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DePaul University
Most applicants get into DePaul University — 75.9% were admitted — so the real questions are cost, fit and outcomes, covered below.
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DePaul University sits in Chicago proper — a private campus woven into the city rather than walled off from it. The school maintains its Roman Catholic affiliation, which threads through campus life to a degree that varies by program.
Its highest-earning path is Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management, where graduates median $113,645 four years out. Faculty pay averages $152,604 a year here — a rough proxy for what the school spends on the teaching itself. Most of its 14,090 undergraduates commute — campus empties by evening — yet 85.5% of first-years return, which says something about what daytime here is worth.
Submitters admitted here typically landed between 1130 and 1340 — above the IL middle for four-year schools. Put your own practice estimate on DePaul University's range with the SAT calculator, or bring a saved GPA from the grade tools.
Admissions
Scores help here but aren't the gate. If your SAT sits inside the 1130–1340 submitter range, sending it likely helps; below it, DePaul University's own policy says you can leave it out.
| Score | 25th | 50th | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Reading & Writing | 570 | 630 | 680 |
| SAT Math | 560 | 600 | 660 |
| ACT Composite | 26 | 28 | 31 |
Percentiles are among students who submitted scores (Fall 2023 admissions cycle).
In the Fall 2023 cycle, DePaul University received 32,176 applications and admitted 23,660 (73.5%), with 2,943 enrolling.
How DePaul University compares
| DePaul University | Illinois median | National median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 75.9% | 77% | 77.2% |
| Tuition (in-state) | $45,999 | $31,360 | $19,591 |
| Median earnings (10 yr) | $68,751 | $58,572 | $53,781 |
Ten years after enrolling, the median DePaul University student earns $68,751 — 17% above the Illinois median of $58,572 for college-goers.
Cost, size & completion
DePaul University lists tuition at $45,999 for everyone — private schools don't do residency pricing. DePaul University's sticker and net price can differ sharply after aid; treat $45,999 as the ceiling, not the bill.
DePaul University enrolls 14,090 undergraduates — mid-sized, with the trade-offs DePaul University's scale implies: more programs than a small college, more anonymity too.
67.8% graduate within six years. Roughly 32% don't — ask a DePaul University tour guide what happens to them and watch the answer carefully.
Top majors by earnings at DePaul University
| Bachelor's program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion |
|---|---|
| Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | $113,645 |
| Computer Programming | $101,315 |
| Economics | $100,185 |
| Computer Software and Media Applications | $96,616 |
| Management Information Systems and Services | $94,197 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $93,719 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $93,592 |
| Business/Managerial Economics | $93,563 |
| Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications | $91,007 |
| Mathematics | $89,908 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $86,444 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | $84,554 |
| Information Science/Studies | $82,551 |
| Marketing | $78,164 |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | $76,420 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $74,847 |
| Hospitality Administration/Management | $71,556 |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | $71,045 |
| International Relations and National Security Studies | $68,180 |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General | $62,693 |
| Journalism | $61,708 |
| Biology, General | $61,216 |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies | $59,016 |
| Political Science and Government | $58,163 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | $57,957 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $56,014 |
| Psychology, General | $55,664 |
| Design and Applied Arts | $55,213 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $54,208 |
| Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution | $53,498 |
| Sociology | $52,791 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | $52,622 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $52,608 |
| Anthropology | $50,780 |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $50,460 |
| Area Studies | $49,872 |
| History | $48,857 |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | $46,969 |
| Graphic Communications | $45,028 |
| Music | $44,756 |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | $44,095 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $37,085 |
Median earnings for these 42 DePaul University programs come from a different federal cohort than the campus-wide $68,751 above — compare rows to each other, not to that 10-year figure. 31 additional DePaul University programs have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.
Frequently asked questions
What GPA and test scores do you need for DePaul University?
Among admitted students who submitted scores, the middle 50% scored 1130–1340 on the SAT. There's no published GPA cutoff — pair these ranges with the 75.9% admission rate to judge your odds.
What is DePaul University's acceptance rate?
73.5% in the Fall 2023 cycle — 23,660 admitted from 32,176 applicants.
How much does DePaul University cost?
At DePaul University, published tuition is $45,999 — net price after aid usually comes in lower. That number is DePaul University's ceiling, not a quote.
What do DePaul University graduates earn?
Federal data puts median earnings at $68,751 ten years after enrolling. The table above breaks this down by major.
Similar colleges in Illinois
- Eastern Illinois University — 65.3% admitted
- Elmhurst University — 73.6% admitted
- Eureka College — 85% admitted
- Fox College — 70.2% admitted
Run your own numbers
Data: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (Jun 2026), IPEDS ADM2023/HD2024. Retrieved 2026-09-01. Figures reflect the latest federal cohorts, which lag the current admissions cycle.