About Access College

What is the Access College?
Students will comprise a cohort that will take classes together. Classes will cover a range of disciplines, similar to the foundational classes that first-year college students traditionally take. Access College students will also enroll in classes and workshops designed to provide additional support (adjusting to college life, study skills, identifying strengths and interests, learning about career paths, financial management, resiliency, etc.). Students will also receive support services specifically designed to meet their needs.
First Things First
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Transition to College
How it Works
Will be receiving a diploma/GED from a US High School/GED program before the start of the Fall semester
This program is FULL TIME ONLY. We cannot accommodate a part time schedule, nor can we accommodate Spring enrollment. You must apply for the Fall semester as a full time student.
Weighted cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher
One or more of the following:
- You are the first person in your family to attend college, or neither of your parents/guardians have received a Bachelor’s degree
- You are eligible for the Pell Grant
- You desire to attend college and obtain a Bachelor’s or Associate’s degree
The Access College is grounded in Valparaiso University’s Christian mission to educate people “to lead and serve in church and society.” Our efforts are inspired by Jesus’s mission to welcome those who were not yet made welcome (Mark 9:37; Luke 19:11–32; Matt. 25:31–46); all of the parts of the body are crucial to its function (1 Cor. 12:15). The Access College is therefore an integral component of Valparaiso University’s mission and identity as a Christian institution. It is our call to light the way for others because “In thy light, we see light.”
Valpo believes in providing a quality college education to young adults from all walks of life. The Access College seeks to remove barriers to education, including the social, racial, and economic barriers that have precipitated exclusion from education. Today, the task is for Valparaiso University to actively dismantle the barriers that have long limited access to education and, at the same time, to build a bigger table to welcome those who have not yet been welcomed. This initiative uniquely positions Valpo to serve, in a meaningful way, the changing demographics within the state of Indiana and the greater midwestern region. Currently, high school graduates from Indiana enroll in colleges and universities at a rate of 59%, much lower than the national rate of 69%. After COVID the college-going rate fell to 55% in 2022. For low-income students this rate is much worse; just 35 percent of low-income high school graduates go to college. Establishing the Access College in Indiana is crucial to the region’s economy and is necessary to close this educational gap.
Contact Us
Get in touch with our Executive Director, Lucia Lopez, M.S.