DePauw University
Greencastle, Indiana · Private Nonprofit · 57.2% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 78/100 · Strong Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
DePauw University scores 78 (Strong Value) - a strong result for a small Indiana liberal arts school with a $59,070 sticker price and a net price that drops to $22,264. The 74.7% completion rate and 87.8% repayment rate are the institutional quality anchors. Average 6-year earnings of $43,900 against a 6.4-year payback period are solid. Computer Science leads by earnings (46 graduates, $70,026 year-one, $120,076 year-four, B grade). Economics (39 graduates, $63,395 year-one, $94,761 year-four, B grade) is strong. Kinesiology earns a B grade with $71,696 year-four. Most programs cluster in the C grade range, including Communication (C), International Relations (C), and Romance Languages (C). Biology earns a B grade at year four but the pre-professional pipeline suppresses year-one earnings. DePauw's liberal arts model and its Gold Commitment career placement program have historically produced strong alumni network outcomes. The $59,070 sticker masks a meaningful aid program that brings average cost to $22,264.
DePauw University scores in the top 15% of the schools we score, with strong earnings outcomes relative to cost.
DePauw University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $59,070/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $59,070/yr |
| Average net price | $22,264/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $89,056 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $70,527 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $43,900 |
| Median debt at graduation | $27,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $286 |
| Estimated payback period | 6.4 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 74.7% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 1,905 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $59,070/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $22,264/year, or roughly $89,056 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $11,820/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $31,225/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $27,000, which works out to about $286 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($43,900) and comes to 0.61, under 1.0, meaning median debt is less than a full year of those earnings.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $11,820 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $13,957 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $12,979 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $21,774 |
| $110,001+ | $31,225 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
The 0-30000 bracket pays $11,820 per year at DePauw. The 30001-48000 bracket pays $13,957. DePauw's aid generosity at the lowest income tiers is substantial: from $59,070 sticker to $11,820 net is a $47,250 annual discount. Low-income students who can access this price point have a strong financial case for DePauw, particularly in CS or economics.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 48001-75000 bracket pays $12,979 - lower than the 30001-48000 tier, an unusual inversion in the aid schedule. The 75001-110000 bracket rises to $21,774. Middle-income families benefit from substantial discounting. At $12-22k annually, DePauw's ROI profile improves considerably, and the 6.4-year payback becomes very competitive.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families above $110,000 pay $31,225 per year - roughly $124,900 over four years. For CS or economics students at DePauw, the full-pay ROI is defensible: $120k year-four CS earnings versus $125k total investment is a strong deal.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at DePauw University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Computer Science | $120,076 | B |
| Communication and Media Studies | $69,228 | C |
| Economics | $94,761 | B |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies | $51,983 | D |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $71,696 | B |
| International Relations | $79,117 | C |
| Music | $39,430 | C |
| Biology | $63,099 | B |
| Romance Languages | $62,917 | C |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | $27,414 | - |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Computer Science
Computer Science (46 graduates) is DePauw's earnings leader: $70,026 year-one, $120,076 at year four, debt-to-earnings 0.378 (B grade) on median debt of $26,500. The four-year figure of $120k is exceptional for a small Indiana liberal arts school and reflects DePauw CS graduates reaching mid-level software engineering roles in tech firms, often in Indianapolis, Chicago, or remote positions. The B grade reflects that debt is present but well-justified by earnings trajectory.
Economics
Economics (39 graduates) earns a B grade: $63,395 year-one, $94,761 year-four, debt-to-earnings 0.426 on median debt of $26,978. DePauw economics graduates are competitive for finance, consulting, and policy roles in a way that liberal arts schools with strong alumni networks enable. The year-four figure is $94k, with a B grade.
Kinesiology and Exercise Science
Kinesiology (19 graduates) earns a B grade with $71,696 at year four (year-one not reported) and debt-to-earnings 0.377 on median debt of $27,000. No year-one figure is available. The four-year earnings suggest graduates enter physical therapy, sports medicine, or athletic training roles at advanced stages, consistent with graduate school pathways following the DePauw undergraduate credential.
Communication and Media Studies
Communication (44 graduates) earns a C grade: $43,141 year-one, $69,228 year-four, debt-to-earnings 0.626 on median debt of $27,000. The year-four recovery to $69k is solid for a communication arts graduate from a small liberal arts school and likely reflects DePauw alumni network placements in marketing, media, and corporate communications. Year-one is modest but the trajectory is encouraging.
International Relations
International Relations (15 graduates) earns a C grade: $44,224 year-one, $79,117 year-four, debt-to-earnings 0.611 on median debt of $27,000. The four-year arc to $79k is strong for this field and reflects DePauw's liberal arts career infrastructure supporting graduates into government, consulting, international business, and graduate study in policy or law.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 87.6% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 87.8% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 84.0% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 89.9% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How DePauw University’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 57.2% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 600-720 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 600-690 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 28-32 |
| Enrollment | 1,905 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 16.4% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $10,094 |
DePauw's 57.2% admission rate and ACT 28-32 range indicate moderate selectivity - not highly competitive but meaningfully selective. SAT Math 600-720 and Reading 600-690 describe a well-prepared applicant pool.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
The 74.7% completion rate and 87.8% repayment rate are strong institutional quality signals.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| DePauw University (this school) | 78 | $22,264 | $70,527 |
| Wofford College | 81 | $18,732 | $68,964 |
| Gustavus Adolphus College | 73 | $22,900 | $65,607 |
| St Lawrence University | 69 | $28,651 | $67,258 |
| Bethel University | 34 | $18,610 | $48,860 |
| Anderson University | 32 | $25,021 | $48,899 |
Who Thrives Here
DePauw admits 57.2% of applicants with SAT mid-ranges of 600-720 Math and 600-690 Reading, ACT 28-32. Pell rate of 16.4% suggests a predominantly middle- and upper-income student body. Students drawn to careers in tech, finance, policy, and business find DePauw's network and career programming valuable. The Greencastle, Indiana location requires proactive career networking since the local market is limited - students who leverage DePauw's alumni connections and Gold Commitment program tend to see strong outcomes.
The Verdict: The Investment Pays Off
For most students, DePauw University pays off. You'd pay about $22,264 a year after aid ($89,056 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $70,527 ten years after enrollment. That puts the payback - the time it takes for the earnings bump to cover what you spent - at roughly 6.4 years, a solid return.
What it has going for it: a strong earnings premium over high school graduates, its 74.7% graduation rate, high loan repayment success.
Median debt of $27,000 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $43,900 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.61, under the 1.0 point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings. Your major matters a lot here: graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
DePauw University: Common Questions
Is DePauw University worth it?
In our view, yes - for most students DePauw University pays off. It scores 78/100 on our ROI scale. You'd pay about $22,264 a year after aid ($89,056 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $70,527 ten years after enrollment, so the cost takes roughly 6.4 years to earn back.
How much does DePauw University cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $22,264 a year, or roughly $89,056 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do DePauw University graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $70,527 ten years after enrolling, roughly $28,727 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off DePauw University?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 6.4 years for DePauw University. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do DePauw University graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $27,000, against average earnings of $43,900 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.61. In our view that is reasonable, though your major matters: higher-earning fields will see the better end of it.
What is the graduation rate at DePauw University?
The six-year graduation rate is 74.7%, at or above the 64% national average for four-year schools (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.