Walz was born in West Point, Nebraska, the son of Darlene R. and James F. "Jim" Walz. He is of German, Irish, and Swedish ancestry.[4] The son of a public school administrator and community activist, Walz was raised in Chadron, Nebraska, a rural community in the northwestern portion of the state.
Walz graduated from Butte High School in a class of 25 students, and went on to earn a bachelor of science degree in social science education from Chadron State College.