Valpo vs. WSU

Should I go to Valparaiso University or Wayne State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Valpo or WSU is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Valparaiso University vs. Wayne State University comparison
Valparaiso University Wayne State University College 3 College 4
Valparaiso University Wayne State University
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Overview

Valpo WSU
Location Valparaiso, IN Detroit, MI
Setting Large Suburban Large City
Enrollment 2,846 23,553
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #363 #580
Religious Affiliation Lutheran Church in America - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website valpo.edu wayne.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Valpo WSU
Tuition (In State) $45,136 $12,493
Tuition (Out of State) $45,136 $28,615
Room & Board $13,306 $11,762
Avg Net Price $23,168 $16,021
Avg Grant Aid $34,326 $10,862
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 95%

Admission

Valpo WSU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 6,133 15,190
Admitted 5,656 12,461
Acceptance Rate 92.2% 82%
Enrolled % 10.5% 24%
Avg High School GPA 3.76 3.42
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Difficult Challenging
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 25/30 21/28
SAT Range 1080/1310 1040/1260
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 1, 2026

Academics

Valpo WSU
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (13%)
  • Health Professions (12%)
  • Engineering (10%)
  • Social Sciences (9%)
  • Education (5%)
  • Business (17%)
  • Psychology (10%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Health Professions (8%)
  • Biology (7%)

Outcomes

Valpo WSU
Graduation Rate 71% 26%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $54,000 $51,000
Making Student Loan Payments 77% 38%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $22,258
Median Loan Payment $279 $230

Diversity

Valpo WSU
% Men 10% 12%
% Women 11% 19%
Racial Diversity Low High
HBCU No No
% White 72% 57%
% Black 6% 19%
% Hispanic 8% 5%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 7% 2%
% Unknown Race 2% 5%

Students

Valpo WSU
% In-State 55% 95%
% Out-of-State 43% 2%

Campus

Valpo WSU
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No Yes
Daycare Facility No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Wayne State University is larger than than Valpo based on total student enrollment (23,553 students vs. 2,846 students)

Valpo vs. WSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Valpo or WSU?

  • Valparaiso University is 261.3% more expensive to attend than WSU for in-state tuition ($45,136.00 vs. $12,493.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 57.7% higher at Valpo than Wayne State University ($45,136.00 vs. $28,615.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Wayne State University than Valpo ($16,021 vs. $23,168)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Wayne State University are 13.1% lower than costs at Valparaiso University ($11,762 vs. $13,306)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Valparaiso University than Wayne State University (99% vs. 95%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Valparaiso University students is 216% larger than aid received Wayne State University ($34,326 vs. $10,862)

Valpo vs. WSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Valpo or WSU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between WSU or Valpo .

  • The average SAT score at Valparaiso University (1159) is 89 points higher than at WSU (1070)
  • Incoming Valpo students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at WSU (23)
  • Accepted freshman Valpo students have a 0.34 point higher average high school GPA (3.76) than students at WSU (3.42)
  • Valpo has a higher acceptance rate (92.2%) than WSU (82%)

Valpo vs. WSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Valpo or WSU? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between WSU and Valpo.

  • The graduation rate at Valpo is higher than Wayne State University (71% vs. 26%)
  • Graduates from Valparaiso University earn on average $3,000 more per year than WSU graduates after ten years. ($54,000 vs. $51,000)
  • Wayne State University students graduate with a $4,742 lower median federal student loan debt than Valpo graduates. ($22,258 vs. $27,000)
  • WSU graduates are paying $49 less per month on federal student loans than Valpo graduates. ($230 vs. $279)
  • More Valpo graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WSU students, three years after graduation. (77% vs. 38%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/