Moderately selectiveProfile current for 2025-2026

DePauw University acceptance rate and admissions profile

With an acceptance rate near 57%, DePauw University is a moderately selective private college in Indiana. Because it admits more applicants than it rejects, admission turns on the strength of your whole profile rather than any one number.

Use this page to see what DePauw University weighs, where it ranks among Indiana schools, and how a profile like yours is likely to land. Admitted students post a 75th-percentile SAT around 1310, a useful checkpoint for where your scores sit, though it is a reference range and not a cutoff.

Acceptance rate
57%
Moderately selective
Admitted SAT (75th pct)
1310
of admitted students
Type
Private
Indiana
Selectivity in state
#3
of 40 in IN
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Will I get into DePauw University?

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

What are my chances of getting into DePauw University?

DePauw University admits most qualified applicants (around 57%), but that overall rate is not your personal chance. 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 DePauw University in about three minutes, with no account needed to start.

Is DePauw University hard to get into?

DePauw University is moderately selective: it admits more applicants than it rejects, with about a 57% acceptance rate. Meeting the academic basics gives most qualified applicants a realistic shot.

What GPA do you need to get into DePauw University?

There is no hard GPA cutoff at DePauw University, but admitted students often present roughly a 3.2 to 3.7 GPA. DePauw 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 DePauw University?

DePauw University does not publish a required score, but the admitted-student 75th-percentile SAT is around 1310. 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 DePauw University.

Calculate your chances at DePauw University

What DePauw University looks for

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

In its review, DePauw University leans most on rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and standardized test scores. Solid grades in a challenging schedule do most of the work here, with the rest of the application providing context. These ratings come from DePauw 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
Important
Application essay
Important
Recommendations
Important
Interview
Considered
Extracurricular activities
Important
Talent / ability
Important
Character / personal qualities
Important
First-generation status
Considered
Alumni / legacy relation
Considered
Volunteer work
Important
Work experience
Considered
Level of applicant interest
Important

SAT score positioning at DePauw 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 DePauw 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 28 ACT →See colleges by GPA →

How DePauw University compares in Indiana

DePauw University ranks #3 most selective of 40 schools in Indiana in our database.

Among the 40 Indiana schools we track, DePauw University ranks #3 most selective by acceptance rate. Schools like University of Notre Dame (11%) and Purdue University (50%) sit nearby, which makes Indiana a useful frame for calibrating a balanced list.

University of Notre Dame
11%acceptance · IN
Purdue University
50%acceptance · IN
Wabash College
63%acceptance · IN
Calumet College of St. Joseph
65%acceptance · IN
U of Indianapolis
67%acceptance · IN
IU East
67%acceptance · IN
Franklin College
70%acceptance · IN
Indiana Tech
70%acceptance · IN
See all Indiana schools →

Similar to DePauw University

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

Build around DePauw University with peers at a comparable selectivity, such as Jacksonville University, Lindenwood University, and Marist University. 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.

Jacksonville University
57%acceptance · FL
Lindenwood University
57%acceptance · MO
Marist University
57%acceptance · NY
Alma College
57%acceptance · MI
Averett University
57%acceptance · VA
Lake Forest College
57%acceptance · IL

Frequently asked questions

What does DePauw University value most in applicants?

Based on its admissions profile, DePauw University weighs rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and standardized test scores most heavily. The full factor breakdown is on this page.

Does DePauw University consider legacy or demonstrated interest?

Many private colleges weigh legacy relationships and demonstrated interest. DePauw 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 DePauw 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 DePauw University specifically.

Is DePauw University test-optional?

Test-optional policies change year to year, so confirm DePauw University's current policy on its official admissions site. If you do submit scores, the admitted 75th-percentile SAT is around 1310; if you do not, more weight falls on your GPA, course rigor, and essays.

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.