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DePauw University ( ) is a private
liberal arts college A liberal arts college or liberal arts institution of higher education is a college with an emphasis on Undergraduate education, undergraduate study in the Liberal arts education, liberal arts of humanities and science. Such colleges aim to impart ...
in Greencastle, Indiana, United States. It was founded in 1837 as Indiana Asbury College and changed its name to DePauw University in 1884. The college has a
Methodist Methodism, also called the Methodist movement, is a Protestant Christianity, Christian Christian tradition, tradition whose origins, doctrine and practice derive from the life and teachings of John Wesley. George Whitefield and John's brother ...
heritage and was founded to be an ecumenical institution of national stature, "conducted on the most liberal principles, accessible to all religious denominations and designed for the benefit of our citizens in general". In 2023, DePauw had an enrollment of about 1,800 students. Its residential campus is located west of
Indianapolis Indianapolis ( ), colloquially known as Indy, is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of municipalities in Indiana, most populous city of the U.S. state of Indiana and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana, Marion ...
and is spread across and 36 buildings, with an additional DePauw Nature Park.


History

Indiana Asbury University was founded in 1837 in Greencastle, Indiana, and was named after Francis Asbury, the first American bishop of the
Methodist Episcopal Church The Methodist Episcopal Church (MEC) was the oldest and largest Methodist denomination in the United States from its founding in 1784 until 1939. It was also the first religious denomination in the US to organize itself nationally. In 1939, th ...
. The people of Greencastle raised $25,000 to entice the Methodists to establish the college in Greencastle, which was little more than a village at the time. It was originally established as an all-men's school but began admitting women in 1867. In 1884 Indiana Asbury University changed its name to DePauw University in honor of
Washington C. DePauw Washington Charles DePauw (January 4, 1822 – May 5, 1887) was an American businessman and philanthropist. DePauw University is named in his honor. Early life DePauw was born in Salem, Indiana, and was the grandson of Charles DePauw, who came ...
, who made a sequence of substantial donations throughout the 1870s, which culminated in his largest single donation that established the School of Music during 1884. Before his death in 1887, DePauw donated over $600,000 to Indiana Asbury, equal to around $17 million in 2021. In 2002, the school received the largest-ever gift to a liberal arts college, $128 million by the Holton family. Subsequently, in 2024, DePauw received a $200 million gift that combined a $150 million anonymous donation with an additional $50 million in matching funds from other donors. Sigma Delta Chi, known today as the
Society of Professional Journalists The Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ), formerly known as Sigma Delta Chi, is the oldest organization representing journalists in the United States. It was established on April 17, 1909, at DePauw University,2009 SPJ Annual Report, lette ...
, was founded at the college in 1909 by a group of student journalists, including Eugene C. Pulliam. The world's first Greek-letter sorority, Kappa Alpha Theta, was also founded at DePauw in 1870. DePauw is home to the two longest continually running fraternity chapters in the world: the Delta chapter of
Beta Theta Pi Beta Theta Pi (), commonly known as Beta, is a North American social Fraternities and sororities in North America, fraternity that was founded in 1839 at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. One of North America's oldest fraternities, , it consist ...
and the Lambda chapter of Phi Gamma Delta. During
World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
, DePauw University was one of 131 colleges and universities nationally that took part in the V-12 Navy College Training Program which offered students a path to a Navy commission. As of July 2020, Lori White, previously vice chancellor for student affairs at Washington University in St. Louis, is the 21st president of DePauw University. White is the first woman and African American to serve as President of DePauw University.


