Non-Profit Private
Accredited · Higher Learning Commission
Greencastle, Indiana
54.1% Acceptance Rate
DePauw University — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
54.1%Acceptance Rate
3.97Avg GPA
1287Avg SAT
29Avg ACT
$72,560Annual Cost
$70,527Grad Salary
15.8%Pell Grant
Acceptance Rate
54.1%
Avg GPA
3.97
Avg SAT
1287
Avg ACT
29
Selectivity
Somewhat Selective
Institution Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Higher Learning Commission
SAT Middle 50%
1140–1430
ACT Middle 50%
26–31
Need-Based Aid
15.8% receive Pell
DePauw University, established in 1837 in Greencastle, Indiana, is a top-ranked liberal arts college (#46 nationally by U.S. News). Famous for its School of Music and Media Fellows program, it offers a 175-acre campus with historic buildings and modern amenities like the Julian Science and Math Center. Its rural setting fosters a tight-knit community with strong alumni networks.
DePauw University Acceptance Rate
At 54.1%, admission to DePauw University is achievable for most students who meet the basic academic profile.
What DePauw Admissions Looks For
- Whole-Person Review: Personal circumstances and career goals are weighed alongside grades.
- Flexible on GPA: Strong extracurriculars or work experience can offset an average transcript.
Selectivity at a Glance
Somewhat Selective
Selectivity scale: Somewhat Selective — 54.1% acceptance rate
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
Recommended Academic Profile
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.97 – 4.00
Target Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.77 – 3.96
Competitive Reach
Focus on Score Compensation
Below 3.52
Secondary Reach
Requires Contextual Support
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
DePauw University Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
The application deadline for DePauw University is November 1 for Early Decision I applicants, with additional plans listed below. Admission decisions are typically released by December 15.
Key Admission Dates
⏳ 79 days left — Early Decision I
Early Decision I
November 1
Decision by: December 15
Early Action
November 15
Decision by: December 20
Regular Decision
February 1
Decision by: March 15
💡 The scholarship deadline (November 1, 2026) often falls before the regular admission deadline. Submit your application and FAFSA early to be considered for maximum aid.
Deadlines are verified from official institutional sources but may change each cycle. Always confirm final dates on the official website.
DePauw GPA Requirement
The average GPA of admitted students at DePauw is 3.97. That makes admissions here extremely selective. Most admitted students carry straight A's, with very little room for a B.
If your GPA sits between 3.67 and 3.97, a high SAT or ACT score is the most reliable way to compensate.
Most schools report GPA on a weighted or unweighted 4.0 scale differently. For an unweighted profile like this, students with AP/IB coursework typically carry a weighted GPA of 4.17–4.37.DePauw GPA & Admission Outlook
Assessment: Extreme selectivity; requires elite academic standing.
Recommended Strategy: High Course Rigor (AP/IB/Honors) to validate the grade.
Where your GPA falls in this range shapes what the rest of your application needs to do:
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.97 – 4.00
Academic Target
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.77 – 3.96
Competitive Match
Focus on SAT/ACT Compensation
3.57 – 3.76
Secondary Reach
Personal Statement & Impact
Below 3.56
Institutional Reach
Requires Significant Contextual Factors
Evaluation Metrics That Matter Here
- One optional supplemental essay: 100 words on enhancing leadership strengths at DePauw
- Personal essay (via Common App) reviewed with real weight on writing ability and community involvement
- Four application rounds: ED I/EA I (Nov. 1), ED II/EA II (Dec. 15), Regular Decision (Feb. 1)
- Test scores, GPA, class rank, and letters of recommendation all considered important by admissions
- Rigor Over Raw Number: A slightly lower GPA (say 3.8) paired with multiple AP or IB courses often outweighs a flat 4.0 from a standard curriculum.
- Trajectory Matters: A lower start in 9th or 10th grade, followed by a clear upward trend senior year, reads as academic resilience rather than a weakness.
Data verified via IPEDS, College Scorecard (Nov 2025) and the Common Data Set (CDS). Expert Review led by Sohaib Khan and Dr. Waseem.
Check Your Admission Chances at DePauw
Admission Chance Predictor
Real-Time Sensitive Analysis — based on DePauw University's verified institutional data
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Calculating Profile...
Adjust the sliders to see how every decimal point affects your outcome.
