Valparaiso University
Valparaiso, Indiana · Private Nonprofit · 89.4% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 72/100 · Fair Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Valparaiso University scores 72 (Fair Value) on the CampusROI scale - a score built on a solid 7.6-year payback period and $42,200 median 6-year earnings against a $18,578 net price, despite a $48,450 sticker tuition. The 70.4% completion rate and 83.7% repayment rate are both acceptable. Health Services/Allied Health Sciences (44 graduates, A grade, $115,095 year-four) is the top program; Registered Nursing (119 graduates, B grade, $73,747 year-one) and Mechanical Engineering (28 graduates, B grade, $68,265 year-one) anchor the school's professional core. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.638 is the primary drag on the score; median debt of $26,942 is uniform across most programs regardless of field. Notably, essentially all programs show $27,000 in median debt - close to the federal loan maximum - which suggests students are borrowing to the institutional maximum across all majors. The school enrolls 2,083 students in Valparaiso, Indiana.
Valparaiso University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $48,450/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $48,450/yr |
| Average net price | $18,578/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $74,312 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $63,191 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $42,200 |
| Median debt at graduation | $26,942 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $286 |
| Estimated payback period | 7.6 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 70.4% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 2,083 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $48,450/year. Here's the part that matters - almost nobody pays that. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $18,578/year, or roughly $74,312 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $11,043/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $24,780/year.
Most students borrow to get here. The median graduate leaves owing $26,942 in federal loans, which works out to about $286 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Hold that up against the $63,191 the typical graduate earns ten years out: the debt-to-earnings ratio comes to 0.64, within the range advisors call workable but worth keeping an eye on.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $11,043 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $12,055 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $15,279 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $22,311 |
| $110,001+ | $24,780 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
The 0-30000 income bracket pays $11,043 per year at Valparaiso - roughly $44,172 over four years if completed. Against $42,200 median 6-year earnings and a 7.6-year payback at average net price, low-income students face a workable cost structure for nursing or engineering tracks. For other programs with D-grade outcomes, the financial case is more difficult.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 48001-75000 bracket pays $15,279 and the 75001-110000 bracket pays $22,311. At these levels the payback period is approximately 8-12 years depending on program. Health, nursing, and engineering graduates will close the gap faster; humanities and social science graduates will face longer payback windows against the $26,942 median debt.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning $110,000 or more pay $24,780 per year - roughly $99,000 over four years. For nursing and engineering graduates earning $69k-$74k at year one, the payback period is approximately 6-7 years. For programs with D-grade outcomes, the payback at this price level extends well beyond a decade. Program-specific financial modeling is especially important for full-pay families at Valparaiso.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Valparaiso University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | $81,278 | B |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General | $115,095 | A |
| Psychology | $58,104 | D |
| Mechanical Engineering | $90,583 | B |
| Biology | $61,072 | D |
| Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology | $60,092 | B |
| Teacher Education | $53,495 | C |
| Electrical Engineering | $87,944 | B |
| Civil Engineering | $80,173 | B |
| Marketing | $66,773 | C |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General
Health Services/Allied Health Sciences (44 graduates) earns an A grade: $115,095 at year four with $19,500 median debt and a ratio of 0.169. Scorecard does not report year-one earnings for this cohort. The year-four figure of $115k is the highest in the school's program data and reflects healthcare practitioners at a career-experienced level. This program likely feeds into pharmacy, physician assistant, or advanced nursing roles. The low debt ratio (0.169) combined with high four-year earnings makes this the strongest ROI case in the Valparaiso program roster.
Registered Nursing
Registered Nursing (119 graduates) earns a B grade: $73,747 year-one and $81,278 year-four with $27,366 median debt and a ratio of 0.371. Indiana nursing wages are competitive for the Midwest, and Valparaiso graduates access the northwest Indiana and Chicago healthcare labor markets. The four-year trajectory to $81k reflects career advancement in a field where experience drives salary consistently.
Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical Engineering (28 graduates) earns a B grade: $68,265 year-one and $90,583 year-four with $27,000 median debt and a ratio of 0.396. Mechanical engineering at Valparaiso serves the manufacturing and industrial sector in northwest Indiana, which includes automotive suppliers, steel mills, and heavy industry. The year-four trajectory to $91k is consistent with experienced engineering roles in this sector.
Psychology
Psychology (38 graduates) earns a D grade: $31,057 year-one and $58,104 year-four with $27,000 median debt and a ratio of 0.869. Year-one earnings of $31k against $27k in debt creates financial strain in the first years after graduation. The four-year jump to $58k is substantial and likely reflects graduate program completions entering the workforce. Students choosing psychology at Valparaiso should plan for graduate training and the associated additional costs.
Biology
Biology (26 graduates) earns a D grade: $30,672 year-one and $61,072 year-four with $27,000 median debt and a ratio of 0.880. The year-one figure reflects students in graduate or professional school, not the eventual career earnings; the four-year jump to $61k captures some professional school completions. Valparaiso biology graduates primarily pursue medical, dental, or graduate research programs. Borrowers should understand that debt servicing on $27k of loans on a $31k salary is financially tight.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 79.5% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 83.7% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 78.3% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 81.2% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Valparaiso University’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2023).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 89.4% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 520-640 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 540-640 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 23-31 |
| Enrollment | 2,083 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 27.3% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $8,127 |
At 89.4% admission, Valparaiso accepts nearly all applicants. The wide ACT range (23-31) reflects different program entry standards: engineering programs likely draw higher-scoring applicants than education or communication programs. The high admission rate combined with a 70.4% completion rate suggests the attrition happens after enrollment rather than at the gate. Students should ask about program-specific retention rates.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Scorecard peers include Anderson University (IN), Bethel University (IN), and Wheaton College - Indiana and Midwest private universities with similar enrollment sizes and faith-affiliated missions. Valparaiso's 72 ROI score is above the Indiana private university average, driven primarily by the strong nursing and health sciences outcomes and the Chicago labor market premium. Wheaton College shows stronger earnings outcomes due to a more selective profile; Anderson and Bethel are closer comparators at Valparaiso's admission selectivity level.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Valparaiso University (this school) | 72 | $18,578 | $63,191 |
| Bethel University | 71 | $28,556 | $63,764 |
| Wheaton College | 70 | $26,975 | $63,756 |
| Saint Peter's University | 68 | $12,199 | $57,815 |
| Bethel University | 34 | $18,610 | $48,860 |
| Anderson University | 32 | $25,021 | $48,899 |
Who Thrives Here
Valparaiso University admits 89.4% of applicants and enrolls 2,083 students. SAT mid-ranges are 520-640 Math and 540-640 Reading; ACT composite 23-31, with a wide range indicating diverse program entry standards. Pell grant rate of 27.3% reflects a middle-income-oriented student body. Valparaiso has a Lutheran identity and a professional program mix anchored in nursing, engineering, and business. The school's northwest Indiana location connects graduates to Chicago's labor market, which is the primary driver of the 37.9% earnings premium over comparable non-attendees.
The Verdict: A Reasonable Bet - With Caveats
Valparaiso University is a fair-value bet, but how well it pays off depends a lot on you. At $18,578 a year after aid ($74,312 over four years), with the typical graduate earning $63,191 a decade out, the cost takes about 7.6 years to earn back. That's roughly average - not a bargain, not a mistake.
What it has going for it: a strong earnings premium over high school graduates, its 70.4% graduation rate, high loan repayment success. What to keep an eye on: high debt relative to what graduates earn.
Median debt of $26,942 against $63,191 in earnings is reasonable, though your major matters a lot here. Graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.