A Parent’s Complete Guide to DePaul University (2026-2027)
Affiliate disclosure: UniversityParent earns a commission on purchases made through links in this guide, at no cost to you.
Jump to
- What is the one thing every DePaul University parent needs to know before move-in?
- Quick Facts for DePaul University Families
- A Note on Blue Demons
- Getting to Chicago
- What do parents need to know about DePaul University move-in day 2026?
- The Residence Halls: Where Your Student Might Live
- How much does DePaul University cost? Tuition, financial aid, and scholarships for 2026-27
- Chicago: What Parents Need to Know
- When is DePaul University Family Weekend 2026 and how do parents plan for it?
- How can parents support their DePaul University student’s mental health?
- Who do DePaul University parents contact? Essential numbers and websites for families
- DePaul’s Academic Strengths
- DePaul University academic calendar 2026-2027: dates families need
- What is DePaul University’s graduation rate?
- What to Pack for DePaul University
What is the one thing every DePaul University parent needs to know before move-in?
DePaul University move-in is General fall move-in is Saturday, September 5, 2026, though new freshman dates vary by orientation program.
Autumn 2026 classes begin Wednesday, September 9, 2026.
DePaul runs on quarters, so Autumn Quarter classes begin around Wednesday, September 9. Because the quarter ends before Thanksgiving, traditional halls close from Thanksgiving through early January.
Verified against the official housing and academic calendar pages in July 2026. Move-in times are usually assigned individually, so confirm your student’s slot before booking travel.
DePaul University is the largest Catholic university in the United States, and it is in Chicago. The Lincoln Park campus, where most undergraduates live and take the majority of their courses, sits in one of the most desirable neighborhoods in Chicago, steps from the lakefront.
The Loop campus, two miles south by L train, is where the business, law, and computing programs live, embedded in the professional core of a major American city.
The central fact about a DePaul education: the campus is Chicago. The internship opportunities at Chicago-headquartered companies, including United Airlines, Hyatt, Morningstar, Allstate, and McDonald’s, are part of the curriculum in a way that campus-town schools cannot replicate.
Quick Facts for DePaul University Families
| Family Weekend | DePaul University Alumni & Family Weekend 2026 is October 23 to 25, 2026. |
| Location | Chicago, IL (Lincoln Park campus: 2400 N. Sheffield Ave.) |
| Enrollment | ~22,000 students |
| Type | Private Catholic Research University, Big East Conference |
| Tuition (2026-27) | ~$46,000/year (verify at depaul.edu) |
| Room and Board | ~$16,000-$18,000/year (verify at depaul.edu) |
| Total Cost of Attendance | ~$64,000-$68,000/year (verify at depaul.edu) |
| Graduation Rate | ~72% (6-year) |
| Nearest Airport | O’Hare International (ORD, 45 min by Blue Line L) or Midway (MDW, 40 min) |
One email a week, for parents doing this right now
The deadlines, checklists, and conversation scripts that actually matter at each stage of the year. Free, and you can unsubscribe anytime.
Looking for the free toolkits? They are on our resources page, no email required.
A Note on Blue Demons
The name inspires a question from almost every family: why Blue Demons? The original 1920s athletic teams were called the Blue and Gold, but students began calling them the Blue Demons informally, the name stuck, and it has persisted through every era since. DePaul owns it without apology.
The Vincentian mission is the more important identifier. DePaul was founded by the Vincentian Fathers. “Men and women for and with others” shows up in service requirements, access-focused financial aid, and the institutional culture that takes seriously what a university owes the city that hosts it. Big East basketball gives DePaul an athletic context with genuine cachet: Marquette, Georgetown, Villanova, Seton Hall, and Connecticut.
Getting to Chicago
O’Hare International Airport (ORD) is the main gateway for most DePaul families. The Blue Line L runs directly into the Loop and connects to the Red Line, which stops at Fullerton Avenue in Lincoln Park, a five-minute walk from the main campus. Total transit time from O’Hare to Lincoln Park is about 45 minutes.
Amtrak’s Union Station is a major Midwest hub. Driving: Lincoln Park parking is a challenge; most families do better arriving by transit.
What do parents need to know about DePaul University move-in day 2026?
DePaul’s fall move-in runs in late August. The Clifton-Fullerton residential complex is the center of freshman housing. Move-in parking permits are assigned for the unloading zone along Clifton Avenue and adjacent streets, and they are limited. Plan ahead.
Ship boxes ahead via USPS or UPS to your student’s building address. Bring a hand truck. Plan for city transit from day one: a Ventra card loaded with transit value is a practical move-in day gift.
The Residence Halls: Where Your Student Might Live
After freshman year, most DePaul students move off campus to apartments in Lincoln Park, Wicker Park, Wrigleyville, and Logan Square.
