DePaul University: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes

DePaul University is a private institution located in Chicago, Illinois. For the most recent reporting cycle, DePaul University admits the majority of qualified applicants, with an overall admission rate of 76%. Admitted students typically post a median SAT around 1200. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $30,902 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price.

What GPA does my child need for DePaul University?

57% of enrolled students at DePaul University had a high school GPA of 3.75 or above, and the average was 3.78, according to its 2024-2025 Common Data Set.

What does DePaul University weight in admissions?

DePaul University reports these factor weights in its Common Data Set (2024-2025). What the weights mean

SAT and ACT scores DePaul University typically admits

The middle-50 SAT Math range is 560–660, with an EBRW midpoint near —. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 25–31. Many applicants here submit scores; even slightly below the average can be competitive when combined with a strong GPA and curriculum.

Where admitted students ranked in their high school class

Class rank distribution gives parents a clear sense of how academically dominant a typical admitted student was within their own high school cohort — often a more meaningful signal than absolute GPA.

How much does DePaul University actually cost?

Published tuition is $45,999 for in-state students and $45,999 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $19,095 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $30,902 per year — the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 32% of students receive Pell Grants.

Application deadlines and early decision data for DePaul University

Will my child graduate from DePaul University?

These predict outcomes at DePaul University better than its acceptance rate does. How to read retention and graduation rates

Most popular majors at DePaul University

The most popular undergraduate programs at DePaul University, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Finance and Financial Management Services, Marketing and Film/Video and Photographic Arts. Across all programs, DePaul University confers roughly 1,398 bachelor's degrees a year. Graduates of its Finance and Financial Management Services program report a median income of about $91,702 five years after entering college. What these figures mean

Is DePaul University safe? Campus crime & safety

In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), DePaul University disclosed 88 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 6.3 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 37 violent offenses and 8 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Why per-1,000 rates, not counts

What is campus life like at DePaul University?

About 14% of undergraduates at DePaul University live in campus housing, so a meaningful share of students commute or live off campus. In Greek life, 6% of men join a fraternity and 10% of women join a sorority. Residential rate and Greek participation shape day-to-day social life and are worth weighing alongside academics and cost.

Other colleges in Illinois parents ask about

• Loyola University Chicago
  82% acceptance
• Illinois State University
  88% acceptance
• Southern Illinois University-Carbondale
  87% acceptance
• Lake Forest College
  57% acceptance
• Knox College
  71% acceptance
• School of the Art Institute of Chicago
  77% acceptance
• Bradley University
  77% acceptance
• Augustana College
  63% acceptance

Common questions parents ask about DePaul University