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Academics

Valparaiso University
Academics

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How strong are the academics at Valparaiso University?

Let's cover class sizes, graduation rates, and outcomes.

11:1
Student to faculty ratio
21
Average class size
62%
4-year grad rate

Class Sizes

Class sizes likely stayed the same for you through high school. You'll find that college is much different. Some of the largest universities have classes that can seat hundreds of students in giant lecture halls. Conversely, as they progress and their focus narrows, higher-level courses can sometimes have just a handful of students.

Valpo has an average student-to-faculty ratio of 11:1. The typical school is 14:1. While this ratio is important, what’s more important is how big a typical class is.

Class Sizes
2-9
94
10-19
201
20-29
126
30-39
54
40-49
14
50-99
17

Honors Programs

Valparaiso University has an honors program and/or honors college. Specifics of these programs vary, but benefits of being in an Honors Program might include priority registration, being part of a tight-knit community, and accessing unique learning opportunities.

Learn more about honors options on Valpo's website.

Outcomes

It’s critical to understand a school’s outcomes to understand if your four (or more) years at the school will be worth it. Here are some key statistics about the outcomes of students who enroll at Valparaiso University:

75%
First-year retention rate
62%
4-year grad rate
70%
6-year grad rate

The average base annual salary of students who were employed within six months of graduation is $64,857. This is higher than the national average of $48,300.

$64,857
$48,300 (National Average)

Majors

Many students choose a school largely based on the what they want to study. The are Valparaiso University's most popular majors, ranked by how many people graduated with the concentration in the most recent year:

Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General
HEALTH PROFESSIONS AND RELATED PROGRAMS
Psychology, General
14.8
34.24
53.68
73.12
92.56
112

The Full List

Major Graduates
Area
  • East Asian Studies 1
  • East Asian Studies 1
Biological And Biomedical Sciences
  • Biology/Biological Sciences, General 18
  • Biology/Biological Sciences, General 12
  • Exercise Physiology and Kinesiology 10
  • Biochemistry 2
Business
  • Marketing/Marketing Management, General 20
  • Finance, General 18
  • Business Administration and Management, General 14
  • Actuarial Science 5
  • Accounting 5
  • Management Science 3
  • Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods, Other 3
  • International Business/Trade/Commerce 1
  • Management Science 1
  • Finance, General 1
  • International Business/Trade/Commerce 0
Communication
  • Communication, General 17
  • Communication and Media Studies 17
  • Digital Communication and Media/Multimedia 9
  • Communication, General 1
  • Communication and Media Studies 1
Computer And Information Sciences And Support Services
  • Computer Science 13
  • Computer Science 2
Education
  • Elementary Education and Teaching 16
  • Music Teacher Education 9
  • History Teacher Education 1
  • Physics Teacher Education 0
  • Chemistry Teacher Education 0
  • Biology Teacher Education 0
  • Physical Education Teaching and Coaching 0
  • Mathematics Teacher Education 0
  • Foreign Language Teacher Education 0
  • English/Language Arts Teacher Education 0
  • Secondary Education and Teaching 0
Engineering
  • Mechanical Engineering 29
  • Civil Engineering, General 22
  • Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering 14
  • Computer Engineering, General 12
  • Electrical and Electronics Engineering 10
  • Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering 2
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians
  • Engineering/Industrial Management 3
English Language And Literature/Letters
  • Creative Writing 2
  • Professional, Technical, Business, and Scientific Writing 2
  • Professional, Technical, Business, and Scientific Writing 1
  • English Language and Literature, General 1
  • English Language and Literature, General 1
Foreign Languages
  • German Language and Literature 3
  • Spanish Language and Literature 2
  • German Language and Literature 0
  • Spanish Language and Literature 0
  • French Language and Literature 0
Health Professions And Related Programs
  • Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse 112
  • Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General 37
  • Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General 37
  • HEALTH PROFESSIONS AND RELATED PROGRAMS 37
  • Health/Health Care Administration/Management 8
  • Public Health, General 2
  • Music Therapy/Therapist 1
History
  • History, General 5
Liberal Arts And Sciences
  • Humanities/Humanistic Studies 3
  • Humanities/Humanistic Studies 0
Mathematics And Statistics
  • Mathematics, General 6
  • Statistics, General 2
  • Mathematics, General 0
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
  • Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other 6
  • Data Science, General 3
  • Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other 1
  • International/Globalization Studies 0
Natural Resources And Conservation
  • Environmental Science 6
  • Environmental Science 2
Parks
  • Sport and Fitness Administration/Management 8
  • Sport and Fitness Administration/Management 3
  • Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness, General 1
  • Exercise Science and Kinesiology 0
Philosophy And Religious Studies
  • Philosophy 0
Physical Sciences
  • Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology, General 17
  • Chemistry, General 15
  • Chemistry, General 8
  • Physics, General 2
  • Astronomy 2
  • Physics, General 1
Psychology
  • Psychology, General 31
  • Psychology, General 4
Public Administration And Social Service Professions
  • Social Work 9
Social Sciences
  • Criminology 10
  • Political Science and Government, General 9
  • International Relations and Affairs 5
  • Sociology, General 4
  • Geography 4
  • Economics, General 3
  • Sociology, General 2
  • Political Science and Government, General 1
  • Geography 1
  • Economics, General 1
  • International Relations and Affairs 1
  • Criminology 1
  • International Economics 0
  • Economics, Other 0
Theology And Religious Vocations
  • Theology/Theological Studies 2
Visual And Performing Arts
  • Music, General 5
  • Art/Art Studies, General 3
  • Art/Art Studies, General 2
  • Music Performance, General 1
  • Music, General 1
  • Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts, General 1
  • Voice and Opera 0
  • Keyboard Instruments 0
  • Music Theory and Composition 0
  • Music, Other 0
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