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

DePauw University is a private institution located in Greencastle, Indiana with a moderately selective admissions profile. For the most recent reporting cycle, DePauw University admits about half to three-quarters of applicants, with an overall admission rate of 54%. Admitted students typically post an average SAT of 1287 and an ACT composite around 28. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $24,546 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price. For parents weighing whether DePauw University is realistic for their teenager, the most useful planning step is comparing your child's current GPA and most recent SAT or ACT against these admitted-student ranges — not the headline acceptance rate alone.

What GPA does my child need for DePauw University?

DePauw University admits students with a wide GPA range, but most successful applicants present an unweighted GPA of 3.3 or higher with a college-prep curriculum. Parents tracking their child's GPA toward this tier of school can use Solyo's free calculator to see weighted, unweighted, and college-recalculated numbers side by side.

What does DePauw University weight in admissions?

DePauw University reports the following factor importance in its Common Data Set (2024-2025). These are the criteria the admissions committee weighs when reviewing applications.

SAT and ACT scores DePauw University typically admits

The middle-50 SAT Math range is 570–750, with an EBRW midpoint near 630. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 26–31. 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 DePauw University actually cost?

Published tuition is $57,070 for in-state students and $57,070 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $14,850 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $24,546 per year — the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 16% of students receive Pell Grants, a useful indicator of how much need-based aid the school distributes.

Application deadlines and early decision data for DePauw University

Will my child graduate from DePauw University?

Retention and graduation rates are the most overlooked numbers in college planning, but they predict actual outcomes far better than acceptance rate. They tell you whether admitted students stay and finish on time.

Most popular majors at DePauw University

The most popular undergraduate programs at DePauw University, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Economics, Communication and Media Studies and Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology. Across all programs, DePauw University confers roughly 290 bachelor's degrees a year. Graduates of its Economics program report a median income of about $97,814 five years after entering college. Major popularity is a practical signal of where a school concentrates its teaching strength and where your child will find the deepest course offerings and peer community.

Is DePauw University safe? Campus crime & safety

In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), DePauw University disclosed 8 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 4.2 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 0 violent offenses and 6 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Per-1,000-student rates matter more than raw counts when comparing schools, because larger universities mechanically report more incidents. Under the federal Clery Act, every college that receives federal aid must publish these numbers annually.

What is campus life like at DePauw University?

About 97% of undergraduates at DePauw University live in campus housing, making it a largely residential campus. In Greek life, 49% of men join a fraternity and 44% 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 Indiana parents ask about

• University of Notre Dame
  12% acceptance
• Purdue University-Main Campus
  85% acceptance
• Indiana University-Bloomington
  89% acceptance
• Wabash College
  76% acceptance
• Earlham College
  73% acceptance
• Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
  73% acceptance
• Butler University
  73% acceptance
• Valparaiso University
  63% acceptance

Common questions parents ask about DePauw University