
2755 Station Avenue, Center Valley, PA 18034-9568, USA


DeSales University provides a comprehensive athletics program featuring 22 varsity sports for men and women. The university competes at the NCAA Division III level, primarily within the Middle Atlantic Conferences (MAC). Student-athletes have the opportunity to participate in a range of sports such as basketball, soccer, lacrosse, volleyball, baseball, softball, cross country, and track and field.
The institution emphasizes balancing athletic commitment with academic achievement, aiming to foster a well-rounded collegiate experience. Athletic facilities at DeSales include modern venues designed to support training, competitions, and team activities. This supportive environment helps students develop both physically and socially while engaging in competitive sports.
Beyond varsity teams, DeSales also encourages involvement in intramural and club sports, providing options for students seeking more recreational levels of participation. This variety caters to different interests and skill levels, enriching campus life and promoting wellness among the student body.
DeSales University offers a variety of student organizations catering to diverse interests. Among these are the Campus Activities Board, which coordinates events and entertainment on campus, and Colleges Against Cancer, a group focused on cancer awareness and fundraising initiatives. Additionally, students can participate in the Special Olympics Committee, supporting athletes with intellectual disabilities, as well as the Student Nurses Association, which provides resources and networking for nursing students. Best Buddies, an organization dedicated to fostering friendships and inclusion for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, is also active on campus.
DeSales University enrolls a diverse student body that includes both undergraduate and graduate students across a wide range of ages. Among undergraduates, the majority fall between 18 and 21 years old, with 809 students aged 18 to 19 and 806 aged 20 to 21. There are also significant numbers in older age groups, such as 186 students aged 22 to 24 and 86 between 25 and 29 years old. The graduate population is concentrated mostly in the 22 to 24 and 25 to 29 age brackets, with 280 and 188 students respectively, and also includes learners up to and beyond 65 years of age.
Freshman enrollment stands at 444 students, which is considered average and places the university in the bottom 40 percent percentile nationally for freshman class size. Transfer students account for 108 individuals, similarly categorized as average and in the bottom 40 percent. The total new student intake combining freshmen and transfers counts 552.
Regarding racial and ethnic composition, the largest group identifies as white, totaling 1,451 students, which is within the average range and sits in the bottom 45 percentile nationwide. Hispanic students number 345 and African American students 121, both falling in the average category in the lower 40 percent bracket. Smaller populations include Asian students at 115, Native American students at 3, and Pacific Islander students at 1. Additionally, there are 52 students identifying with two or more races and 46 whose race or ethnicity is unknown, all levels assessed as average within their comparative percentiles.
DeSales University offers a campus experience that includes several cultural and media opportunities for students. Those interested in the arts can participate in campus drama productions, a campus chorus, and access student-run media such as the campus newspaper, radio, and television stations. While there is no campus band, these existing outlets provide a range of extracurricular activities for creative and communicative pursuits.
Health and student welfare services are accessible on campus, including a health clinic, psychological counseling, and an office dedicated to veterans affairs. However, there are no legal services or a women's center available on site.
The campus itself spans 550 acres, providing ample space for student activities and life. DeSales University maintains a student-faculty ratio of 12 to 1, suggesting relatively small class sizes and the potential for close faculty interaction, though its overall enrollment and staffing levels are on the smaller side compared to many peer institutions.
Students at DeSales University have access to the Trexler Library, the institution's sole library facility. Although the university does not offer additional libraries on campus, the Trexler Library provides a range of physical and digital resources to support academic needs.
The library holds an average collection size with approximately 106,588 books, placing it in the lower 40th percentile compared to similar institutions. In addition to physical books, the library subscribes to 922 print subscriptions and offers access to 47,135 digital subscriptions, which together position it just below the median in terms of available subscription resources.
DeSales University also provides considerable electronic resources, including 663,121 ebooks and 52 databases. These digital offerings are around average when benchmarked against peer institutions.
The Trexler Library features dedicated study rooms and physical facilities to accommodate in-person research and study. While it does not offer all-day access, established hours and trained staff are available to assist students. Moreover, the library supports digital access and grants students availability to shared collections, enhancing the breadth of accessible materials.
Total enrollment
2986Full Time Degree Seeking Freshmen
506Member of Athletic Associations
Data not availableTotal staff
136 full time, 201 part timeVeterans affair office
YesMain library name
Trexler LibraryNumber of libraries on campus
1Reservable study rooms in library
Yes24h access
NoPhysical facilities
YesAccess to digital/electronic resources
YesStaff trained to provide and interpret library materials
YesEstablished library hours
YesAccess to library collections that are shared with other institutions
Yes