DePaul University
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.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1898
- HeadquartersChicago, United States
- Headcount5,001–10,000
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
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.
DePaul University firmographics
Firmographics- 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
DePaul University industry classification
Industry- 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
Where DePaul University is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Chicago
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices4 records
Markets served
DePaul University business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Undergraduate Tuition: Tuition revenue from undergraduate degree programs across 10 colleges and schools, with pricing varying by program and residency status.
- Graduate and Professional Tuition: Revenue from graduate programs including MBA, law degrees, and other professional degrees. Over 145 graduate programs offered.
- Financial Aid and Scholarships: DePaul awards $300 million annually in scholarships to support student access. Revenue is offset by institutional scholarship expenditures.
- Student Services and Fees: Auxiliary revenue from housing, dining, student activities, and campus services.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Quarterly | Undergraduate Tuition and Fees |
| Subscription | Quarterly | Graduate and Professional Tuition |
| Other | Annual | Scholarship Programs |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels7 records
DePaul University product offering
Product offeringCore 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
Companies that use DePaul University
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
DePaul University technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
DePaul University partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Archer CareercoreAlumni-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
DePaul University competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect 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
DePaul University social profiles
Digital presenceDePaul University financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
DePaul University leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles17 records
DePaul University funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
DePaul University M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments1 record
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about DePaul University
What does DePaul University do?
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.
Is DePaul University a public or private company?
DePaul University is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was DePaul University founded?
DePaul University was founded in 1898. It employs 5,001 to 10,000 people.
Where is DePaul University based?
DePaul University is headquartered in Chicago, United States, in the North America region.
How does DePaul University make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Undergraduate Tuition is the primary driver. The others are graduate and Professional Tuition, financial Aid and Scholarships and student Services and Fees.
Who are DePaul University's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Loyola University Chicago, Marquette University, Northeastern University, Fordham University, Villanova University, Saint Louis University and Boston College. Broad incumbents are Northwestern University and University of Chicago. DeVry University is listed as an emerging player.
Does DePaul University have an API?
No public API is recorded for DePaul University.
What industry is DePaul University in?
DePaul University's product category is Higher Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAAAEAA, University/College Continuing Education (Extension) Programs, with a secondary code of EDAHAFAA, Undergraduate Teacher Education Colleges. Its NAICS code is 6113 and its SIC code is 8200.