
DePaul University, located in Chicago, Illinois, is one of the largest private universities in the nation. It offers more than 275 undergraduate and graduate programs of study, many of which have earned top rankings. More than 45 specialized centers and institutes address social issues as part of an integrated academic curriculum, and the service-learning program at DePaul is one of the best. DePaul has one of the most diverse student populations in the nation, and proactively incorporates multiple viewpoints into academic curricula and student life.
Alumni of DePaul University are highly acclaimed in many areas, including business, economy, law and the arts. Among notable alumni are former Kellogg Company CEO James Jenness, actors John C. Reilly and Gillian Anderson, Pulitzer Prize-winning composer George Perle, and more than 250 judges working in courtrooms throughout the Chicago area.
History
DePaul University, founded in 1898 by the Vincentian Congregation of the Mission, was named for French priest, St. Vincent de Paul. The philosophies and mission of DePaul University still reflect the teachings of St. Vincent de Paul.
Academics
The academic calendar of DePaul University follows the quarter system.
Colleges and Schools
DePaul University has ten schools and colleges, including:
- College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences
- College of Science and Health
- College of Commerce
- College of Communication
- College of Computing and Digital Media
- College of Education
- College of Law
- School for New Learning
- School of Music
- The Theatre School
Student Life
There are more than 300 student clubs and organizations on campus, including fraternities and sororities, representing a wide range of interests such as politics and activism, sports, cultures, academics, media and publications, professional associations, performance and entertainment, religions, and public service. The Office of Student Involvement provides many opportunities for engagement through campus activities, and the DePaul Activities Board organizes a full calendar of campus events.
On campus housing is available, with16 residence halls and apartments offering a variety of living accommodations. Many dining options are also available.
Traditions
The DePaul school colors are blue and red, and the athletic teams are named the "Blue Demons." The school motto is: "I will show you the way of wisdom" from Proverbs, IV, 11.
Athletics
The DePaul "Blue Demons" athletic teams belong to the Big East Conference and compete in many intercollegiate sports, including:
Men's Sports:
- Basketball
- Cross Country
- Golf
- Soccer
- Tennis
- Track and Field
Women's Sports:
- Basketball
- Cross Country
- Soccer
- Softball
- Tennis
- Track and Field
- Volleyball
Satellite Campuses
DePaul University is comprised of six campuses in locations around Chicago, as follows:
- Lincoln Park
- Loop
- Naperville
- O'Hare
- Oak Forest
- Rolling Meadows
Community Life
DePaul University is known for its community involvement, fostering social responsibility and public service among its students. The Office of Community-based Service Learning identifies mutually beneficial opportunities for students and community partners to work together on a variety of projects.
Chicago itself is a very diverse city with more than 60 ethnic communities that each has a distinct neighborhood. This diversity is reflected in the range of ethnic restaurants and festivals throughout the city. Students at DePaul also enjoy the many museums, music events, theatre performances, arts and entertainment that the city offers. Summer events are focused in the areas around the lakefront and in the city's many parks.
Admission Requirements & Details
The admissions information below may provide a better idea of the students DePaul University accepts. The details may include admissions application requirements and recommendations, as well as any AP college credits that may be transferred.
College Credits Accepted
- Life Experience Credits
- AP Course Credits
Student Enrollment
Total enrollment at DePaul University is around 24,000 students, where graduate students make up roughly 11% of the student body.
Estimated Costs & Financial Aid
The items listed below are for informational purposes only and may not represent current tuition, fees, and expenses.
Tuition & Fees Information
- The estimated tuition range is around $36,000-$43,000 per year
- Part time students pay in the range of $590 to $700 per unit
Financial Aid Details
The financial aid table below details the types of financial aid, along with the percent of students receiving aid, and on average the amount of aid per student per year.
