DePaul University is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Chicago, Illinois. It enrolls 14,090 students (a large student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
65/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes76
Value29
Affordability30
Selectivity62
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 75.9%, DePaul University is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
75.9%
Easy
SAT Range (25th–75th)
1140 – 1330
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
25 – 31
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether DePaul University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Becoming less selective ↑
5.3 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending DePaul University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $30,902 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$30,902
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
32%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
46%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$45,999
Room & Board (on-campus)
$19,095
Room & Board (off-campus)
$19,095
Books & Supplies
$1,104
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$2,829
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$2,829
Total Cost of Attendance
$63,052
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$27,359
$30,001 – $48,000
$25,950
$48,001 – $75,000
$28,687
$75,001 – $110,000
$31,057
Over $110,000
$37,092
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$4,00010%percentile
$9,16625%percentile
$23,168Medianpercentile
$27,00075%percentile
$37,66790%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $20,653
↓ $2,515
No Pell $17,000
↓ $6,168
Dependent students $18,500
↓ $4,668
Independent students $24,999
↑ $1,831
Female students $19,500
↓ $3,668
Male students $19,000
↓ $4,168
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $10,000, less than completers ($23,168), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
71% of full-time students who enrolled at DePaul University graduate within six years, and 86% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
71%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
86%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
High first-year retention. Students who arrive tend to stay.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered DePaul University earn a median of $68,751 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$68,751
Earning > $25K
84%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$54,300
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$68,100
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$54,900
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$59,900
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$64,000
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $13,800, about 20% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
13.3 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 82% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
DePaul University is home to 14,090 students, a large student community. Some distinctive traits: 30% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
14,090
Part-Time
6%
First-Generation
30%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 44.5%6,267
Hispanic 24.9%3,504
Asian 12.5%1,763
Black 7.8%1,099
Other 4.7%658
International 4.0%559
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at DePaul University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large CityChicago, Illinois
Housing
Partly residential2,736 beds available
Adult Learners
10%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Quarterscheduling structure
Designation
Religiously affiliated
What You Can Study
DePaul University offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
150 distinct programs across
25 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at DePaul University is 17:1, on the higher side.
Student : Faculty
17:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$1.4B
Strong financial cushion supports aid and stability
Avg Faculty Salary
$106,321
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
863 instructional faculty across 4 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
228
26%
$143,632
Associate Professors
315
37%
$109,828
Assistant Professors
116
13%
$77,169
Instructors
204
24%
$75,781
Pros & Cons of DePaul University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how DePaul University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Above-average graduation rate
Strong first-year retention
Above-average post-graduation earnings
CONS
Above-average net price
Class sizes are on the higher side
High published cost of attendance before aid
Best for:
Based on the data, DePaul University is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; students prioritizing post-graduation earnings.
Frequently Asked Questions about DePaul University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about DePaul University.
Is DePaul University hard to get into?
DePaul University has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 75.9%.
What is the acceptance rate at DePaul University?
DePaul University has an acceptance rate of 75.9%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for DePaul University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at DePaul University scored between 1140 and 1330 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for DePaul University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at DePaul University scored between 25 and 31 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does DePaul University cost?
The average net price after aid at DePaul University is $30,902 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is DePaul University worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $68,751 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $30,902 per year. That's roughly 2.2x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is DePaul University known for?
DePaul University is best known for its programs in Business Administration, Finance, Film & Video Production. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do DePaul University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering DePaul University are $68,751, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is DePaul University accredited?
Yes. DePaul University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend DePaul University?
DePaul University enrolls 14,090 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at DePaul University?
DePaul University graduates 71% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is DePaul University a public or private college?
DePaul University is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is DePaul University located?
DePaul University is located in Chicago, Illinois.
What programs does DePaul University offer?
DePaul University offers 150 distinct programs. The most popular include Business Administration, Finance, Film & Video Production.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at DePaul University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at DePaul University is 17:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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