6,199)Valparaiso University (Fall 2025)
  • Fall 2025: 4,231 admits (fall 2024: 5,544)Valparaiso University (Fall 2025)
  • Fall 2025: 90% admitted (fall 2024: 89%)Valparaiso University (Fall 2025)
  • Entered fall 2024: 77% returned for a second year (entered fall 2023: 75%)Valparaiso University Common Data Set 2025–26

Sources:Valparaiso University (Fall 2025), Fall 2025;Valparaiso University Common Data Set 2025–26, Entered fall 2024About the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)

Admissions · Fall 2025

9 in 10 applicants admitted

Valparaiso admits about 9 in 10 applicants (90%). That puts it in the "Accessible" tier, more selective than 23% of the 1,547 colleges that report admissions.

90%

90%

acceptance rateQuad's selectivityAccessible

Applied

4,704

Admitted

4,231

Yield

12%

of admits enroll

Avg. GPA

3.68

SAT middle 50%

1060–1280

10001600
ACT middle 50%

23–31

1836
Applications −4% since fall 2014 · admit rate 82% → 89%Over time

Getting in, in detail: funnel, what they look at, your scores

Students

Who's on campus

A small campus of 2,083 undergrads, where 27% receive Pell Grants, a typical share compared to other colleges.

2.1K

undergrads · larger than 58% of colleges

Diversity index

0.53

Pell Grant

27%

below the median

First generation

29%

below the median

Small suburbNCAA D-I FCS · Missouri Valley ConferenceROTCStudy abroadUndergrad research
More diverse · index 0.45 → 0.53 since fall 2014Over time

Students and campus life in detail

Academics

Majors and faculty

The most popular major is Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse (17% of graduates). 10 students for every faculty member, fewer than at 76% of colleges. 70% of faculty are full-time. Spends $11,626 a year on instruction per student.

10 to 1

students per faculty member · fewer than at 76% of colleges

Most popular major

Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse

17% of 2024–25 graduates

Top-earning major

Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General

$115.1K four years after completion

Full-time faculty

70%

of faculty

Instruction spending

$11.6K

per student a year

All majors with search, earnings by major, and faculty

Cost & aid · 2023–24

What it costs

In 2023–24, the average first-year paid an estimated $25,166 in total (tuition, housing, food, books and other costs, after grants), about the national median. The 100% who received grants paid $21,766 on average; the other 0% paid the full sticker price of $62,714.

60%

$25.2K

average total cost per year, all first-years, after grants (est.) · about the national median

$0$110K$400K+
Full price
$62,714 a year
tuition, housing, food, books, and other costs
Need-based aid
Published data end at $110K
use the college's net price calculator for higher incomes
Merit aid
19% · avg $29K
of first-years without need got merit aid
Aid generosity

Very generous

grants cover 60% of full price

Federal loans

52%

of undergrads · national median 45%

Your price

Net price calculator

the college's own

Financial aid

Financial aid office Veterans' benefits
Cost falling · −21% after inflation since 2013–14Over time

Prices, who gets aid, and borrowing in detail

Outcomes

What it pays

Former students earn a median $63,191 ten years after enrolling, more than at 74% of colleges; 73% graduate within six years. Four years of net price is about 1.6 years of that salary.

73%

73%

graduate within six years · national median 59%

Median earnings

$63.2K

10 years after entry

Median debt

$26.9K

≈ $286/month for 10 years

Retention

77%

come back for year two

Graduation rate 67% → 70% since the class that entered fall 2008Over time

Earnings, finishing, 8-year outcomes, by group

Over time · since 2013–14

How it's changed

Since 2013–14, the full price rose 4% after inflation, while what the average first-year paid fell 21%, because grants grew faster. Applications fell 4% since fall 2014, and the acceptance rate went from 82% to 89%.

  • Cost

    Falling

    −21% after inflation

  • Applications

    Steady

    −4%

  • Selectivity

    Less selective

    admit rate 82% → 89% (to fall 2024)

  • Diversity

    More diverse

    index 0.45 → 0.53

Every series, year by year

Keep exploring

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Bridgewater College

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Whitworth University

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Sources for this overviewEvery dataset and year behind the numbers on this profile; tap any ⓘ for one number's source

Sources for this profile

  1. 1
    IPEDS directory (Institutional Characteristics: HD)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  2. 2
    College Scorecard

    U.S. Department of Education · most recent release; Fall 2024; 2023–24; Fall 2023 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  3. 3
    Valparaiso University Common Data Set 2025–26

    Valparaiso University · Fall 2025; Fall 2027 applicants; Entered fall 2024; 2024–25; Fall 2026 entrants; 2025–26; Fall 2026 cycle; 2026–27; Class of 2025 · retrieved 2026-10-05

  4. 4
    IPEDS Admissions survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  5. 5
    IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  6. 6
    IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  7. 7
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part D)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  8. 8
    IPEDS Completions survey (degrees awarded by field)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2024–25 graduates · retrieved 2026-10-12

  9. 9
    College Scorecard Field of Study data

    U.S. Department of Education · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12

  10. 10
    IPEDS Finance survey, derived per-student figures

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  11. 11
    IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  12. 12
    Common Data Set

    Each college (voluntary, standardized template) · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12

  13. 13
    IPEDS Graduation Rates survey (Pell Grant and subsidized loan recipients)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Entered fall 2018 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  14. 14
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part C, residence of first-time students)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  15. 15
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part A, enrollment by level)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  16. 16
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (distance education)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  17. 17
    IPEDS Salaries survey (SAL, instructional staff, all ranks)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  18. 18
    IPEDS Outcome Measures survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Students entering fall 2016 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  19. 19
    Valparaiso University (2026)

    Valparaiso University · 2026 · retrieved 2026-10-04

IPEDS unit ID 152600 · Data retrieved 2026-10-12. Tap any ⓘ to see where that number came from and what year it describes. National ranks and medians include every 4-year college that reports the measure. How we source and calculate everything