Universidad del Valle
A well-established university providing quality higher education. Offers a range of undergraduate and graduate programs with dedicated faculty and supportive learning environment.
- Acceptance Rate
- 69.5%
- SAT Range
- 1050–1250
- ACT Range
- N/A
- Avg GPA
- 3.4
- Size
- Large (28,521 students)
- Type
- N/A
- Student:Faculty
- 1:16
- Setting
- urban
- Graduation Rate
- 77.0%
- Retention Rate
- 79.0%
- Tuition (In-State)
- $4,000
- Tuition (Int'l)
- $8,000
Academic Programs
STEM
Business
Social Sciences
Humanities
Health
Arts
English Proficiency Requirements
Student Life & Environment
Student life at Universidad del Valle pulses with the energy of over 28,000 young people navigating the challenges and opportunities of university education in one of Colombia's most dynamic cities. The main campus in the Melendez neighborhood provides extensive green spaces, sports facilities, cultural venues, and gathering areas where students study, socialize, and engage in extracurricular activities between classes. Student organizations represent diverse interests from academic and professional associations to political parties, cultural groups, and recreational clubs that enrich campus life. The university's student movement has historically played significant roles in Colombian social and political activism, reflecting the institution's tradition of critical engagement with national issues. Cultural programming includes concerts, theater productions, art exhibitions, and film screenings that showcase both student talent and visiting artists, taking advantage of Cali's reputation as Colombia's capital of salsa music and Afro-Colombian cultural expression. Athletic programs provide opportunities for both competitive sports and recreational physical activity, with facilities for soccer, basketball, swimming, and other activities that promote student wellness. Many students commute to campus from neighborhoods throughout Cali and surrounding municipalities, creating a student body deeply connected to the communities they call home. Support services address the academic, financial, and personal challenges facing students from diverse backgrounds, recognizing that success in higher education requires attention to the whole person beyond classroom performance.
Location & Surroundings
Cali, Colombia provides Universidad del Valle with a dynamic urban environment that shapes student experience through its tropical climate, cultural vitality, and complex social realities. As Colombia's third-largest city with over two million inhabitants, Cali offers the resources of a major metropolitan area while maintaining distinctive regional character rooted in its Pacific coastal connections and Afro-Colombian heritage. The city's reputation as the world capital of salsa music infuses local culture with rhythmic energy, with dance clubs, live music venues, and street performances creating an atmosphere unlike anywhere else in Colombia. The Valle del Cauca region's agricultural wealth, centered on sugarcane cultivation, has historically supported economic development while creating tensions around land use, labor conditions, and environmental sustainability that provide subjects for university research and engagement. Cali's climate features consistently warm temperatures moderated by elevation, with a rainy season and dry season pattern that structures the academic and social calendar. The city provides access to diverse ecosystems within short travel distances, from the Farallones de Cali mountain range to the Pacific coastal region where Buenaventura serves as Colombia's largest port. Urban challenges including inequality, violence, and infrastructure limitations coexist with cultural richness and entrepreneurial energy, creating a complex environment that both challenges and inspires university students. The regional economy provides employment opportunities in manufacturing, agribusiness, commerce, and services for university graduates.
Costs & Career Outcomes
As a public university, Universidad del Valle offers tuition costs dramatically lower than Colombia's private institutions, making quality higher education accessible to students from modest economic backgrounds throughout the southwestern region. Tuition fees are calculated using a stratified system based on family income and socioeconomic classification, with students from low-income families paying minimal fees while those from more affluent backgrounds contribute more substantially to institutional costs. This progressive fee structure enables the university to maintain its mission of social accessibility while generating resources necessary for academic quality. Additional costs including books, supplies, transportation, and living expenses vary significantly based on individual circumstances, with many students living at home with families to reduce expenses. Scholarship programs supported by government agencies, the private sector, and international organizations provide financial assistance for qualified students, though competition for these resources is intense. Career outcomes for Universidad del Valle graduates reflect both the university's academic reputation and the economic realities of the Colombian labor market. Graduates from professional programs in medicine, engineering, and business administration generally find employment readily, though starting salaries in Colombia remain modest by international standards. The university maintains career services supporting job searches, with employer recruitment events connecting students with regional and national companies. Many graduates pursue entrepreneurial paths, contributing to Cali's growing startup ecosystem, while others continue to graduate education in Colombia or abroad. Alumni networks provide ongoing professional connections and mentorship opportunities.
Campus Location
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