Valparaiso University
Valparaiso, Indiana · Private · 2,083 undergraduates · valpo.edu
Test policy (fall 2027)
Test optional
Sending scores is your choice
Admit rate
90%
of 4,704 applicants
SAT (middle 50%)
1060 to 1280
of enrolled freshmen
Annual cost (2027-28)
$73,150Est.Estimate
before aid
Your chances and merit aid at Valparaiso University
See where you stand for admission, how much merit aid you could get, and what you'd pay after it.
We started you at a typical enrolled freshman here. Move the sliders to match you.
Your admission chances
90% of applicants admitted
Target
Your SAT is inside the range where the middle half of enrolled freshmen scored, and your GPA is in the middle half of freshmen's.
Estimated merit aid
a year
Your cost after merit aid
$73,150
a year in 2027-28, from a $73,150 sticker price
What to do with your 1170
Send your score
About 66% of freshmen here didn't send a score. We estimate their typical SAT at about 1030, and yours is above it.
Source: College Navigator (federal data on fall 2024 freshmen)
Reach, target and likely are a rough guide from your test score and how selective the college is. Admissions also weigh your courses, grades, essays and activities. Merit aid figures are estimates, before any need-based aid.
Admissions
Test policy for fall 2027
Test optional
You choose whether to send an SAT or ACT score. If you send one, it's considered.
- Reviews applications as they arrive, so applying early helps.
Source: Admission Process - Undergraduate Admission - Valparaiso University · Checked October 17, 2026
Application deadlines
- Mar1Priority deadline · March 1, 2027Apply by this date for the best chance at admission and scholarships.
Who gets in
90%
of applicants were admitted: 4,231 of 4,704 for fall 2025.
Test scores of enrolled freshmen (fall 2025)
The shaded part shows the middle half of enrolled freshmen who sent scores: a quarter scored below it and a quarter above. 33% of them sent SAT scores and 4% sent ACT scores.
SAT total 1060 to 1280
Reading and Writing 540 to 640
Math 520 to 640
ACT composite 23 to 31
Source: Common Data Set 2025-2026
High school GPA of enrolled freshmen
Average GPA: 3.68
- 4.031%
- 3.75 to 3.9918%
- 3.50 to 3.7415%
- 3.25 to 3.4914%
- 3.00 to 3.2414%
- 2.50 to 2.998%
- Below 2.500%
Cost and financial aid
The sticker price is what a year costs before any aid. Most students pay less after grants and scholarships.
Sticker price for 2027-28Estimate
$73,150
a year
- Tuition$52,680
- Fees$1,700
- Food and housing$15,830
- Books and supplies$1,000
- Transportation and other$1,940
Valparaiso University published $70,330 for 2026-27. Its 2027-28 prices aren't out yet.
Source: Common Data Set 2025-2026
What families actually pay
What a year cost on average after grants and scholarships, for freshmen who got federal aid in 2023-24, by family income.
- $0 to $30,000$18,198
- $30,001 to $48,000$14,835
- $48,001 to $75,000$15,101
- $75,001 to $110,000$23,240
- Over $110,000$27,802
Financial aid
94%
of a student's financial need is covered, on average
$41,470
average need-based grant to freshmen, money you don't repay
19%
of freshmen got merit aid without financial need, $28,508 on average
- FAFSA
- Required for need-based aid. It's the free federal aid form.
- CSS Profile
- Not required. Only the FAFSA is needed.
- Aid priority date: 4/15
- Send your aid forms by this date to be first in line for the college's grant money.
Source: Common Data Set 2025-2026
AP credit
AP exams that earn credit can replace college courses, so you pay for fewer of them and may graduate sooner.
