Independent Lutheran university in Indiana with 2,451 students, known for rigorous academics and faith-rooted community.
Valparaiso offers 140+ majors and minors across five undergraduate colleges and graduate programs. The College of Arts and Sciences integrates liberal arts with professional development through 70+ programs in 21 departments. The College of Business is accredited by AACSB International and ranks in the elite 25% nationally. The College of Engineering offers cooperative education with Purdue University and features advanced research facilities including a solar furnace (one of only five in the US). Christ College, founded in 1967, was only the third honors college in the nation. All classes are led by faculty, not teaching assistants, with an average class size of 20.
The 350-acre campus is divided into historic Old Campus (downtown district, home to fraternities and cultural centers) and the New Campus (expanded since the 1950s, housing nine dormitories and most academic buildings). The Chapel of the Resurrection, a 98-foot-high landmark built in 1959, underwent a $15 million expansion completed in 2015. Key facilities include the Christopher Center Library (500,000+ books), the Valparaiso University Center for the Arts, the Donald V. Fites Innovations Center, and the James S. Markiewicz Solar Energy Research Facility. Students participate in 100+ clubs and organizations, 19 Division I sports teams, 17 Greek chapters, and 25+ study abroad programs with centers in England, Germany, and Costa Rica.
In 2025, Valparaiso accepted 89% of applicants. The average freshman GPA is 3.68. The university welcomes undergraduate, transfer, graduate, and international students. Admission pathways include Early Decision, Regular Decision, and transfer options. The university emphasizes a welcoming community and offers need-based and merit-based financial aid, with a median starting salary for graduates $15,000 higher than the national average ($60,000 vs. $45,000).
Founded in 1859 as a coeducational Methodist college, Valparaiso became known as 'The Poor Man's Harvard' in the early 1900s and was the second-largest university in the nation by 1907. After financial crises in the 1920s, the Lutheran University Association acquired the university in 1925, establishing its independent Lutheran identity. Under President O. P. Kretzmann (1940–1968), enrollment grew from 400 to over 4,000 and the university moved to its current campus. The institution maintains a strong Honor Code (established 1943) and commitment to service and spiritual life rooted in Lutheran tradition.