DePaul University

What DePaul University does

DePaul University is a private, not-for-profit Catholic institution founded in 1898 by the Congregation of the Mission (Vincentians), headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. It serves 21,210 students across 10 colleges and schools offering 246 academic programs, including undergraduate degrees, over 145 graduate programs, and doctoral programs spanning business, computing, communication, education, law, liberal arts, science and health, music, and theatre. The university operates two Chicago campuses—Lincoln Park (residential) and Loop (downtown professional)—and differentiates its educational offering through the proprietary Layered-Learning™ curriculum framework, which integrates classroom instruction, project-based learning, and community service experiences, supplemented by the Chicago Quarter first-year program.

Revenue is generated primarily through tuition (undergraduate, graduate, and professional), auxiliary services (housing, dining, fees), and supplemented by fundraising and external grants; $300 million in scholarships are awarded annually as institutional aid. Distribution occurs through direct admissions channels including dedicated counselors for freshman, transfer, adult, international, and graduate populations, self-serve online application portals (Common Application and graduate portals), and campus visits/virtual tours. Technology infrastructure centers on Desire2Learn (D2L) Brightspace as the LMS, Campus Connect for student services, and a nascent Agentic AI Student Success Platform developed in partnership with alumni-led startup Archer Career. The student body is diversified across first-time freshmen (17:1 student-to-faculty ratio, 97% faculty-taught classes), a large transfer population (40%+ of undergraduates), adult learners, graduate students, and an international cohort that experienced a 30% enrollment decline due to federal policy changes, prompting budget cuts including hiring freezes and executive pay reductions.

Name

DePaul University

Legal name

DePaul University

Website

https://depaul.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1898

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

DePaul University is a private Catholic university in Chicago serving 21,210 students across 10 colleges with 246 programs, emphasizing experiential Layered-Learning™ and access to professional opportunities through dual Lincoln Park and Loop campuses.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131), Educational Support Services (61171)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

University/College Continuing Education (Extension) Programs (EDAAAEAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Undergraduate Teacher Education Colleges (EDAHAFAA), Integrated Language + Academic Skills (EAP) Bridging Programs (EDAIAJAF)

Keywords

• Higher education services
• Undergraduate degree programs
• Graduate and professional degrees
• Experiential learning framework
• Continuing professional studies

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Undergraduate Tuition: Tuition revenue from undergraduate degree programs across 10 colleges and schools, with pricing varying by program and residency status.
2. Graduate and Professional Tuition: Revenue from graduate programs including MBA, law degrees, and other professional degrees. Over 145 graduate programs offered.
3. Financial Aid and Scholarships: DePaul awards $300 million annually in scholarships to support student access. Revenue is offset by institutional scholarship expenditures.
4. Student Services and Fees: Auxiliary revenue from housing, dining, student activities, and campus services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

DePaul University delivers higher-education services through 10 colleges and schools, offering 246 academic programs including undergraduate majors, graduate and professional degrees (MBA, JD, MFA, PhD, EdD, DNP), and continuing-education certificates to approximately 21,210 students annually. Its core academic approach is the proprietary Layered-Learning™ framework, integrating classroom instruction, project-based learning, and community-based service learning, supplemented by the Chicago Quarter first-year program and the Steans Center for community engagement.

Product overview

DePaul University is a private, not-for-profit, Catholic institution in Chicago with 21,210 students across 10 colleges and schools offering 246 academic programs. The university operates a multi-college structure including Driehaus College of Business (with Kellstadt Graduate School of Business), College of Communication, Jarvis College of Computing and Digital Media (CDM), College of Education, College of Law, College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, College of Science and Health, School of Music, The Theatre School, and School of Continuing and Professional Studies. The institution's educational approach centers on Layered-Learning™—a proprietary framework combining classroom instruction, project-based learning, and community service. Academic programs span undergraduate majors/minors, graduate degrees (MA, MS, MBA, MFA, PhD, JD, DNP, EdD), professional certificates, and continuing education. Additional services include the Chicago Quarter first-year program, Irwin W. Steans Center for community engagement, Program Finder questionnaire tool, and Net Price Calculator. The university operates two main campuses: Lincoln Park and Loop in Chicago.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Blue Demons: The athletic teams and mascot of DePaul University, competing in NCAA Division I as a member of the BIG EAST conference.
• Irwin W. Steans Center
• Layered-Learning™

