DePauw is committed to your success. We make our exceptional education accessible and affordable, welcoming talented students from every background and ensuring cost is never a barrier to opportunity.
Here, your ambitions find fuel, your passions find purpose, and you will be supported every step of the way.
That is why, beginning with the class entering in Fall 2026, we will meet 100 percent of the calculated financial need for every incoming first-year student. Nothing stands between you and everything DePauw offers. Students' financial needs are met through a combination of scholarships, grants, work study and federal loans.
You belong in a place that believes in you. We are invested in helping you find your Gold Within.
We start by calculating your full cost of attendance, including direct costs (tuition, housing, meals and fees) billed by the university and estimated indirect costs (books, travel and personal expenses). Using information from your FAFSA, we review your family’s ability to financially contribute and subtract that from your total cost to determine your financial need. Our team then builds a personalized aid package using scholarships, grants, work study and student loans to fully meet that need for your first year.
DePauw is committed to your success. We make our exceptional education accessible and affordable, welcoming talented students from every background and ensuring cost is never a barrier to opportunity.
Our merit scholarships, awarded to students who show strong academic promise, leadership or meaningful involvement, can cover up to half the cost of attendance. Every applicant is automatically considered for these scholarships through their application for admission.
Ready to take the next step toward a life-changing education at DePauw?
If you have questions or need help at any point, our Admission and Financial Aid teams are here to guide you.
The DePauw Promise is our pledge to make a transformative, top-50 liberal arts education accessible. Through this initiative, we simplify the financial aid process so that cost isn’t a barrier for motivated and ambitious students seeking the uniquely personal, engaged and supportive experience DePauw offers.
Beginning with the class entering in Fall 2026, DePauw will meet 100 percent of the calculated financial need for every incoming first-year student. Students' financial needs are met through a combination of scholarships, grants, work study and federal loans.
The DePauw Promise is available to incoming, first-year students who enroll in Fall 2026 or later.
At this time, The DePauw Promise applies only to incoming, first-year students beginning in Fall 2026. If you are a current student with questions or financial concerns, our Financial Aid Office is here to support you and connect you to available resources.
We will use the information you and your family provide through the financial aid application to determine your eligibility for need-based aid. DePauw’s calculation incorporates family income, assets, household size and other factors reflected in the financial aid application. Most students will use the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to apply for financial aid. Students who are ineligible to use the FAFSA to apply for financial aid can use the CSS Profile or the DePauw Certification of Finances form for international students.
Absolutely! All admitted students are considered for merit scholarships through their application for admission. If you qualify for both merit and need-based aid, your merit scholarship(s) will be part of your overall financial aid package, and additional need-based awards will ensure your full demonstrated need is met.
Yes. For most students, your financial aid package will include student loans in the following amounts:
First-year students: $5,500
Sophomores: $6,500
Juniors: $7,500
Seniors: $7,500
These loans provide a low-interest option to help meet your full demonstrated need.
If eligible, you will be awarded work study up to $3,000 for the academic year as part of your financial aid package. Work study must be earned and will not immediately reduce your direct expenses.
The 21st Century Scholars Program is Indiana’s early-college promise initiative, in which participants receive up to four years of tuition at participating schools – including DePauw.
With The DePauw Promise, eligible 21st Century Scholars can receive support that goes even further. We meet the full calculated financial need of all admitted Scholars – so in addition to your full-tuition guarantee, DePauw grants, scholarships, work study and student loans may help to cover remaining expenses, like housing and meals, for students who demonstrate financial need beyond tuition. For many Hoosier Scholars, this means you’ll see far more of your overall college costs covered at DePauw than at other institutions.
For most students who remain eligible and in good standing, need-based financial aid is generally consistent each year. If your family experiences a significant change in financial circumstances that affects your calculated financial need, your aid will be reassessed.
At the same time, please keep in mind that the cost of attendance at DePauw typically increases each year – on average, about 3% annually – to reflect inflation and maintain the high-quality experience we provide.
Our friendly, experienced admission and financial aid professionals are ready to walk you through the process, answer your questions and help you imagine yourself thriving at DePauw. Please reach out to the Office of Admission or Financial Aid for personalized guidance.