Your SAT Score 1200
Your Unweighted GPA 3.00
✅ Verified Data: Institutional records for 2026.
Calculated via College Portal's Human-Intelligence (HI) Methodology & Editorial Standards. Verified by Sohaib Ahmad Khan.
DePauw University (DePauw) Test Requirements
Standardized scores still matter here: aim for the middle 50% range of the 2026 admitted class below, and if DePauw is test-optional, a high score submitted voluntarily still helps with merit scholarships.
Can I Get Into DePauw Without SAT or ACT?
DePauw considers scores when submitted, without requiring them. Prepare well and submit your best attempt. Most applicants test 2–3 times.
DePauw University Average SAT Score: 1287
The average SAT score of admitted students at DePauw University is 1287 on the 1600-point scale.
SAT Competitiveness
SAT 1287 — Slightly Competitive
This sits close to the national average SAT score.
Key Insight: Aim for the 75th percentile (1430 SAT or 31 ACT) to stand out. Below average? DePauw University allows Score Choice for the SAT, so a retake only helps — a low sitting never has to be sent.
If your score is below 1140, retaking the SAT is strongly recommended to improve your chances at DePauw. Retaking multiple times is completely normal. Most competitive applicants sit for it two or three times. There's no official limit on attempts.
SAT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Math | 660 | 570 | 750 |
| SAT Reading | 625 | 570 | 680 |
| SAT Composite | 1287 | 1140 | 1430 |
Below 1140, you're behind most admitted students; at 1430 or above, you're ahead of 75% of them. (25th/75th percentile = the score below which that share of admitted students fall.)
View list of all colleges with average SAT score of 1300
Can I get into DePauw University (DePauw) with a 1450 SAT?
A 1450 SAT puts you ahead of most of DePauw's admitted class, but admissions still weighs GPA, course rigor, and essays alongside it. A strong score opens the door; the rest of your profile decides what happens next.
DePauw University (DePauw) ACT Requirements
The average ACT score at DePauw is 29.
ACT Competitiveness
ACT 29 — Competitive
This average is solidly above the national mean without being elite-tier.
ACT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACT Math | 28 | 26 | 29 |
| ACT English | 29 | 24 | 33 |
| ACT Composite | 29 | 26 | 31 |
Can I get into DePauw University with a 31 ACT?
A 31 ACT puts you ahead of 75% of DePauw's admitted students. That's a strong position, though the ACT is only one benchmark among several that admissions weighs.
Unlike the SAT, the ACT scores four separate sections: English, Math, Reading, and Science, each on a 1–36 scale. A noticeably weak section, especially Science at STEM-focused schools, stands out to reviewers, so it's worth checking your section breakdown for outliers before applying.
Your ACT score clears the first filter, but GPA, course rigor, extracurricular depth, recommendations, and essays are what carry an application the rest of the way at DePauw.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for DePauw
Accessible Strategy: Academic Foundation
Getting into DePauw isn't the hard part. Building a solid academic foundation and securing aid early is where the real strategy lives.
Use the exact 100 words on leadership, not just activities
DePauw's only supplemental essay asks how you intend to enhance your leadership strengths on campus, capped at 100 words. Don't waste the word count restating your resume's leadership titles - spend one sentence on a specific past moment, then most of the space on where you actually want to grow (giving feedback, leading across differences, etc.) and a named DePauw resource tied to it.
Name a specific DePauw resource, not a vague aspiration
Because the prompt is so short, admissions can tell instantly whether you've researched the school. Reference something concrete - the McDermond Center for Entrepreneurship, the Leadership minor, or a specific mentor program - rather than "I want to grow as a leader," which reads identically for every applicant.
Treat the essay as optional in name only
DePauw's Admission Committee explicitly reviews the personal essay (through Common App) with real weight on writing ability, alongside your record of school and community involvement. Skipping the optional supplement removes one of the only places you control how the committee reads your voice - submit it.
Pick your round deliberately
DePauw runs four rounds: ED I/EA I (Nov. 1), ED II/EA II (Dec. 15), and Regular Decision (Feb. 1). If DePauw is a clear first choice, ED I locks in the earliest read of your file; if you need to compare aid offers, EA I gets you information sooner without the binding commitment.
