DePauw Stories

DePauw University moved up a spot to No. 45 – and remained No. 1 in Indiana – on the preeminent list of the best national liberal arts institutions in the United States, U.S. News & World Report’s 2023 college rankings published today.

DePauw also ranked No. 16 on a list of most innovative schools and No. 49 for undergraduate teaching among national liberal arts institutions. 

“Though rankings will never drive what we do, it is wonderful the U.S. News & World Report recognizes the strength and value of DePauw’s liberal arts experience,” President Lori S. White said. “Our strong showing for undergraduate teaching gives prospective students and their families the assurance that DePauw professors, through their roles as teachers, advisers and mentors, are committed to student success.

“I’m especially pleased that U.S. News & World Report also took notice of DePauw’s innovative approach as we begin implementing the bold and innovative steps called for in our strategic plan,” she said.

Dave Berque, vice president for academic affairs, concurred, saying, “it is especially heartening to see the strong ranking in the ‘most innovative’ category. This ranking is consistent with our work to bring DePauw’s traditionally outstanding liberal arts and sciences education approaches to new fields, including our new School of Business and Leadership and our new Creative School.”

To rank innovative schools, U.S. News & World Report asked college presidents, provosts and admissions deans participating in a peer assessment survey last spring and summer to nominate up to 15 institutions they saw making the most innovative improvements in curriculum, faculty, students, campus life, technology or facilities. The rankings are based solely on those responses.  

DePauw stood out for ranking well on two lists where crossover was rare: No. 16 among most innovative schools and tied with three other schools at No. 102 for social mobility – schools that enroll and graduate large proportions of economically disadvantaged students who receive Pell grants. 

The university also ranked No. 45 for best value national liberal arts, up four notches from 2022 for a ranking that considers the percentage of students who receive need-based assistance and merit scholarships. 

U.S. News & World Report’s overall ranking is based on data about each institution’s graduation rate; the graduation rate of Pell grant recipients; the social mobility of graduates; graduate indebtedness; first-year student retention; and other factors. The publication evaluated 1,500 U.S. bachelor’s degree-granting institutions on 17 measures of academic quality to create its annual list.

Media inquiries: Mary Dieter, marydieter@depauw.edu, 765-658-4286 or 317-809-5417