DePauw University

DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana, is a quintessential New England liberal arts college smack dab in the middle of the Midwest. Forty minutes from the Indianapolis airport, it’s easy to get to from other parts of the US. The main part of campus is very nice, with a traditional quad, green grass and brick buildings. On the outer edges of campus, it feels like the small midwestern town that it is, and just a little bit faded. DePauw has 1900 undergraduate students, and everyone lives on campus all four years in dorms, houses, apartments, and Greek housing. 35% of the student body comes from Indiana, and the rest from 39 different states and 39 different countries. 15% of students are first-gen and 34% are student athletes.

DePauw’s first-year experience program is nationally ranked. All freshmen are assigned a mentor to help them adjust socially and learn how to access resources on campus. There are three schools within DePauw. The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences is made up of 89% of the student body and offers the majors you might expect plus some you might not: Classical Civilization, Education Studies, Environmental Geoscience, Greek, and Kinesiology. The School of Business and Leadership was launched in 2023 to encourage entrepreneurial thinking. The focus is on economics, finance, business analytics, leadership and actuarial science, and involves about 25% of the students. The Creative School offers majors and minors in writing, film, and performing and visual arts, and while about 10% of students are majoring in one of these disciplines, many more are minoring or actively involved in theatre, music and the arts outside the classroom. And no, the numbers don’t add up properly, as some students double major.

DePauw follows a 4-1-4-1 calendar, with 3-week sessions in January and May, when students can either take a single course, do research, or complete an internship.  With a 54% acceptance rate and generous merit scholarships, DePauw is a fantastic option for someone looking for everything a small liberal arts college has to offer.