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Is DePaul University worth it?
A first pass affordability and outcome read for DePaul, using national average inputs. Run your own numbers for a personalized score.
Worth-It Score
Stretch
DePaul sits in the stretch band for a typical family. The long-run earnings picture at $68,751 helps, but median debt of $23,168 plus yearly net price of $30,902 creates a tighter path. For context, DePaul's net price runs about 41% above the typical 4-year, private nonprofit school. It can work, but the financing plan has to be deliberate.
Is the price fair?
Compared to 1237 similar 4-year, private nonprofit schools
This school
$32,129
/yrAverage school like this
$22,837
/yrThis weighs on your Worth-It Score
You'd pay about $9,292 more per year than the typical student at a similar school. Over 4 years that's roughly $37,000 in extra cost.
Score breakdown
The public version of the score weighs affordability, after graduation outcomes, and repayment burden.
Affordability
40% weight
The yearly net price is manageable, but it makes the aid offer matter a lot.
Outcome
40% weight
The outcome data does not create enough margin to fully offset the cost.
Repayment
20% weight
Median debt stays in a more comfortable repayment range for a typical graduate.
The numbers behind the score
Median net price per year
$30,902
Median earnings 10 years out
$68,751
Median debt at graduation
$23,168
Graduation rate
69%
At DePaul, a typical graduate carries about $23,168 in student debt and earns roughly $68,751 ten years after enrolling. On a standard 10-year repayment plan, that works out to about $263 per month, or 5% of pre-tax income. That sits inside a borrower comfort range for many graduates.
What this means for your family
DePaul is a private nonprofit four year school in Chicago, IL. Private pricing can swing more dramatically based on aid, so your personalized score matters more here than the national average view alone.
Similar schools worth comparing
These schools share a similar sector, geography, or price range.
Private nonprofit 4-year
Northwestern
Evanston, IL
Worth-It Score: 87/100
Median net price: $29,167
Private nonprofit 4-year
Lake Forest
Lake Forest, IL
Worth-It Score: 61/100
Median net price: $28,673
Private nonprofit 4-year
Illinois Wesleyan
Bloomington, IL
Worth-It Score: 71/100
Median net price: $28,199
Private nonprofit 4-year
Loyola University Chicago
Chicago, IL
Worth-It Score: 61/100
Median net price: $36,079
Private nonprofit 4-year
Wheaton
Wheaton, IL
Worth-It Score: 71/100
Median net price: $26,975
Common questions about DePaul
The median net price at DePaul is $30,902 per year. That is the average yearly price after typical grant aid for students in the public federal data, not the published sticker price.
Get your personalized Worth-It score
National averages are a starting point. Plug in your actual aid offer, intended major, and family situation to get a score that reflects your specific picture.
Looking at private colleges options in Illinois? See the most affordable private colleges in Illinois →
The Worth-It Score weighs affordability (40%), after graduation outcomes (40%), and repayment burden (20%). Underlying data points come from publicly available federal higher education reporting. See full methodology →