Cost & aid
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.
- 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
Cost by family income
Per year for a typical family of four with one child in college. Up to $110K it is the average price federal aid recipients paid (2023–24).
Hover, tap, or use the arrow keys to read the price at an income.
- Published federal figures
- With an average merit award: $34K · 19% got one. A possibility, not a promise
View as a table
| Family income | Price per year |
|---|---|
| $0–30K | $11K a year |
| $30–48K | $12K a year |
| $48–75K | $15K a year |
| $75–110K | $22K a year |
| $150K | Published data end at $110K |
| $200K | Published data end at $110K |
| $250K | Published data end at $110K |
| $300K | Published data end at $110K |
| $350K | Published data end at $110K |
| $400K and above | Published data end at $110K |
At $150K: Published data end at $110K
Published data end at $110K; use the college's net price calculator for a number.
Your own number depends on the details below, so use the college's calculator for it.
What can change this
- Savings and investments above a typical amount raise the price. The curve assumes typical assets.
- Home equity: some colleges that use the CSS Profile count it. Check this college's own aid page or calculator.
$25,166
Tuition, housing, food, books & other expenses, after grants · 2023–24
100% got grants averaging $37,548; 0% got none.
Who pays what
Share of first-year students, 2023–24.
Housing and food use the college's on-campus rates, so the estimate runs high where many students live at home. “Other expenses” is the college's estimate of personal and transportation costs. Loans aren't subtracted because they're repaid.
16.4% of full-time undergraduates at Valparaiso University pay more than the published tuition because tuition varies by program.
$26.9K
≈ $286/month for 10 years
1.6 yrs
of median salary to cover 4 years of net price
About 1 in 2 undergrads borrows federally.
Everyone who borrowed and left, whether or not they graduated.
Three years into repayment
Where former undergraduates stand on their federal loans.
- Paid in full20%
- Paying it down28%
- Payments paused26%
- Not paying it down20%
- Behind or in default7%
- Forgiven or discharged0–1%
Some shares are published as a small range to protect privacy.
Who actually gets aid
Aid generosity
Very generousGrants cover 60% of the $62,714 full price on average across all first-years (very generous), more than at 94% of colleges. The sticker price overstates what most students here actually pay.
$37,548 in grants per first-year ÷ $62,714 full price.
Who gets grants and scholarships
Full-time first-year students (594), 2023–24
Where the aid comes from
Share of first-year students receiving each; averages are per recipient.
Aid by family income
The whole first-year class (594)
- Federal aid + grants400avg grant $39.9K
- Grants, no federal aid194avg grant $32.8K
- No grants0pay full price
Students with grants but no federal aid usually got the college's own need-based aid (without federal loans or Pell) or merit aid.
By family income: only students who received federal aid (400 of 594), because income is only reported for them.
From Valparaiso University's Common Data Set
First-years and all full-time undergraduates, 2024–25.
| First-years | All full-time | |
|---|---|---|
| Have financial need | 81%432 students | 74%1,517 students |
| Need met, on average | 94% | 94% |
| Need fully met | 59% | 55% |
| Average aid package | $41,825 | $41,853 |
| Average need-based grant | $41,470 | $40,140 |
| Average need-based loan | $3,404 | $4,444 |
| Merit aid without need | 19%average $28,508 | 24%average $26,879 |
| Athletic scholarships | 19average $22,323 | 94average $23,766 |
44% of the college's own grant dollars were awarded without regard to need.
Each college decides what a family needs, so “100% of need met” can mean different prices at different colleges. Merit awards that went toward a student's need count as need-based here.
Applying for aid
For fall 2026 entrants.
Priority date: April 15 · Aid offers: on a rolling basis from November 15
Dates for fall 2026 entrants; the next cycle's are usually similar.
What the college's own scholarships consider
| Academics | ✓ | not marked |
|---|---|---|
| Alumni connection | ✓ | not marked |
| Athletics | ✓ | not marked |
| Leadership | ✓ | ✓ |
| Music or drama | ✓ | not marked |
| Religious affiliation | ✓ | not marked |
| State or district residency | not marked | ✓ |
A blank means the college didn't mark it, not that it never counts.
International students
Merit aid offered.
International applicants file: the college's own form.
Sources:IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey, 2023–24;IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey, 2023–24;College Scorecard, 2023–24;College Scorecard, most recent release;Valparaiso University Common Data Set 2025–26, 2026–27;Valparaiso University Common Data Set 2025–26, 2024–25;Valparaiso University Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2026 entrants;IPEDS directory (Institutional Characteristics: HD), 2025–26;Common Data Set, most recent releaseAbout the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)