DePaul University Quick Facts
By Omar Ortega
Located in Chicago, DePaul University is a private, nonprofit university with ten unique colleges and schools within its system. Founded by Vincentian Roman Catholics in 1898, DePaul became the largest Catholic university (by the number of students) in the United States exactly one hundred years later in 1998. DePaul focuses on attracting first-generation students and students from disadvantaged backgrounds. This focus is based on the original principles of the university’s founders.
DePaul University has two main campuses: one in Lincoln Park and one in the Loop. The Colleges of Science and Health, Education, Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, the School of Music, and the Theater School are located in the Lincoln Park Campus. The Colleges of Communication, Computing and Digital Media, Law, and the Kellstadt Graduate School of Business are located in DePaul’s Loop campus.
DePaul is the 13th largest private university in the United States. There are over 16,000 undergraduate students enrolled at DePaul University and nearly 8,000 graduate/law students. DePaul is proud of its diverse student population, which includes students from over 60 foreign countries and includes students from many ethnic, religious, and geographic backgrounds.
The Blue Demons, as DePaul’s intercollegiate athletics teams are known, compete in a variety of Division I sports, including men’s and women’s basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, tennis, track & field, softball, and volleyball. Students can also participate in numerous club teams, including lacrosse, ice and roller hockey, tennis, and volleyball. DePaul’s men’s basketball team has competed in 18 NCAA tournaments and has advanced to the Final Four twice.
Motto: “I will show you the way of wisdom.”
Established: 1898
Type: Private University
Location: Chicago, IL
Campus: Lincoln Park and Downtown Loop
Athletics: NCAA Division I – Big East
School Colors: royal blue and scarlet
Website: www.depaul.edu