DePaul University
#5 Best Business Colleges in Illinois- Graduation Rate
- 69% B-
- Solid completion rate — most students graduate
- Earnings (10yr)
- $68,751 A
- Top 8% nationally — exceptional earning power
- Net Price
- $30,902 F
- 80% more than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 76% C
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 14.9× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $14.9 over 20 years. Ranked #5 in Best Business Colleges in Illinois.
Every $1 spent returns $14.9 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,722,063.
What The Data Says
-
A C+ overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
-
Graduates earn 69% more than the national college median.
-
Social mobility rate of 2.86% — an engine of upward economic mobility.
-
Every $1 invested returns $14.9 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Economic Footprint
- Inventor Rate
- 0.3%
- Top 66%
- Patents
- 59
- Linked to graduates
- Patent Citations
- 150
- Downstream influence
Why DePaul University Matters
DePaul University is a private research university in Chicago, IL and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a strong research base, a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network, and a strong record of moving students up the income ladder. The result: graduates whose earnings land in the top 8% of all U.S. colleges.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Private Research University
- Carnegie Class
- R2 · High Research
- Enrollment
- 14,090
- Setting
- Urban
- Designations
- 30
- Primary Strengths
- Business & Marketing, Visual & Performing Arts, Computer Science & IT, Social Sciences
Why students choose DePaul University
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Competitive — admits about 76% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 1140–1330. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $30,902 a year after grants and scholarships — 80% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $68,751 ten years after enrolling — 69% above the typical college, against $23,168 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 2.9% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 12% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.77 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
DePaul University serves over 14,000 students in the heart of Chicago. With a graduation rate of 69%, students can expect a solid chance of completing their degrees. The school has an acceptance rate of 76%, making it accessible to a wide range of applicants.
According to Chetty/Opportunity Insights data, while specific mobility rates and economic connectedness for DePaul are not available, the earnings potential is promising. Graduates see a median income of $68,751 ten years after enrollment. This level of earnings suggests that students can find solid career pathways after graduation.
The cost of attendance is around $30,902, with a median debt of $23,168 for graduates. Students who thrive at DePaul often pursue programs in Business & Marketing, Visual & Performing Arts, and Computer Science & IT. The university's urban setting allows for numerous internship and job opportunities, enhancing the overall student experience.
Rankings
- #5 Best Business Colleges in Illinois
- #6 Best Communications Colleges in Illinois
- #9 Best Computer Science Colleges in Illinois
- #9 Best Data Science Colleges in Illinois
- #9 Best MBA Programs in Illinois
- #15 Best Online Business Programs in Illinois
- #15 Best Online Education Programs in Illinois
- #17 Best Online Computer Science Programs in Illinois
Can I Get In?
How selective DePaul University is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into DePaul University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Chicago, Illinois, DePaul University admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 76%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,262. The graduation rate is roughly 69%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 76%
- Retention Rate
- 86%
- SAT Average
- 1262
- SAT Range
- 1140–1330
- ACT Range
- 25–31
- Full-Time Faculty
- 50%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $12,717
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 17:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.71
- First-Gen Students
- 30%
- Applicants
- 31,785
- Admitted
- 22,302
Inside the Admissions Office
School-reported Common Data Set · 2024-25
The acceptance rate tells you how hard DePaul University is to get into. Its Common Data Set tells you what happens once you are admitted: how many students say yes, how many arrived without test scores, and whether applying early tilts the odds.
- Submitted SAT
- 42%
- of enrolled freshmen
- Submitted ACT
- 14%
- of enrolled freshmen
Test-optional, in practice. Only about 56% of enrolled freshmen submitted an SAT or ACT score, so a strong application without test scores is genuinely competitive here, not a long shot.
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend DePaul University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at DePaul University is $45,999, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $30,902. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $27,359 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $23,168 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $45,999
- Out-of-State
- $45,999
- Avg Net Price
- $30,902
- Median Debt
- $23,168
- Pell Grant Rate
- 32%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 46%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $27,359
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $25,950
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $28,687
- Family Income $110K+
- $37,092
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at DePaul University — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is DePaul University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of DePaul University earn a median of $68,751, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $54,695
- 8 Years
- $62,341
- 10 Years
- $68,751
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.34x
- Earning > $25K
- 75%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (1,473)
- 58%
- 100% (1,473)
- 58%
- 100% (1,473)
- 58%
- 100% (1,473)
- 58%
How DePaul Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is DePaul University Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, DePaul University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $30,902/year ($123,608 total). Graduates earn $68,751 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,845,671 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,722,063 (14.9× your investment). The median debt is $23,168, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 69% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $123,608
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,845,671
- Net Return
- $1,722,063
- ROI Multiple
- 14.9×
- Cost Per Year
- $30,902
- Median Debt
- $23,168
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 69%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does DePaul University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
DePaul University is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 2.86%, among the highest in the country. About 6.6% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 43% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $99,900, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 2.86%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 43.0%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 6.6%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $135,729
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Innovation & Knowledge Creation
Patents, inventors, and research influence · Opportunity Insights & Times Higher Education
DePaul University produces inventors at a measurable rate, with 59 patents tied to its graduates.
- Inventor Rate
- 0.28%
- Top 66% nationally
- Patents Produced
- 59
- Linked to graduates
- Patent Citations
- 150
- Downstream influence
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Investment Income
- $-137,045,000
Top Programs
The fields DePaul University awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Business & Marketing 29% $72,840 early-career
- Visual & Performing Arts 15% $48,945 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 11% $94,205 early-career
- Social Sciences 9% $46,350 early-career
- Communications 8% $47,206 early-career
- Psychology 6% $36,201 early-career
- Health Professions 4% $80,991 early-career
- Education 3% $48,945 early-career
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for DePaul University's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Marketing Manager$156,580 · 8% growthAdaptable 64
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CAdvertising Manager$138,730 · 6% growthAdaptable 64
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into DePaul University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Chicago, Illinois, DePaul University admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 76%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,262. The graduation rate is roughly 69%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend DePaul University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at DePaul University is $45,999, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $30,902. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $27,359 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $23,168 in federal student loans.
Is DePaul University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of DePaul University earn a median of $68,751, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
Does DePaul University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
DePaul University is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 2.86%, among the highest in the country. About 6.6% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 43% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $99,900, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is DePaul University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at DePaul University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.77, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.00), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 10% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Does DePaul University offer Early Decision?
No. DePaul University does not report a binding Early Decision plan (2024-25 Common Data Set).
Is DePaul University really test-optional?
In practice, yes. Only about 56% of enrolled first-year students submitted an SAT or ACT score, so a strong application without test scores is genuinely competitive at DePaul University (2024-25 Common Data Set).
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to DePaul University.
- Loyola University ChicagoChicago, IL · Close peer75% grad $71,530 earn 82% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- St. John's University-New YorkQueens, NY · Close peer67% grad $69,571 earn 83% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Rochester Institute of TechnologyRochester, NY · Close peer70% grad $76,571 earn 67% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar grad rate · similar size
- University of Rhode IslandKingston, RI · Close peer72% grad $69,743 earn 72% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Towson UniversityTowson, MD · Close peer69% grad $64,390 earn 82% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- University of Maryland-Baltimore CountyBaltimore, MD · Close peer70% grad $69,960 earn 72% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is DePaul University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at DePaul University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.77, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.00), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 10% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note