Campus

DePauw University is located approximately west of
Indianapolis Indianapolis ( ), colloquially known as Indy, is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of municipalities in Indiana, most populous city of the U.S. state of Indiana and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana, Marion ...
. Its campus consists of 36 major buildings spread out over a campus that includes a nature park, and There are 11 residence halls, 4 theme houses, and 31 college-owned houses and apartments spread throughout the campus. The oldest building on campus, East College, was built in 1877 and is listed on the
National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the Federal government of the United States, United States federal government's official United States National Register of Historic Places listings, list of sites, buildings, structures, Hist ...
. DePauw also owns McKim Observatory. Centrally located The cornerstone for the building was laid on October 20, 1871. The building hosted commencement exercises in June 1874, and in September 1875 all college classes were moved to the building, according to the book, ''DePauw Through the Years''. But work on East College continued until 1882 when the building's basement was completed. ''Note:'' This includes
site map
, and Accompanying photographs.
East College was placed on the
National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the Federal government of the United States, United States federal government's official United States National Register of Historic Places listings, list of sites, buildings, structures, Hist ...
in 1975. DePauw has two libraries: Roy O. West Library (main library) and the Music Library (located in the Green Center for Performing Arts). Library holdings include approximately 350,000 books; 22,000 videos; 1,000 print periodical titles; access to over 20,000 electronic titles; 450,000 government documents; newspapers; and online
database In computing, a database is an organized collection of data or a type of data store based on the use of a database management system (DBMS), the software that interacts with end users, applications, and the database itself to capture and a ...
s.


Academics

DePauw's liberal arts education gives students a chance to gain general knowledge beyond their direct area of study by taking classes outside their degrees and engaging in Winter Term classes and trips. Its most popular majors, by 2021 graduates, were econometrics and quantitative economics (83), speech communication and rhetoric (63), computer science (35), biochemistry (31), and psychology (27). DePauw University's schedule is divided into a 4–1–4-1 calendar: besides the 15-week Autumn and Spring Semesters, there is also a 4-week Winter Term as well as a May Term. Students take one course during these terms, which are either used as a period for students to explore a subject of interest on campus or participate in off-campus domestic or international
internship An internship is a period of work experience offered by an organization for a limited period of time. Once confined to medical graduates, internship is used to practice for a wide range of placements in businesses, non-profit organizations and g ...
programs, service trips, or international trips and field studies. One survey of DePauw students found that over 80% of DePauw graduates studied abroad. DePauw University has a student-faculty ratio of 9:1 and has no classes with more than 35 students.


Admissions

DePauw's admissions are considered "more selective" by '' U.S. News & World Report''. As of 2023, the average newly enrolled student had a 3.97 GPA, an
SAT The SAT ( ) is a standardized test widely used for college admissions in the United States. Since its debut in 1926, its name and Test score, scoring have changed several times. For much of its history, it was called the Scholastic Aptitude Test ...
score between 1160 and 1420, and an ACT score between 24 and 31. Besides standardized test scores, the university considers an applicant's GPA very important, high school class rank when available, and letters of recommendation important.


Reputation and rankings

In 2025, DePauw was ranked tied for 50th among liberal arts colleges in the United States by ''U.S. News & World Report''. DePauw is ranked #170 on ''
Forbes ''Forbes'' () is an American business magazine founded by B. C. Forbes in 1917. It has been owned by the Hong Kong–based investment group Integrated Whale Media Investments since 2014. Its chairman and editor-in-chief is Steve Forbes. The co ...
'' magazine's 2024 rankings, which include all colleges and universities in the United States. In 2024, '' Washington Monthly'' ranked DePauw 56th among 194 liberal arts colleges in the U.S. based on its contribution to the public good, as measured by social mobility, research, and promoting public service.


Institutes and programs

Since 2007, the Prindle Institute has served as a place for reflection, discussion, and education. Prindle sponsors events related to ethics and provides opportunities for students, faculty, and staff to engage in discussions. The institute also publishes ethics related content through ''The Prindle Post'' and the ''Examining Ethics'' podcast. DePauw University has one of the oldest private institutions for post-secondary music instruction in the country. Founded in 1884, the school has about 100 students. The student-to-teacher ratio is 5:1 with an average class size of 13 students. The Institute of Music is housed inside the Green Center for Performing Arts (GCPA), constructed in 2007, which integrated and replaced parts of the former structure. The Institute of Music grants Bachelor of Arts as well as Bachelor of Musical Arts degrees. The latter allows students to add an emphasis on the music business. Effective 2024, School of Music was renamed the "Institute of Music" under the newly launched "Creative School". The name change does not impact accreditation. Since 1919, the Rector Scholar Program has recognized DePauw students of exceptional scholarship and character. To be named a Rector Scholar is to join a prestigious tradition of more than 4,000 graduates strong. Rector Scholarships are offered to the top academic applicants offered admission to DePauw. A limited number of full-tuition Presidential Rector Scholarships are available.


