DePaul University

For Fall 2025, 27,462 first-year students applied to DePaul, 24,111 were admitted and 2,798 enrolled: an acceptance rate of 87.8%.

Source: DePaul Common Data Set 2025-2026 (opens in a new tab), section C1 (men and women added together). Read Oct 1, 2026.

By school or major. DePaul's Common Data Set reports one first-year acceptance rate for the whole university, with no rate by college or major.

Source: DePaul Common Data Set 2025-2026 (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.

Early action. DePaul's Early Action Program is non-binding: complete your application by November 15 and you receive a decision by December 15, and you are not required to commit to DePaul. DePaul publishes no early action applicant or admit counts, so there is no early acceptance rate, and its admissions pages list no early decision plan.

Source: DePaul Undergraduate Admission, Early Action Program FAQ (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.

For students applying in fall 2026, entering fall 2027

Most applicants apply to DePaul on one deadline. A few programs ask for more:

• School of Music. Apply by December 1, with auditions, interviews and application fees. Notification by April 1. Not eligible for the Early Action Program.

  Source: DePaul Undergraduate Admission (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.

• The Theatre School. Acting and Stage Management apply by December 1; all other Theatre majors by February 1. Notification by April 1. Not eligible for the Early Action Program.

  Source: DePaul Undergraduate Admission (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.

• Animation (BA, BFA). A Creative Statement and a Creative Portfolio are required.

  Source: DePaul Undergraduate Admission, Animation and Film and Television requirements (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.

• Film and Television (BA, BFA). A Creative Statement is required; a Creative Portfolio is strongly encouraged but not required.

  Source: DePaul Undergraduate Admission, Animation and Film and Television requirements (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.

Source: DePaul Undergraduate Admission (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.

153 majors across 9 schools. Every bachelor's degree major in DePaul's official 2026-2027 Academic Catalog, grouped by the college or school that offers it, with the degree it leads to. Honors versions and online versions are folded into their major; minors, certificates, combined bachelor's and master's programs, the BSN Completion program for registered nurses and graduate programs are left out.

For students applying in fall 2026, entering fall 2027

Classes begin in September. Applying by November 15 (Early Action Program) or by February 1 gives the strongest scholarship consideration, and early applicants also receive priority advising and course registration.

Source: DePaul Undergraduate Admission (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.

For students applying in fall 2026, entering fall 2027

DePaul is test-optional: you choose whether to submit ACT or SAT scores, and you say on the Common App, in the DePaul Questions, whether you are applying test optional. If you apply test optional, scores sent by a testing agency or shown on your transcript are not taken into consideration. Test-optional applicants stay eligible for scholarships and the University Honors Program.

Source: DePaul Undergraduate Admission, Test-Optional FAQs (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.

The Common Data Set also marks the SAT or ACT as not required for fall 2027 applicants, but considered if submitted.

Source: DePaul Common Data Set 2025-2026 (opens in a new tab), section C8. Read Oct 1, 2026.

For students applying in fall 2027, entering fall 2028

Not announced yet. When we checked DePaul's admission pages on October 1, 2026, we found no announced changes for fall 2028 entry. The deadlines and rules above are for fall 2027 entry.

Source: DePaul Undergraduate Admission, Deadlines (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.

The published cost of a year at DePaul, 2026-2027:

For a full-time first-year student living on campus, the full academic year, as the Common Data Set gives it. DePaul says tuition and fees vary by year of study and by program, with 2% of full-time undergraduates paying more than this tuition.

Source: DePaul Common Data Set 2025-2026 (opens in a new tab), sections G1 and G5. Read Oct 1, 2026.

Average net price per year, by family income, 2023-24:

What first-year, full-time students who received federal aid paid after grants and scholarships, by family income, in 2023-24, the latest year the Department of Education publishes. Your own price comes from DePaul's aid offer.

Source: College Scorecard, U.S. Department of Education (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.

Chosen for how close each is to DePaul University on acceptance rate, public or private, location and majors offered.

• Butler UniversityIndianapolis, IN · Private82.1% admitted$36,041 average net price
• Loyola University ChicagoChicago, IL · Private75.1% admitted$36,079 average net price
• Marquette UniversityMilwaukee, WI · Private78% admitted$31,487 average net price
• Illinois State UniversityNormal, IL · Public85.5% admitted$19,398 average net price
• University of CincinnatiCincinnati, OH · Public88% admitted$25,648 average net price

Admitted: each school's latest first-year acceptance rate, so the year can differ from school to school; each school's page names its year and source. Average net price: what federal aid recipients paid per year after grants, 2023-24, and the in-state figure for a public university.