Valparaiso University (Valpo) is a selective, independent Lutheran institution in Valparaiso, Indiana, an hour's drive from Chicago. Founded in 1859, Valpo offers a thorough grounding in the liberal arts as well as professional training and graduate study, helping students find their own paths to lifelong personal, spiritual, and professional growth. Currently Valpo is home to 4,500 students from most US states and about 50 countries. Valparaiso University consistently achieves national recognition for best teaching and value and as one of the best universities in the Midwest. Valpo is known for its blend of liberal arts and professional schools. Students choose from more than 70 academic majors. Distinctive offerings include the renowned Engineering programs, the highly ranked Business College, and the very popular College of Nursing & Health Professions. Valparaiso University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Valparaiso, Indiana, the home of Valparaiso University, is a city of about 31,000 residents. Fifteen miles to the north, on the shore of Lake Michigan, are the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore and Indiana Dunes State Park, important recreational and scientific resources that offer a combined 17,000 acres of varied natural landscape. Just an hour's drive from campus is the city of Chicago, offering almost limitless resources for culture and entertainment. Chicago is easily accessible by bus or train, and the University often charters buses so that students and faculty can take advantage of the theatres, museums and other educational benefits of this great city.