DePauw University

In the 2027 U.S. News Best National Liberal Arts Colleges ranking, DePauw University placed 49th, recovering ground after fluctuating across recent cycles. Gaining admission is relatively accessible compared to peer institutions. In 2025, the university admitted 57.2% of its applicants, an acceptance rate higher than 80% of peer schools in its comparison group of private liberal arts colleges with similar ranks. While DePauw accepts more than half of those who apply, it encounters noticeable challenges in converting those offers into actual enrollments. The school recorded an undergraduate yield rate of 13.2% in 2025, which was higher than 17% of peer schools in that same cohort. This comparatively modest yield demonstrates that a substantial majority of admitted candidates ultimately decide to attend other institutions. For prospective applicants, these patterns indicate favorable odds of acceptance, as DePauw extends offers generously to meet incoming class targets.

Prospective students applying to DePauw University typically present solid academic profiles, though standardized test benchmarks sit somewhat below peer medians. In 2025, the median SAT score for enrolled undergraduates was 1315, which was higher than 14% of peer institutions in its comparison group of private liberal arts colleges with similar ranks. For students taking the ACT, the middle fifty percent of matriculated students achieved composite scores ranging between 28 and 32. Across high school coursework, successful applicants routinely display strong academic records, as a substantial proportion of admitted cohorts consistently hold high secondary school grade point averages. Overall, an applicant aiming for DePauw should target standardized scores within these middle bands alongside rigorous classroom performance across core academic subjects to remain competitive during the admissions review process.

Academic degrees at DePauw University are moderately concentrated among a handful of disciplines, with the top three bachelor's programs accounting for 34.8% of the 485 bachelor's degrees conferred in 2025. The most popular fields among graduating seniors are Econometrics and Quantitative Economics, Speech Communication and Rhetoric, and Computer Science. However, the university's largest majors do not hold top national rankings; in the 2027 U.S. News undergraduate rankings, economics placed 172nd and computer science ranked 319th. Despite modest national ranks, these programs lead to strong compensation outcomes for graduates. According to 2023 earnings data measured one year after graduation, Computer Science alumni earned a median salary of $84,375, while Economics graduates achieved a median of $69,492. International students also show a noticeable preference for technical study, representing a substantial majority of computer science graduates. For prospective applicants, choosing DePauw provides focused instruction in social science and technology disciplines that yield strong early-career market returns.

In 2025, DePauw University's undergraduate student body was primarily comprised of white students alongside significant international and domestic minority representation. Among the first-year class, international students formed a prominent group, numbering 96 students and making up 19% of entering freshmen. Asian students represented a smaller segment of the incoming cohort, with 17 students accounting for 3.4% of first-year enrollment. Across the larger continuing student population, white students constituted the majority, while international students maintained a sizeable presence alongside smaller cohorts of Hispanic, Black, and Asian undergraduates. Gender distribution across campus remained closely balanced between male and female undergraduates. For families evaluating the campus community, DePauw provides an undergraduate environment centered on traditional-age learners where international scholars represent a noticeable portion of the student body.

DePauw University enrolls an undergraduate population concentrated almost exclusively among traditional college ages, with no graduate student programs. In 2025, students aged 18 to 19 constituted 46.1% of undergraduates, while those aged 20 to 21 accounted for 43.8%. Undergraduates aged 22 to 24 represented 8.4% of the student population, with older non-traditional learners virtually absent. This demographic profile indicates that campus life revolves primarily around four-year degree programs and full-time undergraduate attendance, as nearly all peers share identical age brackets across their undergraduate years.

International representation at DePauw University has expanded substantially at the undergraduate level, while the institution operates no graduate programs. In 2025, international students comprised 22.6% of all undergraduates, a proportion higher than 97% of peer schools in its comparison group of private liberal arts colleges. This high undergraduate enrollment translates directly into degree completions, with international students earning 20% of all bachelor's degrees awarded in 2025. When looking at academic disciplines, international graduates concentrate heavily in quantitative and technical fields. In Computer Science, international students accounted for 68.6% of graduating seniors, while they also represented a notable share of graduates in Econometrics and Quantitative Economics. Conversely, programs such as Speech Communication and Rhetoric and Biochemistry saw much lower international participation. For prospective international students, these figures highlight a significant global presence on campus and established pathways within computational and analytical majors.

Families considering DePauw University can explore several higher education options within the surrounding region. Located 27.5 kilometers away, Wabash College is a fellow liberal arts institution ranked 44th in the 2027 rankings. For students interested in larger research institutions, Indiana University-Bloomington sits 37.3 kilometers from DePauw and holds the 73rd rank among national universities. Further north, Purdue University-Main Campus is situated 54.5 kilometers away and is ranked 55th among national universities. Additionally, Marian University is located 36.9 kilometers away and ranks 276th on the national university list. These nearby institutions offer families a useful geographic comparison between private liberal arts colleges and large public universities in the region.

Campus safety metrics at DePauw University indicate an overall decline in reported incidents over recent years. In 2025, the campus crime rate per 1,000 students stood at 14.9, representing a marked decrease compared to earlier in the decade. Across the three-year period from 2023 to 2025, campus safety reports were primarily driven by disciplinary actions regarding substance use. Disciplinary referrals for alcohol violations totaled 102 incidents, while disciplinary referrals for drug violations accounted for 72 incidents during those years. Other reported offenses over the same three-year timeframe included arrests for alcohol violations, 17 incidents of rape, alongside smaller numbers of dating violence and theft reports. These records demonstrate that while campus security reports encompass both policy infractions and interpersonal offenses, the vast majority of documented cases involve alcohol and drug disciplinary enforcement on campus.