AP exams that earn credit
38 of 38
Earn credit with a score of 3
8 exams
A 3-credit course is worth
about $5,270Est.Estimate
at 2027-28 tuition
Credit for each AP exam
| Exam | Score needed | Credits | Counts as |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2-D Art and Design | 3 | 3 | CVA 290 |
| 3-D Art and Design | 3 | 3 | CVA 290 |
| Art History | 3 | 3 | CVA 101 |
| Biology | 4 | 8 | BIO 171, BIO 172 |
| Calculus AB | 4 | 4 | MATH 131 |
| Calculus AB | 5 | 8 | MATH 131, 132 |
| Calculus BC | 3 | 4 | MATH 131 |
| Calculus BC | 4 | 8 | MATH 131, 132 |
| Chemistry | 3 | 4 | CHEM 121 |
| Chemistry | 4 | 8 | CHEM 121, 122 |
| Chinese Language and Culture | 4 | 4 | CHIN 102 |
| Chinese Language and Culture | 5 | 8 | CHIN 102, 203 |
| Comparative Government and Politics | 4 | 3 | POLS 130 |
| Computer Science A | 4 | 3 | CS 115 |
| Computer Science A | 5 | 3 | CS 157 |
| Computer Science Principles | 4 | 3 | CS 156 |
| Drawing | 3 | 3 | CVA 121 |
| English Language and Composition | 4 | 3 | ENGL 100 |
| English Literature and Composition | 4 | 3 | ENGL 200 |
| Environmental Science | 4 | 3 | GEO 260 |
| European History | 4 | 3 | HIST 100 |
| French Language and Culture | 4 | 4 | FREN 102 |
| French Language and Culture | 5 | 8 | FREN 102, 203 |
| German Language and Culture | 4 | 4 | GER 102 |
| German Language and Culture | 5 | 8 | GER 102, 203 |
| Human Geography | 4 | 3 | GEO 101 |
| Italian Language and Culture | 4 | 4 | WLC UND |
| Italian Language and Culture | 5 | 8 | WLC UND |
| Japanese Language and Culture | 4 | 4 | JAPN 102 |
| Japanese Language and Culture | 5 | 8 | JAPN 102, 203 |
| Latin | 4 | 4 | LAT 102 |
| Latin | 5 | 8 | LAT 102, 203 |
| Macroeconomics | 4 | 3 | ECON 222 |
| Microeconomics | 4 | 3 | ECON 221 |
| Music Theory | 4 | 5 | MUS 163 and MUS 109 |
| Physics 1 | 3 | 4 | PHYS 111, 141L |
| Physics 2 | 4 | 8 | PHYS 111, 141L, 112, 112L |
| Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism | 4 | 3 | PHYS 142 |
| Physics C: Mechanics | 4 | 3 | PHYS 141 |
| Pre-Calculus | 3 | 2 | MATH 110, 111 |
| Pre-Calculus | 4 | 3 | MATH 110,111,115 |
| Psychology | 4 | 3 | PSY 110 |
| Seminar | 4 | 3 | GS 390 |
| Spanish Language and Culture | 4 | 4 | SPAN 102 |
| Spanish Language and Culture | 5 | 8 | SPAN 102, 203 |
| Spanish Literature and Culture | 4 | 4 | SPAN 102 |
| Spanish Literature and Culture | 5 | 8 | SPAN 102, 203 |
| Statistics | 4 | 3 | STAT 140 or BUS 205 or STAT 240(if required calculus-based statistics modules with engineering applications are completed successfully) |
| United States Government and Politics | 4 | 3 | POLS 120 |
| United States History | 4 | 6 | HIST 120, 121 |
| World History: Modern | 4 | 3 | HIST 110 |
Source: AP credit policy
After college
Graduate within 6 years
68%
Come back for a second year
75%
Typical earnings
$69,661
a year, 10 years after starting here
- Valparaiso University$82,740
- All colleges$90,887
Median yearly earnings of graduates five years after finishing a bachelor's in this major. 27 majors here have earnings data.
Keep exploring
Figures marked Estimate are our estimates, not numbers the college published. Check each college's own site before you apply. SAT is a trademark of College Board, and ACT is a trademark of ACT, Inc. Sharp is not affiliated with either, or with Valparaiso University. The Valparaiso University logo is a trademark of the college.