Valparaiso University

Valparaiso University is a private Lutheran university located in Valparaiso, Indiana. Founded in 1859, it operates as an independent institution affiliated with the Lutheran tradition and is organized into colleges of Arts and Sciences, Business, Engineering, and Nursing and Health Professions, along with Christ College, the Honors College, and a graduate school. The university offers undergraduate and graduate programs with a focus on liberal arts and professional education. Known for its historic Chapel of the Resurrection and its emphasis on ethics and service, Valparaiso University attracts students seeking a faith-informed academic environment within a residential campus setting in the Midwest.

Valparaiso University was founded in 1859 in Valparaiso, Indiana, as Valparaiso Male and Female College, one of the nation’s early coeducational institutions. Financial challenges led to its closure in 1871, but it reopened in 1873 as the Northern Indiana Normal School and Business Institute, later becoming Valparaiso College. In 1906, the institution adopted the name Valparaiso University. In 1925, the Lutheran University Association acquired the university, establishing its Lutheran identity and guiding its accreditation efforts. Under President O. P. Kretzmann from 1940 to 1968, Valparaiso University expanded enrollment, strengthened academic programs, and constructed key facilities including the Chapel of the Resurrection, dedicated in 1959. The university added honors education with the founding of Christ College in 1967 and developed international study centers beginning in 1968. Over time, Valparaiso University has continued to evolve as a private Lutheran university serving undergraduate and graduate students.