Percent of Students | Average Amount | |
---|---|---|
Any Financial Aid | 97% | - |
Receiving Grants & Scholarships | 96% | $18,919 |
Receiving Student Loans | 61% | $7,046 |
Academics & Student Services
Student Services
To help students and alumni, DePaul University may provide student services like:- Distance learning
- Weekend and night classes available
- Remedial instructional courses
- Career path counseling
- Employing students to lower education costs
- Helping students find work after graduation
Graduation Rates
DePaul University has a high graduation rate when compared to nearby similar schools.
Number of Year to Graduate | Percent of Entering Class |
---|---|
Students Graduating in 4 Years | 54% |
Graduating in 5 Years | 14% |
Graduating in 6 Years | 2% |
Specialized Programs & Accreditations
- Clinical Psychology (Ph.D.) Program
- Law Program
- Music Program
- Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) Program
- Bachelor's Degree in Nursing (BSN) Program
- Nursing (MSN, DSN) Program
- Graduate Level Public Health (Outside School of Public Health) Program
Intercollegiate Athletics
DePaul University is a Member of National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), with many of the sports belonging to the NCAA Division I-AAA classification. The most popular sports played are listed below:
- Basketball (Big East Conference)
- Track and Field (Big East Conference)
- Golf
- Soccer
- Softball
- Tennis
- Volleyball
Programs Offered
The program list below is organized by areas of study. The programs that have a link will direct you to the program's profile page where you can learn more about education requirements and career pathways.

Get more information about the programs offered by DePaul University by clicking the request information to the right.
(C) Certificate or Award | (A) Associate's | (B) Bachelor's | (M) Master's Degree | (D) Doctorate (PhD,...)
Architecture
- Architectural History and Criticism (B)
Biological and Biomedical Sciences
- Biology (B, M)
Business and Marketing Studies
- Finance (B, M)
- Accounting (B, M)
- Management Science (B)
- Advertising and Marketing (B, M)
- Business Administration (B, M)
- Human Resources (M)
- Business Economics (B, M)
- Commerce (M)
- Taxation (M)
- Hospitality Administration and Management (B, M)
- Ecommerce (B, M)
- Financial Planning (M)
- Information Systems (B, M)
- Operations Management (M)
- Organizational and Nonprofit Management (M)
- Marketing Research (M)
- Information Resources Management, Cio Training (M)
- Real Estate (B, M)
- International Business (M)
- Finance and Financial Management Services (M)
- General Merchandising, Sales, Related Marketing Operations (M)
- Logistics and Supply Chain Management
- Accounting and Business and Management
- Risk Management and Insurance
- International Marketing
Communication Technology
- Animation (B, M)
- Graphic Communications (M)
Communications and Journalism
- Public Relations, Advertising and Applied Communication (B, M)
- Media Studies (B, M)
- Journalism (B, M)
- Communication and Media Studies (B, M)
- Communications (B, M)
- Organizational Communication (B)
- Health Communication (M)
- Communication, General (B, M)
- International and Intercultural Communication (B)
Computer and Information Sciences
- Information Science (B, M)
- Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (B, M)
- Computer Science (B, D, M)
- Computer Programming (B, M)
- Computer and Information Systems Security (B, C, M)
- Information Technology (B)
- Computer Networking (B, M)
- Computer Systems Analyst (M)
- Data Modeling & Database Administration (DBA) (M)
- Computer Programming, Specific Applications (M)
- Computer Software and Media Applications (B)
- Computer (D)
- Computer Graphics (B)
Education
- Guidance Counselor (M)
- Elementary Education (B, M)
- Secondary Education (B, M)
- Reading Teacher and Literacy Specialist (M)
- Educational Leadership and Administration (D, M)
- Early Childhood Education (B, M)
- ESL (M)
- Bilingual and Multilingual Education (M)
- Mathematics Teacher Education (C, M)
- Physical Education (B)
- Curriculum and Instruction (D, M)
- Teacher Education, Multiple Levels (B, M)
- Science Teacher (M)