Expert Insight:
Applicants often pad the 100-word leadership response with generic claims like "I want to be a better listener" without any specific past example or specific DePauw resource attached - reviewers read dozens of these interchangeable answers each cycle, and it's the single easiest way to waste the only essay space you're given.
DePauw Profile
Full Name
DePauw University (DePauw)
City
Greencastle
State
Indiana
ZIP Code
46135-1772
Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Higher Learning Commission (NCACHE)
Is a DePauw Degree Worth It?
At $72,560/year against a $70,527 median graduate salary, DePauw is worth weighing against your specific program and financial situation. The numbers below give you a real basis for that decision.
The average household income among admitted students is $72,100, with a graduate unemployment rate of 2.83%.
How much does a degree from DePauw Cost?
The sticker price is $72,560/year, but the average net price students actually pay, after Pell and federal grants, is typically much lower.
15.8% of students receive a Pell Grant and 39.6% take federal loans at DePauw. File your FAFSA early and list DePauw as a choice to be considered for both.
How much does a DePauw Graduate earn?
Median earnings 10 years after enrollment (roughly 4–6 years post-graduation) are $70,527. That's about 74% above the U.S. median graduate income.
Compare Similar Colleges
Less Competitive Schools
These schools have lower average SAT or ACT scores than DePauw University. If your SAT or ACT score is slightly lower, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Alabama at Birmingham | Birmingham, AL | 1251 | 26 |
| University of Arizona | Tucson, AZ | 1261 | 26 |
| Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott | Prescott, AZ | 1256 | 27 |
| Biola University | La Mirada, CA | 1258 | 27 |
| Thomas Aquinas College | Santa Paula, CA | 1277 | 29 |
| University of Central Florida | Orlando, FL | 1277 | 27 |
| Eckerd College | Saint Petersburg, FL | 1256 | 27 |
| Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach | Daytona Beach, FL | 1256 | 27 |
| Florida Southern College | Lakeland, FL | 1263 | 28 |
| Covenant College | Lookout Mountain, GA | 1254 | 27 |
Equally Competitive Schools
These schools have the same range of average SAT or ACT scores as DePauw University. If your SAT or ACT score is competitive, you'll be competitive for these schools also.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| The University of Alabama | Tuscaloosa, AL | 1287 | 28 |
| Point Loma Nazarene University | San Diego, CA | 1278 | 26 |
| Thomas Aquinas College | Santa Paula, CA | 1277 | 29 |
| United States Coast Guard Academy | New London, CT | 1290 | 28 |
| University of Delaware | Newark, DE | 1297 | 29 |
More Competitive Schools
These schools have higher average SAT or ACT scores than DePauw University. If you improve your SAT or ACT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Alabama in Huntsville | Huntsville, AL | 1321 | 28 |
| Auburn University | Auburn, AL | 1318 | 28 |
| Hendrix College | Conway, AR | 1336 | 29 |
| Chapman University | Orange, CA | 1353 | 30 |
| Pepperdine University | Malibu, CA | 1367 | 29 |
Degree Programs at DePauw
Bachelor Degree Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About DePauw Admissions
Median graduate earnings at DePauw University run about $70,527 a year.
At about $72,560 a year, DePauw University's cost is on the higher end; look closely at aid options.
DePauw University's Pell Grant rate of 15.8% sits below the national average. Merit-based aid is worth checking regardless of income.
At 54.1%, DePauw University's acceptance rate is on the more attainable end compared to top-tier selective schools.
Admitted students at DePauw University average a 3.97 GPA.
DePauw University doesn't publish a hard GPA floor, but landing at or above 3.67 keeps you in the typical applicant range; below it, lean on essays and recommendations.
Below 3.57, DePauw University becomes a harder reach, though a strong test score, meaningful activities, and AP/IB coursework can still make a real case.
A strong SAT score matters at DePauw University — aim above 1287, ideally within the 1140–1430 range admitted students typically fall in.
The application deadline for DePauw University is November 1 for Early Decision I applicants. Admission decisions are released by December 15.
The scholarship/financial aid priority deadline is November 1, 2026. Submit FAFSA before then for maximum consideration.
Yes, transfers are common. Have transcripts, recommendation letters, and a solid personal statement ready to make your case.
Strong academics, a focused extracurricular profile, and standout essays move the needle most, along with a competitive SAT/ACT score where relevant.