Society of Professional Journalists

On May 6, 1909, Sigma Delta Chi was founded by a group of DePauw University student journalists. The organization officially changed its name to the
Society of Professional Journalists The Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ), formerly known as Sigma Delta Chi, is the oldest organization representing journalists in the United States. It was established on April 17, 1909, at DePauw University,2009 SPJ Annual Report, lette ...
in 1988. Today it is the nation's most broad-based journalism organization, encouraging the free practice of journalism and stimulating high standards of ethical behavior. SPJ promotes the free flow of information vital to a well-informed citizenry; works to inspire and educate the next generation of journalists; and protects First Amendment guarantees of
freedom of speech Freedom of speech is a principle that supports the freedom of an individual or a community to articulate their opinions and ideas without fear of retaliation, censorship, or legal sanction. The rights, right to freedom of expression has been r ...
and press. In 2012, SPJ returned to the DePauw campus with the assistance of Eugene S. Pulliam Distinguished Visiting Professor of Journalism Mark Tatge "


Ubben Lecture series

Begun in 1986 and presented free of charge and open to all, Ubben Lecturers have included Malala Yousafzai,
Bill Clinton William Jefferson Clinton (né Blythe III; born August 19, 1946) is an American politician and lawyer who was the 42nd president of the United States from 1993 to 2001. A member of the Democratic Party (United States), Democratic Party, ...
,
Benazir Bhutto Benazir Bhutto (21 June 1953 – 27 December 2007) was a Pakistani politician who served as the 11th prime minister of Pakistan from 1988 to 1990, and again from 1993 to 1996. She was also the first woman elected to head a democratic governmen ...
,
Margaret Thatcher Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher (; 13 October 19258 April 2013), was a British stateswoman who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990 and Leader of the Conservative Party (UK), Leader of th ...
, Jane Goodall,
Tony Blair Sir Anthony Charles Lynton Blair (born 6 May 1953) is a British politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1997 to 2007 and Leader of the Labour Party (UK), Leader of the Labour Party from 1994 to 2007. He was Leader ...
, TV's Jimmy Kimmel, Elie Wiesel,
Colin Powell Colin Luther Powell ( ; – ) was an Americans, American diplomat, and army officer who was the 65th United States secretary of state from 2001 to 2005. He was the first African-American to hold the office. He was the 15th National Security ...
,
Indianapolis Colts The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. The Colts compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC South, South division. Since the 2008 India ...
quarterback Andrew Luck, Spike Lee,
Mikhail Gorbachev Mikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachev (2 March 1931 – 30 August 2022) was a Soviet and Russian politician who served as the last leader of the Soviet Union from 1985 to dissolution of the Soviet Union, the country's dissolution in 1991. He served a ...
, Brad Stevens, and Condoleezza Rice have spoken. The Ubben Series has hosted 114 events in its 33-year history.


Student life

DePauw offers more than 100 student organizations, including intramural sports, college and student-sponsored musical and theatrical productions, and local chapters of national organizations such as Circle K. Many students engage in community service and other volunteer activities. Putnam County Relay For Life is organized by students and brings together the college and community. The Boulder Run has become a tradition at DePauw University. Students,
streaking Streaking is the act of running naked through a public area for publicity, for fun, as a prank, a dare, a form of protest, or to participate in a fad. Streaking is often associated with sporting events, but can occur in more secluded areas. Str ...
from their respective residences, run to and from the Columbia Boulder, located in the center of the campus near the East College building. Another campus tradition, campus golf, requires a golf club and a
tennis ball A tennis ball is a small, hollow ball used in games of tennis and real tennis. Tennis balls are fluorescent yellow in Professional sports, professional competitions, but in Amateur sports, recreational play other colors are also used. Tennis bal ...
. Players attempt to hit their
tennis ball A tennis ball is a small, hollow ball used in games of tennis and real tennis. Tennis balls are fluorescent yellow in Professional sports, professional competitions, but in Amateur sports, recreational play other colors are also used. Tennis bal ...
against various targets on campus within a number of strokes.