Products and services

• Driehaus College of Business DePaul's business college offering undergraduate and graduate business programs including MBA, BSB, MSA, and specialized business degrees, including the Kellstadt Graduate School of Business. For prospective undergraduate and graduate business students.
• College of Communication College offering communication and media programs at undergraduate and graduate levels for students pursuing careers in journalism, public relations, media, and communication.
• Jarvis College of Computing and Digital Media (CDM) College of Computing and Digital Media offering programs in computing, digital media, the School of Cinematic Arts, the School of Computing, and the School of Design. For students pursuing technology, design, and digital media careers.
• College of Education College offering education degrees including teacher preparation and counseling programs for aspiring educators and school counselors.
• College of Law Law school offering Juris Doctor (JD), Master of Laws (LLM), and Master of Legal Studies (MLS) degrees for prospective law students and legal professionals.
• College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences College offering liberal arts, social sciences, and humanities programs including African and Black Diaspora Studies, American Studies, Anthropology, and more for undergraduate and graduate students.
• College of Science and Health College offering science and health programs including nursing, biological sciences, and health-related degrees for students pursuing healthcare and science careers.
• School of Music Music conservatory offering Bachelor of Music, Master of Music, and performance programs with state-of-the-art facilities for aspiring musicians and performers.
• The Theatre School Theatre conservatory since 1925 offering acting, stage management, costume design, and other theatre programs at undergraduate and graduate levels for aspiring theatre professionals.
• School of Continuing and Professional Studies School offering adult education, continuing education, and professional development programs for adult learners and working professionals seeking flexible learning formats.
• Chicago Quarter Program First-year undergraduate program with 100+ courses exploring Chicago neighborhoods, culture, and local issues, integrating the city as both classroom and extended campus. For incoming DePaul freshmen.
• Program Finder Interactive questionnaire tool helping prospective students explore academic program options and find majors that match their interests at DePaul.
• Net Price Calculator Online tool providing personalized estimates of cost to attend DePaul as a full-time, first-time freshman based on Student Aid Index. For prospective students and families.

Quantifiable outcome

• 92% of recent graduates report positive career outcomes
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Archer CareercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 November 2025Alumni-led startup Archer Career, led by CEO Pam Schilling (Driehaus alumna), partnered with DePaul University to advance agentic AI technology for student success. A pilot program called the Rising Sophomore Success Program tested personalized AI-driven nudges based on student login patterns to support retention and engagement. The partnership earned a competitive Illinois Innovation Voucher grant to fund further development and broader institutional deployment.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Loyola University Chicago: Chicago-based private Catholic university with comparable enrollment and mission-driven curriculum; directly competes with DePaul for the same urban Catholic-student market in the Chicago metro.
• Marquette University: Mid-sized private Catholic Jesuit university in Milwaukee with similar enrollment scale and broad college structure (business, law, engineering, communication); comparable peer on size, mission, and program mix.
• Northeastern University: Private urban research university known for co-op and experiential learning model; DePaul's Layered-Learning™ and Chicago career-outcomes narrative is directly comparable to Northeastern's experiential positioning.
• Fordham University: Private Catholic Jesuit university in New York with multiple colleges including business, law, and education; comparable peer on Catholic mission, college structure, and urban professional-school mix.
• Villanova University: Private Catholic Augustinian university with comparable undergraduate enrollment scale and broad college portfolio including business and law; parallels DePaul on mission-driven private higher-ed positioning.
• Saint Louis University: Mid-sized private Catholic Jesuit research university with comparable college structure and law/medical schools; a strong Midwest Catholic-peer benchmark.
• Boston College: Larger private Catholic Jesuit university with similar mission emphasis and broad undergraduate/graduate portfolio; useful for benchmarking DePaul's brand trajectory and program portfolio.

Broad incumbents

• Northwestern University: Larger, elite private research university in the Chicago suburbs; competes with DePaul for the same Chicago-metro high-achieving students and faculty, especially in business, communication, and law.
• University of Chicago: Elite private research university in Chicago; competes broadly with DePaul in the Chicago higher-education market and sets the top of the local competitive landscape.

Emerging players

• DeVry University: For-profit institution with Chicago presence focused on career-oriented undergraduate and graduate programs; competes with DePaul's School of Continuing and Professional Studies for adult and professional learners in the Chicago market.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/watch?v=QGzpQLlvwvg
• Instagraminstagram.com/iamdepaul
• Xx.com/DePaulU
• Facebookfacebook.com/29758740802
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/depaul-university

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments1 record

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about DePaul University