DePaul University, the largest Catholic university in the United States, offers academically excellent, flexible, practical programs of study in a student-focused learning environment.

DePaul is the 13th-largest private, not-for-profit university in the nation. It is the largest private, not-for-profit college in the Midwest, where the university and its students have been immersed in the cultural, civic and professional experiences of Chicago for more than 100 years.

DePaul was founded in 1898 by the Congregation of the Mission (or Vincentian) religious community, which follows the teachings of 17th-century French priest St. Vincent de Paul. The university’s mission emphasizes academic excellence, community service, access to education and respect for the individual.

The university has 10 colleges and schools: College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, Driehaus College of Business, College of Communication, College of Education, College of Law, College of Computing and Digital Media, College of Science and Health, School of Continuing and Professional Studies, School of Music, and The Theatre School.

DePaul has two Chicago campuses: Lincoln Park and the Loop.

For the fall 2018 quarter, the university enrolled 22,437 students who reflect a broad range of ethnic, religious, geographic and economic backgrounds. The student body includes 14,507 undergraduate students, 7,136 graduate students and 794 law students.

In keeping with DePaul’s commitment to diversity and access to education, 39 percent of fall 2018’s total student body are students of color.

DePaul enrolled a freshman class of 2,575 students in the fall of 2018. Enrollment for the 2017–18 year includes 846 first-generation freshmen from families where neither parent graduated from college. First-generation students represent 33 percent (or one third) of the freshmen class.

DePaul awards more than 6,300 degrees annually. The university has produced more than 204,000 alumni since its founding in 1898, of which more than 180,000 are living. More than 65 percent (more than 111,100) of DePaul alumni live in the Chicago area.

During the 2018-2019 academic year, the university employed 3,491 faculty and staff members, of which 2,342 were full-time and 1,149 were part-time employees. (data IRMA 7.8)

DePaul’s 2019–20 budget is $568 million. The university’s endowment totaled $592 million on June 30, 2018.

In 2017-18, DePaul awarded more than $540 million in financial aid grants, scholarships, loans and work study opportunities. About 82 percent of all undergraduate students received financial aid.

Dozens of distinguished figures choose to visit DePaul each year for lectures and public forums. Nobel Peace Prize-winning economist Muhammad Yunus accepted his St. Vincent de Paul Award on campus for his work in microfinance in which small, low- or no-cost loans are made to people living in extreme poverty to help them fund small business enterprises. Internationally known death penalty foe Sister Helen Prejean, author of “Dead Man Walking,” was on campus to discuss her work and donated her personal papers to DePaul in 2011. Celebrated Canadian author Margaret Atwood selected DePaul in 2009 for the only Midwest theatrical performance of excerpts from her novel “The Year of the Flood,” which featured faculty and students. Then-Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) made a major foreign policy speech at DePaul in October 2007, during the early months of his presidential campaign.

The university’s motto is “I will show you the way of wisdom” (Viam sapientiae monstrabo tibi), Proverbs 4:11. The university’s logo depicts the tree of wisdom.

DePaul’s intercollegiate athletic teams compete in the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s BIG EAST conference in the following sports: women’s basketball, cross country, soccer, softball, tennis, track and volleyball; men’s basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, tennis and track.

In 1900, when DePaul’s first athletic team was formed, the monogram “D” was selected for the uniforms. From this originated the nickname “D-men,” which evolved into “Demons.” DePaul’s colors are royal blue and scarlet. The blue signifies loyalty and was chosen by a student body vote in 1901.