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DeSales University

#841 in US ranking Center Valley, PA
Type:
Private not-for-profit
Programs:
4 years or more

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Cost

Cost / year
$61,819
Tuition & fees
$48,300
Avg. aid
$26,573
Receiving aid
100%

Admissions

Acceptance rate
77%
SAT range
1090–1260
ACT range
27–28

Outcomes

Graduation rate
72%
Median salary
$57,416
1 yr after graduation

What does DeSales University offer in terms of athletics?

DeSales' Bulldogs compete in NCAA Division III athletics, including Middle Atlantic Conference competition. Its varsity offerings include sports such as basketball, soccer, lacrosse, baseball, softball, field hockey, and volleyball.

Varsity athletics is distinct from student-run clubs, intramural competition, and recreational fitness. DeSales also reports activities such as cheerleading, equestrian sports, and rugby, but students should check each activity's current status and level of competition rather than assume it is an NCAA varsity sport. NCAA Division III institutions do not award athletic scholarships on the basis of athletic participation, although students may qualify for other forms of aid.

What student groups and Associations are available at DeSales University?

DeSales offers student organizations spanning campus programming, service, professional interests, and the arts. Examples reported for the university include the Campus Activities Board, Student Nurses Association, Best Buddies, and groups associated with cancer-awareness activities and Special Olympics.

These organizations serve different purposes: a nursing association may offer professional connections, while an activities group plans events and a service group organizes volunteer participation. Students interested in campus media or performance can also look into the student newspaper, radio and television activities, theatre, and choral groups. Club rosters and activity levels change, so the current student-organization directory is the best guide to what is meeting now.

Who studies at DeSales University?

DeSales enrolled about 2,972 students in the reported institutional count. Its entering population includes both first-time and transfer students, while its degree offerings also bring graduate and adult learners to the university.

The reported entering group included roughly 510 first-time degree-seeking undergraduates and 129 transfer-in students. About 70% of students in the reported geographic measure came from Pennsylvania, with the rest drawn from other U.S. states. Enrollment spans traditional college ages and older age groups, though students ages 18 through 21 make up a substantial portion of the reported age distribution.

These counts describe enrollment, not an individual student's likely classroom or social experience. Prospective students looking for peers in a particular major, age group, or applicant category may get a more useful picture from that program's cohort size and course schedule.

How does student life look like at DeSales University?

Life at DeSales combines a residential campus with a substantial commuter population. Reported housing figures put about 47% of students on campus and 53% commuting, making access to activities at different times of day a practical consideration.

Student programming, performing arts, campus media, service activities, and recreation provide ways to connect outside class. The university also reports a student health clinic and personal or psychological counseling. With a reported student-to-faculty ratio of 12 to 1, students may expect a different scale from a large public university, although the ratio does not describe the size of every course.

Commuters may want to check where they can study or gather between classes and whether evening events fit their travel plans. Residents may place more weight on weekend programming and transportation off campus. Those distinctions can matter as much as the overall enrollment figure in shaping daily routines.

What libraries are available to students at DeSales University?

Trexler Library is DeSales University's main campus library. Students can use it for study and research, including reservable study rooms.

For a substantial assignment, the most useful services to investigate are research help, access to subject databases and online journals, and ways to obtain materials beyond the local collection. Students should check current library guidance for remote access and borrowing arrangements. The reported library information does not identify a study area that stays open 24 hours a day, so students who rely on late-night space should verify current building hours.

DeSales University Student Life for 2027

Total enrollment

2972

Full Time Degree Seeking Freshmen

506

Member of Athletic Associations

NCAA

Total staff

136 full time, 201 part time

Veterans affair office

Yes

DeSales University Student Body

Undergraduate vs. graduate students

Undergraduate: 2,166
Graduate: 806

Full-time vs. part-time students

Full-time: 2,394
Part-time: 578

Full-time degree-seeking students by gender

Women: 305
Men: 201

Students by race/ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino: 345
Black or African American: 121
White: 1,451
American Indian or Alaska Native: 3
Asian: 115
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander: 1
Two or more races: 52
Unknown: 46

Freshly enrolled students' age

Under 25 years
Over 25 years

DeSales University Sports & Athletics

  • Member of NCAA

Varsity teams compete against other colleges, intramural teams within the school. Each column says whether men, women or both take part, and whether the sport offers athletic scholarships (Aid).

Sport

Varsity Intramural Aid

Baseball

Men––

Basketball

BothBoth–

Cheerleading

–Women–

Cross-country running

Both––

Field hockey

Women––

Golf

Men––

Lacrosse

Both––

Rugby

–Both–

Soccer

Both––

Softball

Women––

Tennis

Both––

Track and field

Both––

Volleyball

WomenBoth–

Data last updated on November 5, 2026

Data sources: IPEDS 2024-25, Peterson 2026, College Scorecard 10/2026, Clery 2024 (2023-24), OpenAlex 2026

Figures on this profile come from federal and third-party datasets in the editions listed above and are refreshed periodically, so they may differ from what the institution currently reports. Confirm costs, deadlines and requirements with the school before making decisions.

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