- Music Teacher Education (B, M)
- Art Teacher Education (B, M)
- Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education (M)
- Foreign Language Teacher Education (M)
- English and Language Arts Teacher Education (M)
- Special Education
- Middle School Teacher
- German Language Teacher Education
English Language and Literature
- English (B, M)
- Creative Writing (M)
- Rhetoric and Composition (B, M)
Ethnic Cultural and Gender Studies
- Women's Studies (B, C, M)
- Chinese Studies (B)
- Latin American Studies (B)
- United States Studies (B)
- East Asian Studies
- Japanese Studies
- African-American Black Studies
Foreign Languages and Literature
- Spanish Language and Literature (B, M)
- French Language and Literature (B)
- German Language and Literature (B)
- Arabic Language and Literature (B)
- Italian Language and Literature (B)
- Chinese Language and Literature
Health and Clinical Professions
- Health Services (B)
- Nursing (M)
- Public Health (M)
- Nurse Anesthetist (M)
- Nursing Practice (D)
- Medical Technology (B)
- Family Practice Nurse (C)
- Adult Health Nurse (C)
- Health Informatics
- Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences
History
- History (B, M)
Interdisciplinary Studies
- Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution (B)
- Mathematics and Computer Science (B)
- Intercultural, Multicultural and Diversity Studies
Legal Professions and Studies
- Law (D)
- International Law and Legal Studies (M)
- Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies (M)
- Health Law (M)
- Tax Law, Taxation (M)
- United States Law, Legal Studies, Jurisprudence
Liberal Arts and Sciences
- General Studies (B, M)
- Liberal Arts (M)
Mathematics and Statistics
- Math (B, M)
- Applied Mathematics (M)
- Statistics (M)
- Computational Mathematics (M)
Natural Resources and Conservation
Philosophy and Religious Studies
- Philosophy (B, D, M)
- Religious Studies (B)
Physical Sciences
Psychology
- Psychology (B, M)
- Clinical Psychology (D, M)
- Organizational Psychology (D, M)
- Community Psychology (D, M)
- Experimental Psychology (D, M)
Public Administration and Social Services
- Public Administration (M)
- Social Work (M)
- Public Policy (B, M)
- Community Organization and Advocacy (C, M)
Recreation and Fitness Studies
- Kinesiology And Exercise Science (B)
- Parks, Recreation, Leisure, and Fitness Studies
Social Sciences
- Political Science (B)
- Sociology (B, M)
- International Relations (B, M)
- Economics (B)
- Anthropology (B)
- Cartography and GIS (C)
- Urban Studies (M)
- Geography (B)
- International Relations and National Security Studies
Visual and Performing Arts
- Cinematography And Film (B, M)
- Music Theory and Composition (B, C, M)
- Music Performance (B)
- Acting (B, M)
- Playwriting and Screenwriting (B, M)
- Drama and Theatre Arts (B)
- Art History (B)
- Graphic Design (B)
- Theatre Design and Technology (B)
- Jazz and Jazz Studies (B, M)
- Arts Management (B)
- Theatre and Theatre Arts Management (M)
- Directing and Theatrical Production (M)
- Music Management (B)
- Theatre Literature, History and Criticism
Other 4-Year Private Colleges
The list of schools below have been selected by researching which schools offer similar programs to DePaul University.
- Arkansas State University in Jonesboro, AR (41 miles away)
- The University of Tennessee - Martin in Martin, TN (52 miles away)
- University of Memphis in Memphis, TN (70 miles away)
- Murray State University in Murray, KY (86 miles away)
- Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau, MO (86 miles away)
Also, check out our college lists below, which can help students compare schools to one another:
- See all colleges in Illinois
- Browse our list of private colleges in Illinois
- Review a list of Illinois Bible and Christian Colleges
Data Disclaimer
Information displayed on this page has been obtained from Institution, State, and Federal data sources, including the US Dept. of Education's Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) Survey 2010-2016. Information should be solely used for informational purposes only and may not be accurate for the current year. Contact DePaul University for official up-to-date information.