Accessible2025-2026 admissions cycle

DePaul University acceptance rate and admissions profile

DePaul University, a private college in Illinois, reports a 76% acceptance rate and sits in the accessible band. In practice that means it admits most qualified applicants, so a strong application is judged against an applicant pool that is already self-selected.

Use this page to see what DePaul University weighs, where it ranks among Illinois schools, and how a profile like yours is likely to land. Admitted students post a 75th-percentile SAT around 1280, a useful checkpoint for where your scores sit, though it is a reference range and not a cutoff.

Acceptance rate
76%
Accessible
Admitted SAT (75th pct)
1280
of admitted students
Type
Private
Illinois
Selectivity in state
#23
of 37 in IL
Get your real chances at DePaul University
CollegeCalcAI computes a personalized acceptance estimate from your GPA, scores, and activities. Free, no account to start.
Open the calculator

Will I get into DePaul University?

Direct answers to what applicants ask about getting into DePaul University, plus a free way to calculate your own odds.

What are my chances of getting into DePaul University?

Your odds at DePaul University are not the same as its 76% acceptance rate. Your real odds depend on how your GPA, course rigor, test scores, and activities compare to its admitted students. Run your profile through the free CollegeCalcAI calculator to get a personalized acceptance percentage for DePaul University in about three minutes, with no account needed to start.

Is DePaul University hard to get into?

DePaul University is accessible: it admits most qualified applicants, with about a 76% acceptance rate. Meeting the academic basics gives most qualified applicants a realistic shot.

What GPA do you need to get into DePaul University?

There is no hard GPA cutoff at DePaul University, but admitted students span a wide GPA range, with many in the 2.8 to 3.5 band. DePaul University reads your GPA alongside the rigor of your courses, so a challenging schedule matters as much as the number itself.

What SAT score do you need for DePaul University?

DePaul University does not publish a required score, but the admitted-student 75th-percentile SAT is around 1280. A score at or above that range strengthens your application, while a lower score puts more weight on your rigor, activities, and essays. CollegeCalcAI shows how your exact score shifts your odds at DePaul University.

Calculate your chances at DePaul University

What DePaul University looks for

What DePaul University weighs most heavily in its admissions review, informed by its reported Common Data Set.

The factors that carry the most weight at DePaul University are rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and talent / ability. Solid grades in a challenging schedule do most of the work here, with the rest of the application providing context. These ratings come from DePaul University's reported Common Data Set, so the full chart below reflects what the school itself says it values, not a generic guess.

Rigor of secondary school record
Very important
Academic GPA
Very important
Class rank
Considered
Standardized test scores
Considered
Application essay
Important
Recommendations
Important
Interview
Considered
Extracurricular activities
Important
Talent / ability
Very important
Character / personal qualities
Very important
First-generation status
Considered
Volunteer work
Important
Work experience
Considered
Level of applicant interest
Very important

SAT score positioning at DePaul University

How common SAT scores sit relative to the admitted middle. This is context, not a probability — your full profile determines the real estimate.

SATWhere it sits at DePaul University
1600Above the admitted 75th percentile
1500Above the admitted 75th percentile
1400Above the admitted 75th percentile
1300In the competitive admitted range
1200Below the middle, makes the rest of the profile matter more
1100Well below the admitted range
Colleges for a 1300 SAT →Colleges for a 27 ACT →See colleges by GPA →

How DePaul University compares in Illinois

DePaul University ranks #23 most selective of 37 schools in Illinois in our database.

Among the 37 Illinois schools we track, DePaul University ranks #23 most selective by acceptance rate. Schools like University of Chicago (4%) and Northwestern University (8%) sit nearby, which makes Illinois a useful frame for calibrating a balanced list.

University of Chicago
4%acceptance · IL
Northwestern University
8%acceptance · IL
Illinois Wesleyan University
39%acceptance · IL
University of Illinois
42%acceptance · IL
Chicago State University
43%acceptance · IL
Judson University
48%acceptance · IL
Governors State University
48%acceptance · IL
Quincy University
51%acceptance · IL
See all Illinois schools →

Similar to DePaul University

Schools with a similar selectivity profile, worth comparing as you build a balanced list.

Applicants targeting DePaul University often weigh Albright College, Ashland University, and Baldwin Wallace University, which sit at a similar level. Running the same profile against each one in the free calculator is the fastest way to see where you are a reach, a match, or a likely.

Albright College
76%acceptance · PA
Ashland University
76%acceptance · OH
Baldwin Wallace University
76%acceptance · OH
California Lutheran University
76%acceptance · CA
Eckerd College
76%acceptance · FL
Emmanuel College (MA)
76%acceptance · MA

Frequently asked questions

What does DePaul University value most in applicants?

Based on its admissions profile, DePaul University weighs rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and talent / ability most heavily. The full factor breakdown is on this page.

Does DePaul University consider legacy or demonstrated interest?

Many private colleges weigh legacy relationships and demonstrated interest. DePaul University's full factor profile is charted on this page, and CollegeCalcAI models a legacy effect scaled to a school's selectivity.

How can I improve my chances at DePaul University?

Focus on the highest-leverage parts of your application: course rigor and GPA trajectory first, then test scores, then a focused leadership or activity spike. CollegeCalcAI's Power-Ups quantify how much each change would move your odds at DePaul University specifically.

What are the admission requirements for DePaul University?

DePaul University reviews GPA, course rigor, test scores (where submitted), activities, and essays. With a more accessible acceptance rate, meeting the academic basics gives most qualified applicants a realistic shot.

Acceptance rate and admitted test ranges reflect publicly reported data (U.S. Department of Education / NCES IPEDS / Common Data Sets). Estimates from CollegeCalcAI are a planning tool computed by a fixed, transparent model, not a guarantee of any admission decision.