Apply for Admission
DePaul University is a community dedicated to learning and welcomes students interested in an innovative, hands-on educational environment filled with interesting people from a wide variety of backgrounds and perspectives. It’s one of the best things about DePaul.
Admission to DePaul is a straightforward process: There is no mysterious, magical formula. But there are some things that definitely make future Blue Demons stand out among their peers.
We absolutely look for a strong record of academic accomplishment. We’ve discovered that the best predictor of your ability to be successful at DePaul is your previous academic work, be it at the high school (Freshman) or college (Transfer) level.
But we don’t have a mold we expect you to fit into. Our students tend to break the mold more often than they fit into it. What does that mean? Check out our Freshman Profile.
If you are a Freshman applicant, we ask your school counselor to submit a recommendation, and we like to know about what you’ve done outside class, too. We’re happy to consider anything you might think is an important part of your character, personality, and potential.
You can submit standardized test scores, but you’re not required to do so unless you’re an athlete interested in playing for one of our NCAA Division I teams, or a home-schooled student. Wondering if Test-Optional Admission might be good for you? Learn more.
Transfer applicants are welcome at DePaul year-round, and we have additional academic options for students over the age of 24. Attending a Community College? We can plan with you now. And if you are a Veteran or Active Military, we want to know that so that we can provide you with the support and access you deserve.
Applying to The Theatre School or the School of Music? If so, you’ll need to audition.
If you are a prospective freshman, transfer, or graduate student, we invite you to visit our Admission page to learn more, or complete this form to request more information.
Kiamsha’s Story
Major: Peace, Justice and Conflict Studies | Minor: Community Service Studies
After visiting DePaul University, I got this gut feeling that this was the school I was meant to be at. I could imagine myself going here, making friends, and growing as a person. So the next step was to apply!
I was really overwhelmed with taking my ACT and getting ready to graduate from high school. I thought the college application process would be very confusing and too much to handle, but I was happy when I realized that it was really straight-forward. I am from the US Virgin Islands; it’s an island in the Caribbean, and I was worried about how my transcripts would be looked at because of it. So I emailed my designated admission counselor and asked her if it would be a problem. She reassured me that they accept students from all over the world, so my transcripts would not be a problem. That really calmed my nerves and I finished the steps of applying.
DePaul allows students to apply with or without their test scores. I was also a bit confused with whether I should send in my ACT scores or chose the test-optional route, which involves writing more essays for the application. I called the Office of Undergraduate Admission, and asked for them to give me advice on what I should do. They were super friendly and helpful. After speaking with them I decided to send in my test score, and write a great personal essay. I could not be happier with making the choice to choose DePaul as my home for the next 4 years, and the Office of Undergraduate Admission made it much easier.