DePaul University

What does DePaul University offer in terms of athletics?

DePaul's Blue Demons compete in NCAA Division I athletics and the Big East Conference. Varsity offerings include basketball and a selection of other sports such as soccer, softball, volleyball, tennis, cross-country and track and field.

Varsity teams are only one way to participate. Club sports, intramural competitions and recreation or fitness activities serve students seeking different levels of commitment. A sport appearing among campus activities should not automatically be taken to mean that DePaul fields an NCAA varsity team in it. Students interested in competitive play should check the current roster, tryout and eligibility rules for the specific activity.

What student groups and Associations are available at DePaul University?

DePaul has recognized student organizations covering academic interests, identity and culture, service, faith, arts and recreation. Student government and program-related groups give students additional ways to represent peers or meet people in their field.

Student-run media provide particularly concrete opportunities to participate: DePaul has a campus newspaper, radio station and television activities. Theatre and choral groups offer other outlets. Organizations can change from year to year, so the current student-organization directory is more reliable than an older club list when deciding what is active and how to join.

Who studies at DePaul University?

DePaul enrolls a large mix of undergraduate and graduate students. One reported institutional enrollment figure is 21,210 students, and the first-time undergraduate entering cohort in the 2024-25 admissions data numbered 2,566. The same period recorded 1,048 transfer-in undergraduates, an important indication that transfer applicants are a regular part of the entering population.

The student body includes both traditional-age students and adults in their twenties and older. In the reported geographic breakdown, most students came from Illinois, with substantial representation from other U.S. states and a smaller international group. Published race and ethnicity counts also show students from multiple backgrounds, including Hispanic or Latino, Black, Asian and White students. Such categories describe enrollment; they do not, by themselves, establish what an individual's campus experience will be.

DePaul reports a student-to-faculty ratio of 16 to 1. That institution-wide measure can help with comparisons, but actual class sizes and access to instructors vary by course, level and program.

How does student life look like at DePaul University?

Everyday life at DePaul spans a residential campus in Lincoln Park and a downtown campus used by many students traveling to class or work. That split can broaden where students study and meet, but it also makes transit time and scheduling practical parts of the experience.

Orientation and student programming offer ways to make connections beyond a particular class. Fitness facilities, arts activities, service opportunities and campus gathering spaces provide other points of entry, including for students who do not live in university housing. A commuter may need to plan more deliberately around evening events or trips between campuses than a student living nearby.

What libraries are available to students at DePaul University?

The John T. Richardson Library in Lincoln Park is DePaul's main academic library. Students also have access to library resources associated with the Loop campus and to the law library for legal research.

Library services extend beyond borrowing books: students can use research databases and online journals, seek help locating or evaluating sources, and request materials through lending arrangements when DePaul does not hold an item. Reservable study rooms support group work. Library buildings and specialized collections can have different access rules and hours, so students planning late-night study or remote research should check the current schedule and authentication instructions.