DePaul / How to get in
How to Get Into DePaul
DePaul admits roughly 70 percent of first-year applicants, so it is far from a lottery, but the optional essay is still where borderline and test-optional applicants make their case. There is no application fee and recommendation letters are optional, which means the essay is one of the few places your actual voice shows up. Here is the academic profile that keeps you in the running, what DePaul weighs most, and where to put your energy.
- 3.4-3.9
- GPA (middle 50%)
- 1080-1270
- SAT (middle 50%)
Every college publishes how heavily it weighs each part of your application in its Common Data Set. Here is how DePaul reads applicants, most important first.
- Course rigor
- Grades (GPA)
- The application essay
- Class rank
- Test scores
- Recommendation letters
- Extracurricular activities
- Talent or ability
- Character and personal qualities
- First-generation status
- Demonstrated interest
DePaul is test-optional, so you can apply without SAT or ACT scores, though a strong score can still help.
Early Action November 15 · Regular Notification February 1 · School of Music December 1 · The Theatre School February 1. Applying early (Early Action or Early Decision, where offered) can modestly improve your odds and signals commitment.
Your grades and course rigor are mostly set by now. The highest-leverage things left are your essays and how you frame your activities. DePaul reads holistically, so a specific, well-told essay is where you separate yourself from other qualified applicants.
How to get into DePaul: FAQ
Is DePaul hard to get into?
DePaul admits roughly 70 percent of first-year applicants, so it is far from a lottery, but the optional essay is still where borderline and test-optional applicants make their case. There is no application fee and recommendation letters are optional, which means the essay is one of the few places your actual voice shows up. At DePaul, applicants clear a high academic bar first, then stand out through essays, activities, and character.
What GPA do you need to get into DePaul?
Admitted students at DePaul typically have a GPA around 3.4-3.9 (middle 50 percent). A strong GPA in demanding courses is the foundation, though it never guarantees admission.
What SAT score do you need for DePaul?
The middle 50 percent of admitted students at DePaul score about 1080-1270 on the SAT. Scores in or above that range keep you competitive.
What does DePaul look for in applicants?
DePaul weighs course rigor and grades (gpa) most heavily, alongside a strong academic record. The parts you most control late in the process are your essays and how you present your activities.
See your real chances at DePaul and every school.
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