DePauw University is a private nonprofit institution offering bachelor's degrees based in Greencastle, Indiana. It enrolls 1,905 students (a mid-sized student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Every figure on this page is reported by the federal government, not supplied by the college, so it can be compared like for like against anywhere else you are looking.
These four scores answer one question: compared with similar colleges, is this one worth the money? Each runs 0 to 100 and is judged only against its peer group (4-Year Selective), so a community college is never marked down for not being Harvard. Everything is computed from federal data. Nobody can pay to move a score, and a pillar with missing data is left unscored rather than guessed.
Strong
76/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes85
Value65
Affordability25
Selectivity79
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
DePauw University admits 57.2% of applicants, which makes it moderately selective, and realistic if you meet the academic profile.
Acceptance Rate
57.2%
Moderate
SAT Range (25th–75th)
1200 – 1410
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
28 – 32
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 DePauw University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Getting more selective ↓
10.3 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
Ignore the sticker price. What matters is the net price, which is what a typical family pays here after grants and scholarships come off. At $22,264 a year on average, it sits in line with what private nonprofit colleges charge nationally. Plan for the gap between that and what you can pay without borrowing. Figures are College Scorecard 2023-24.
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$59,070
Room & Board (on-campus)
$15,330
Room & Board (off-campus)
$15,870
Books & Supplies
$950
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$2,450
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$2,450
Total Cost of Attendance
$74,320
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
$11,820
$30,001 – $48,000
$13,957
$48,001 – $75,000
$12,979
$75,001 – $110,000
$21,774
Over $110,000
$31,225
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.
$5,50010%percentile
$12,00025%percentile
$27,000Medianpercentile
$27,00075%percentile
$36,00090%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 $25,000
↓ $2,000
No Pell $24,021
↓ $2,979
Female students $25,000
↓ $2,000
Male students $23,250
↓ $3,750
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $12,000, less than completers ($27,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
83% of students who start here finish within six years, and 89% come back after first year. Most people who start here leave with the degree they came for. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
Completion and earnings carry the most weight in this college's score, and how the UCD Score weighs each measure sets out exactly how they are combined.
6-Year Graduation Rate
83%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
89%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Strong completion signals. Most students who start, finish.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
Ten years after starting here, the median student earns $70,527 a year, above the national median. That is a healthy return for most cost levels. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$70,527
Earning > $25K
89%
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
$56,300
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$77,800
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$54,400
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$56,800
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$72,100
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $21,500, about 28% 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 ↑
6.6 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Excellent. 94% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Who you would actually be sitting next to: 1,905 students, a mid-sized community.
Total Enrolled
1,905
Part-Time
1%
First-Generation
16%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 56.6%1,079
International 22.6%430
Hispanic 8.3%158
Black 6.0%114
Other 2.8%54
Asian 2.5%47
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at DePauw University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
DePauw University offers
a varied set of programs:
38 distinct programs across
20 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.
There are 10 students for every instructor here: small classes, and staff who are likely to know your name.
Student : Faculty
10:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$941M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$91,541
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
175 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
85
49%
$108,404
Associate Professors
41
23%
$81,821
Assistant Professors
44
25%
$71,055
Instructors
5
3%
$64,841
Pros & Cons of DePauw University
No college is right for everyone. Here is where DePauw University is likely to suit you and where it may not, based on the same figures shown above.
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
No graduate programs offered at this institution
Best for:
Based on the data, DePauw University is a fit for
students prioritizing post-graduation earnings.
Frequently Asked Questions about DePauw University
The questions families ask most about DePauw University, answered straight from the federal data rather than from the college's own marketing.
Is DePauw University hard to get into?
Admissions at DePauw University are moderately competitive. The acceptance rate is 57.2%, so most applicants who meet the academic minimums are admitted.
What is the acceptance rate at DePauw University?
57.2% of applicants are admitted. Around half get in, so a solid application has a real chance. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What SAT score do you need for DePauw University?
Aim for 1410 or better. Half of admitted students scored between 1200 and 1410 (Reading plus Math), so anything above the top of that range makes you competitive and anything below the bottom means the rest of your application has to carry more weight. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
What ACT score do you need for DePauw University?
Aim for 32 or better. Half of admitted students scored between 28 and 32 on the composite, so the upper half of that band is where you want to land. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does DePauw University cost?
Budget around $22,264 a year. That is the net price, what families typically pay once grants and scholarships come off, not the sticker price. Your own figure depends on household income, so treat this as a midpoint rather than a quote. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is DePauw University worth it?
On the numbers, yes: solid return on investment. Ten years in, the median graduate earns $70,527 a year against a net price of $22,264, about 3.2 dollars of earnings for every dollar of annual cost. That ratio ignores whether you finish and what you study, which matter just as much. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is DePauw University known for?
Mostly Computer Science, Communication & Media, Economics. Those are the fields where it awards the most degrees, which is a better guide to where the teaching strength sits than any reputation ranking. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
What do DePauw University graduates earn?
About $70,527 a year, measured ten years after students first enrolled. Half earn more and half earn less, and what you study moves that figure far more than where you study. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is DePauw University accredited?
Yes. DePauw University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend DePauw University?
1,905 students. Small enough that you will recognize faces across campus, and small enough that course choice can be limited. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
What is the graduation rate at DePauw University?
83% finish within six years. Most people who start here graduate, which is the signal you want. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
Is DePauw University a public or private college?
It is Private Nonprofit. Private nonprofit, so the sticker price is higher but institutional aid is often larger too.
Where is DePauw University located?
DePauw University is located in Greencastle, Indiana.
What programs does DePauw University offer?
38 different programs, most commonly Computer Science, Communication & Media, Economics. If the subject you want is not among them, check the full list before applying rather than assuming it is offered.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at DePauw University?
10 students per instructor. Low enough that staff are likely to know who you are. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
Related Colleges in Indiana
Other colleges in Indiana share the same applicant pool, regional economy, and academic landscape. Comparing nearby options puts admissions, costs, and outcomes in context, useful when weighing your fit against local alternatives.
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