Prospective Students

What Can You Expect?

Graduate study in the psychology department requires both diligence and motivation. Fully accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs (CACREP), our counseling program is rigorous, both in its academic challenge and in its demand to prepare students to become competent professionals. Students become well-acquainted with both their faculty and peers. They are assigned a faculty advisor who provides assistance with course selection and career guidance. They work closely with faculty on research projects and during practicum training.

Each year, the program strives to enroll a mix of students with diversity of identity and experience to create a rich learning atmosphere, and one that reflects the populations of clients counselors will work with. To this end, we actively encourage students of color and other diverse backgrounds to consider application to the program.

Students are quickly assimilated into the CMHC program and psychology department with immediate opportunities for engagement and leadership. The cohort-based structure of the program enhances student learning resources, adds to the social enjoyment of learning, and creates the potential for a future professional/clinical network.

The success of our program across several metrics is reflected below in the statistics of the past five years.

Full- or Part-Time Study

Efforts are made to offer courses so that individuals employed part- or full-time may pursue graduate study. A full-time load is three to four courses per semester and two courses during the summer. Students with significant outside commitments may enroll on a part-time basis. A typical part-time load is two courses per semester and one course during a summer session. Each year, the counseling programs enroll approximately 20 students, with each incoming class consisting of a mix of full- and part-time students.

Criteria for Admission into the Counseling Programs

Applicants must meet the admission requirements for the counseling program, which include:

• an undergraduate degree from an accredited university
• an undergraduate GPA of at least 3.00 (B)
• at least 15 credits in the social/behavioral sciences (e.g., psychology, sociology, human development)

International student applicants can find additional requirements outlined by the Graduate School.

• The Graduate School provides additional information and resources which can be helpful for international student applicants.

Applicants lacking the appropriate background will still be considered for the program, but may have to take additional courses to ensure adequate preparation for graduate coursework in counseling.

Application Procedures

Applicants should provide the following by February 15** for priority consideration:

1. Valparaiso University Graduate Application;
2. Official transcript reflecting an undergraduate degree from an accredited university;
3. Two letters of recommendation;
4. A reflective essay detailing applicants’ professional goals (specific essay instructions can be found in the application portal);
5. Application fee: $30 for U.S. citizens, $50 for international students.

The top applicants will be invited to participate in an interview in early spring (usually mid-March). Admission is typically offered only for the fall semester. Preference is given to applicants who plan to complete the program through full-time coursework, although part-time student applications will be considered.

**Review of applications begin in February and continues until program enrollment is complete. Prospective students interested in applying to the counseling program after Feb. 15 should contact the Graduate School regarding any remaining openings in the incoming class cohort.

Financial Considerations

• Consistently ranked in the Top 25 Most Affordable Accredited Graduate Degree Programs in Counseling and Psychology in the Midwest, prospective students will be pleased to discover the affordable tuition rate at Valparaiso University, especially in comparison to other CACREP-accredited counseling programs. For a private institution of recognized national quality, tuition and fees are highly competitive. Current tuition and fee information is available through the Graduate School.
• Funding Options
  • Financial aid is available through direct and indirect federal student loans for students taking six credits or more during fall and spring semesters. For most individuals, these loans will cover the entire cost of the program, including tuition and living expenses.
  • Scholarships: Students in the counseling programs are eligible for merit-based scholarships (up to $3,000) for the first year in the program. Applicants with a GPA of 3.1 or higher will automatically be considered for this scholarship upon applying to the counseling program. Additional scholarship and financial assistance information is available through the Graduate School.
  • Assistantships: A limited number of funded assistantship positions are available, including teaching assistantships, research assistantships, and program assistantships. Students who have been admitted to the program can apply for these positions in late spring, prior to beginning the program. Typically, about one-third of the incoming cohort is selected for an assistantship position.
  • Transfer Credit: Students may transfer up to nine credits of approved graduate coursework into the program.
  • Employment: In addition to additional on-campus job opportunities, graduate students can usually find employment in social service and mental health agencies in the Northwest Indiana region. Some students elect to work full-time and undertake their studies on a part-time basis. Typical salaries range from $7–10/hr. and usually require an undergraduate degree in psychology, social work, or related human services fields. Depending on the specific position, credit toward fulfillment of the required practicum and internship courses may be counted, assuming the position involves some combination of individual and group counseling. Outside of mental health work, other options are available.
  • Post-Graduate Loan Repayment Programs: In order to address the increasing need for qualified licensed mental health professionals working with underserved populations, a number of federal, state, and local loan repayment/loan forgiveness programs were created to recruit counselors into jobs following graduation in exchange for loan repayment. Some examples include the National Health Service Corps and the Indiana Mental Health and Addiction Services Loan Repayment Assistance Program.