Clifton-Fullerton Halls are the main freshman residential complex, with traditional double rooms, community bathrooms on each floor, and immediate proximity to dining, the recreation center, and the academic buildings. University Hall is a mid-rise residential building that houses both freshmen and upperclassmen. Sanctuary Hall is an all-freshman residence that provides a smaller-community feel.
After freshman year, most DePaul students move off campus to apartments in Lincoln Park, Wicker Park, Wrigleyville, and Logan Square.
How much does DePaul University cost? Tuition, financial aid, and scholarships for 2026-27
DePaul’s flagship merit scholarship is the DePaul Presidential Scholarship. The Dean’s Scholarship and University Scholarship provide additional merit-based awards. The Vincentian Endowment Scholarship supports students with demonstrated need.
| Expense | Estimated Cost |
|---|---|
| Tuition and Fees | ~$46,000 (verify at depaul.edu) |
| Room and Board | ~$16,000-$18,000 (verify at depaul.edu) |
| Books and Supplies | ~$1,200 (verify at depaul.edu) |
| Personal and Transportation | ~$2,500 (verify at depaul.edu) |
| Estimated Total | ~$65,700-$67,700 (verify at depaul.edu) |
DePaul’s flagship merit scholarship is the DePaul Presidential Scholarship. The Dean’s Scholarship and University Scholarship provide additional merit-based awards. The Vincentian Endowment Scholarship supports students with demonstrated need.
FAFSA guide for DePaul families Full college cost planning guide
Chicago: What Parents Need to Know
Chicago is one of the three best restaurant cities in the United States. Lincoln Park is where your student lives: Clark Street north of Fullerton runs through a commercial corridor of independent restaurants and coffee shops. The Lincoln Park Zoo is free and excellent. The lakefront trail runs along Lake Michigan for miles.
The Loop and Millennium Park are 20 minutes by Red Line L. The Art Institute of Chicago is on the Loop’s south end. The West Loop / Fulton Market District is one of the most concentrated blocks of excellent restaurants in the country: Girl and the Goat, Au Cheval, and Boka are within a few blocks of each other. Twin Anchors on Sedgwick Street is a Lincoln Park landmark and a reliable parent visit dinner.
When is DePaul University Family Weekend 2026 and how do parents plan for it?
DePaul University Alumni & Family Weekend 2026 is October 23 to 25, 2026.
Confirm the schedule and registration on the official DePaul family welcome guide, and reconfirm before booking travel in case details change. Hotels near campus sell out early, so book as soon as you can.
Comparing schools? See our 2026 parents weekend and family weekend dates for every college in one place.
DePaul refunds 100% of tuition up to a single cutoff about 2 weeks into each 10-week quarter, then nothing.
DePaul runs on quarters rather than semesters, so the safe withdrawal window is much shorter in real calendar time than at a semester school, families comparing schools need to recalculate in days, not assume an equivalent multi-week grace period.
Refund schedule: withdrawing within the first 20% of the term, roughly the first 2 weeks of a 10-week quarter, gets a 100% refund. Withdrawing any time after that gets 0%, with no partial tier in between. Confirmed via the official DePaul University refund policy page. Policies and dates change every term, so verify directly before making a decision.
Advertising disclosure: this is a paid partner link. UniversityParent may earn a commission if you purchase through it.
Most colleges do not refund 100% of tuition once the semester starts.
GradGuard Tuition Insurance can reimburse tuition, housing, and fees if a covered illness, injury, mental health condition, or other covered reason forces a withdrawal during the term. Plans must be purchased before the semester begins.
Freshmen may bring a car to DePaul with a paid residential permit.
No freshman-specific restriction found; permits are sold to all students on a first-come basis regardless of class year. Permits must be purchased at the start of each quarter since DePaul runs on the quarter system.
Freshman permit cost: $190/quarter (Fall, Winter, Spring); $75/Summer quarter. Confirmed via the official DePaul parking page. Policies can change year to year, so verify before move-in.
DePaul’s Family Weekend is in October. Big East basketball season starts in November, and Wintrust Arena in the South Loop is the home court. A DePaul basketball home game against a Big East opponent is a genuinely good event.
Chicago has an enormous hotel inventory; booking 6 to 8 weeks ahead for Family Weekend is prudent.
How can parents support their DePaul University student’s mental health?
DePaul’s Counseling Services has offices on both the Lincoln Park and Loop campuses. Individual therapy, group therapy, crisis services, and psychiatric referrals are available. The urban campus context means financial stress is a meaningful mental health factor for students managing budgets alongside academics for the first time. Crisis: 988.
Who do DePaul University parents contact? Essential numbers and websites for families
Verify all phone numbers and URLs at depaul.edu before using, as contact information is subject to change.
