DePaul ranked 62nd as one of the country's "best value schools"- indicating above-average academic quality compared to the cost of attendance - and rose to the 78th spot in U.S. News' social mobility ranking. (DePaul University/Randall Spriggs)
Rankings released Monday from U.S. News & World Report highlight the value of a DePaul degree, the power of a DePaul education to elevate students' lives and the strength of programming for the university's first-year students.
DePaul ranked 62nd as one of the country's "best value schools" - indicating above-average academic quality compared to the cost of attendance - and rose to the 78th spot in U.S. News' social mobility ranking. For its social mobility rankings, U.S. News analyzes the number of students enrolled and graduated who received Pell Grants, directed to families whose annual income is less than $50,000. DePaul rose 35 spots, from 113th last year. Among Catholic universities in major cities, DePaul ranks 12th overall and 7th in terms of value. In the social mobility category, DePaul is 6th among Catholic, urban peers.
Meanwhile, as first-year DePaul students immerse themselves in the Chicago Quarter Program this fall, U.S. News highlighted the university's first-year programs as among the best in the country as well. In the "Academic Programs to Look for" category, college presidents, provosts and admissions deans nominated schools with outstanding programs that promote student success and the undergraduate experience.
DePaul was ranked 44th for its first-year experience, in its first year nominated in this category. Central to the first-year experience, Chicago Quarter is a unique DePaul program that familiarizes students with Chicago - their extended classroom - through experiential learning. When examining Catholic colleges and universities in cities, DePaul is second.
Business, computer science programs jump in rankings
The Driehaus College of Business rose 13 spots to tie for 84th in overall business programs in this year's rankings. The accounting program earned a 44th spot in the rankings. Deans and faculty members of peer institutions rate the programs and nominate the best programs in specialty areas, including accounting.
U.S. News ranked the College of Computing and Digital Media’s undergraduate computer science program 154th, rising 37 spots from last year. A top-choice major for incoming freshmen last year, the computer science program is celebrating its 40th year as an academic unit at DePaul.
DePaul's U.S. News 2022 rankings
- National Universities – 127 (tie)
- Best Value Schools – 62
- Academic Programs to Look for - First-Year Experience – 44 (tie)
- Best Colleges for Veterans – 136
- Social Mobility – 78 (tie)
- Undergraduate Business Programs – 84 (tie)
- Undergraduate Business Programs - Accounting – 44 (tie)
- Undergraduate Computer Science – 154 (tie)
DePaul's profile in U.S. News is available online.
Mary Hansen is a manager of strategic communications in the University Marketing and Communications division.