Valparaiso University Placement Exceeds 90 Percent for 20 Consecutive Years

Valparaiso University has achieved a 95.7 percent placement rate for 2011-2012 graduates, marking the 20th straight year of placement rates higher than 90 percent.

Through dedication to preparing students for a post-Valpo life and a time-tested career services strategy, the independent Lutheran university graduates accomplished students who attain job and graduate school placement throughout the country and the world.

"Valparaiso University's high placement rate is a testament to the intellectually rigorous and innovative education we offer and to the supportive community we foster for our students," Valparaiso University President Mark A. Heckler, Ph.D. said. "Valpo's brilliant faculty and dedicated staff provide the resources and mentoring necessary for students to achieve great success, and our extraordinary students achieve this greatness every day."

Valparaiso University's 2013 Graduate Report compiles student survey responses completed at the distribution of caps and gowns, subsequent online surveys, data collected from academic departments, social media, phone calls and emails to 2011-2102 graduates.

Highlights of the 2013 Graduate Report include:

• Salary offers increased in six of the 10 reported categories compared to 2010-2011.
• Graduates are working or studying in 38 states, the District of Columbia and eight foreign countries. Thirty-six percent of 2011-2012 graduates are working or attending graduate school in Indiana. Of those attending graduate or professional school, 20.8 percent are studying at Valparaiso University.
• Ten respondents are involved in full-time service: two in AmeriCorps, three in the Peace Corps, one each in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, Loretto Volunteers, Lutheran Volunteer Corps and one undisclosed.
• Three were awarded a Fulbright scholarship and currently are in France, South Africa and Nepal.
• Eighty-three percent of the respondents indicated that they are satisfied or very satisfied with their job or graduate school situation.

"The student experience at Valparaiso University prepares our graduates for a wide variety of opportunities post-Valparaiso," said Tom Cath, director of the Career Center. "We're offering a greater selection of programming than ever before and connecting students to professionals through networking events, career panels and interviewing workshops."

Maintaining Valparaiso University's history of excellence in career services and job placements has been a priority since Mark Heckler was named Valparaiso University president in 2008. For more information or to request media availability for Heckler or Director of the Career Center Tom Cath, contact Nicole Niemi at nicole.niemi@valpo.edu.