- Student Affairs: offices.depaul.edu/student-affairs
- University Housing: housing.depaul.edu
- Counseling Services: counseling.depaul.edu
- Student Health Services: studentaffairs.depaul.edu/health
- Emergency: 911
DePaul’s Academic Strengths
The Driehaus College of Business has particular strength in accounting, finance, and real estate, with the Chicago Board of Trade and Mercantile Exchange minutes from the Loop campus.
The College of Computing and Digital Media is one of the largest computing programs in the Midwest, with strong programs in computer science, data science, and game design. The Theatre School is nationally ranked. The Chicago Quarter is DePaul’s first-year program that builds the city explicitly into the academic experience.
DePaul produces people who are comfortable in a major city, grounded in a values tradition, and connected to an alumni network embedded in Chicago’s civic and professional life.
Full printable DePaul dorm packing list
Last updated: May 2026. Verify all time-sensitive information at depaul.edu.
📋 Official Dorm Policy, DePaul
Appliances over 700W are prohibited. Hot plates, rice cookers, slow cookers, toaster ovens, and deep fryers are banned. Some appliances are kitchen-only.
DePaul Housing, Prohibited Items ↗
Policies update each academic year, always verify before purchasing appliances.
DePaul University academic calendar 2026-2027: dates families need
These are the dates worth putting in your own calendar now, while flights and hotel rooms are still reasonable. Every date below was verified against DePaul University official sources in July 2026.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Autumn classes begin | Wednesday, September 9, 2026 |
| General move-in | Saturday, September 5, 2026 |
| Labor Day | Monday, September 7, 2026 |
| Winter break closure begins | Wednesday, November 25, 2026 |
| Halls reopen | Sunday, January 3, 2027 |
| MLK Day | Monday, January 18, 2027 |
| Spring move-in | Saturday, March 20, 2027 |
| Spring move-out | Saturday, June 12, 2027 |
DePaul’s traditional halls close for winter break by noon Wednesday, November 25, 2026 and reopen at 10 a.m. Sunday, January 3, 2027. LeCompte Hall and all apartment communities stay open through the break.
Because DePaul runs on quarters and Autumn Quarter ends before Thanksgiving, the winter closure is unusually long, roughly six weeks, for students in traditional halls. If your student is in a traditional hall and cannot go home, they need a plan. Note the exact Autumn class-start date was not machine-readable on DePaul’s calendar as of July 2026; confirm it with the registrar.
Confirm current closure dates on the official housing calendar.
Universities do adjust these dates. Reconfirm on the official academic calendar before booking anything nonrefundable.
Where to stay near DePaul University
Hotels near campus fill up fast on move-in and Family Weekend. This live map shows places to stay near DePaul University. Drag the map or change the dates to fit your trip.
UniversityParent may earn a commission on bookings made through this map, at no extra cost to you.
What is DePaul University’s graduation rate?
DePaul University graduates 55% of students in four years; another 12.8 points finish within six. About 85.5% of first-year students return for sophomore year. Each bar is compared to the national average, marked by the vertical line.
6 pts above national
3.8 pts above national
4.5 pts above national
Here is how to read these numbers: the four-year and six-year rates show how many students finish on time and eventually, and retention shows how many return after the first year. Wherever your student lands, the habits that keep them on track matter most: a full, well-sequenced course load, an advisor meeting every term, and using campus support early. See why most students don’t graduate in four years and how to choose the right classes in the right order.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, most recent available data. National averages: NCES. Figures are for first-time, full-time bachelor’s-seeking students.
The college parent playbook for freshman year
Once you have picked the school, our 2026 Kindle book The College Parent Guide: Freshman Year walks you through the year ahead: what to say, when to step in, and when to hang back. Free companion toolkits and a school-specific packing list come with it.
Get it on Kindle
See what is inside
Free planning tools: College Cost Calculator · College Match Tool
What to Pack for DePaul University
Every dorm is different, but these are the items parents of DePaul University students buy most. Ship directly to campus and skip the trunk-stuffing stress.
Twin XL Bedding Set
Sheets, comforter, and pillowcases — buy before you arrive so the bed is ready day one.
Shower Caddy & Flip Flops
Shared bathrooms require these. Get a hanging caddy and waterproof sandals before move-in.
Surge Protector Power Strip
Most dorms allow 6-outlet surge protectors with USB ports. Check your school’s policy first.
Want the full list? See our complete college packing list →
Shipping to campus? Students get 6 months of Amazon Prime for Young Adults free, then half price on the student’s own account. Here is how it works.
Explore more college parent guides
What A Parent’s Complete Guide to DePaul University (2026-2027) Parents Are Saying
No parent tips yet for this school. Be the first to share what other parents need to know.
Community-submitted tips. Not verified by UniversityParent. Verify time-sensitive information (tuition, deadlines, dates) directly at the school’s official website.