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Valparaiso University is a selective, independent Lutheran institution in Valparaiso, Indiana, an hour's drive from Chicago. Founded in 1859, Valpo offers a thorough grounding in the liberal arts and professional training and graduate study, helping students find their paths to lifelong personal, spiritual, and professional growth. Valparaiso University, a community of learning dedicated to excellence and grounded in the Lutheran tradition of scholarship, freedom, and faith, prepares students to lead and serve in both church and society. The freedom to pursue truth wherever it leads is at the heart of Valpo's sense of community, uniting its academic and spiritual missions. The university aims to foster in its students a lifelong commitment to this search for truth, encouraging the development of a sense of personal vocation and the intellectual and professional skills needed to pursue it. An active, inclusive community and an accomplished faculty prepare Valpo graduates to choose and navigate their paths through life. Valparaiso University consistently achieves national recognition for best teaching and value and is one of the Midwest's best universities. The total cost to attend Valparaiso University estimates "direct charges" and "indirect costs" you can expect in an academic year. A Valpo education's total cost will differ between students depending on factors like degree sought and academic primary and personal preferences such as living arrangement and meal plan. Valparaiso University makes education opportunities accessible to students from diverse backgrounds by offering financial aid to 90 percent of its first-time freshmen. Depending on the family's needs, a financial aid package may include a combination of scholarships, grants, loans, and campus employment. Staff in the Office of Financial Aid are happy to assist you with any questions. We work with each family to estimate your costs and eligibility for aid and provide you essential information and support throughout the application and enrollment process. All students are automatically considered for academic scholarships based on their application for admission and supporting documents. Students will be notified of any scholarship awards while they are notified of their admission decision. Valparaiso University offers over 25 graduate degree and certificate programs for high-paying, in-demand fields in business, cybersecurity, data science, education, English, international studies, information technology, nursing and health professions, sports administration, media, and more. Our graduate students pursue specialized certificates and master's degrees at an affordable tuition rate with small class sizes and faculty dedicated to changing the world. Most graduate programs offer flexible or online class formats that can be completed within 12–24 months full-time, with part-time options available to meet your schedule's needs. Valpo graduate students flourish in a beautiful and safe campus environment where strong mentoring and collaboration with expert faculty are highly valued. Students develop their specialized identity and graduate with the skills necessary to succeed in an increasingly globalized workforce. Valparaiso University has many online learning options, including fully online programs and many online courses. Valparaiso University offers a variety of continuing education options for professional development and enrichment learning. The Institute for leadership and service is committed to preparing students for leadership and service lives — lives shaped by a more profound sense of calling and purpose. Students are guided to connect their academic study, service experience, and future goals, equipping them for a lifetime of purposeful engagement in church and society. In its 150-year history, Valparaiso University has passed through three distinct phases. Founded by Methodists in 1859 as an institution pioneering coeducation, the Valparaiso Male and Female College was forced by the Civil War's reverses to close its doors in 1871. View full university