Greek life

DePauw's Greek system began just eight years after the founding of Indiana Asbury College in 1837. Several chapters were founded in the 19th century. Women were first admitted to Indiana Asbury in 1867, and the first Greek-letter fraternity for women soon followed. Just under 70% of students at DePauw are affiliated with a Greek-letter organization. The Greek community consists of more than a dozen national social fraternities and approximately ten sororities. Some Greek-letter organizations were founded at DePauw. In 2006, the Delta Zeta sorority chapter at DePauw University became embroiled in controversy for deactivating certain members based on their perceived attractiveness. The controversy made national headlines, resulting in the chapter's closing and various legal actions.


Media

The Pulliam Center for Contemporary Media houses the school's media facilities. This includes a student-run television station, radio station WGRE, newspaper, and two magazines. First published in 1852 as ''Asbury Notes'', The DePauw is Indiana's oldest college newspaper. When school is in session, the Pulliam Center is open to students and faculty 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.


Music

The DePauw University Institute of Music presents regular recitals by students and faculty and concerts by visiting artists, most of which are free and open to the public. DePauw students also organize concerts for the campus community. Performers in recent years have included Dave Matthews,
Train A train (from Old French , from Latin">-4; we might wonder whether there's a point at which it's appropriate to talk of the beginnings of French, that is, when it wa ... , from Latin , "to pull, to draw") is a series of connected vehicles th ...
,
The Black Eyed Peas The Black Eyed Peas are an American musical group formed in Los Angeles in 1995, composed of rappers will.i.am, apl.de.ap and Taboo (rapper), Taboo. Fergie (singer), Fergie was a member during the height of their popularity in the 2000s, and ...
, Ben Folds, Rufus Wainwright, and Guster. Past guests have included
Billy Joel William Martin Joel (born May 9, 1949) is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. Nicknamed the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, Piano Man" after his Signature song, signature 1973 song Piano Man (song), of the same name, Joel has ha ...
, Smokey Robinson and the Miracles,
The Carpenters The Carpenters were an American vocal and instrumental duo consisting of siblings Karen Carpenter, Karen (1950–1983) and Richard Carpenter (musician), Richard Carpenter (born 1946). They produced a distinctive soft musical style, combining ...
, America,
Yo-Yo Ma Yo-Yo Ma (born October 7, 1955) is a French-born American Cello, cellist. Born to Chinese people, Chinese parents in Paris, he was regarded as a child prodigy there and began to study the cello with his father at age four. At the age of seven, ...
, and Harry Chapin.


Athletics

The DePauw Tigers compete in the
NCAA Division III NCAA Division III (D-III) is the lowest division of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) in the United States. D-III consists of athletic programs at colleges and universities that do not offer athletic scholarships to student- ...
North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC). Every year since 1890, DePauw University has competed in
American football American football, referred to simply as football in the United States and Canada and also known as gridiron football, is a team sport played by two teams of eleven players on a rectangular American football field, field with goalposts at e ...
against its rival Wabash College in what has become the Monon Bell Classic. The traveling trophy, a 300-pound train bell from the Monon Railroad, made its debut in the rivalry in 1932. The DePauw-Wabash series is one of the nation's oldest
college football College football is gridiron football that is played by teams of amateur Student athlete, student-athletes at universities and colleges. It was through collegiate competition that gridiron football American football in the United States, firs ...
rivalries.


Notable alumni and faculty

The college has a strong alumni network and a notable list of alumni including pioneering chemist Percy Lavon Julian, Angi Inc. founder Angie Hicks, astronaut
Joseph P. Allen Joseph Percival "Joe" Allen IV (born June 27, 1937) is an American former NASA astronaut. He logged more than 3,000 hours flying time in jet aircraft. Early life and education Allen was born in Crawfordsville, Indiana, in June 1937. His paren ...
, Nobel laureate Ferid Murad, newspaper publisher Eugene C. Pulliam, director Chinonye Chukwu, best-selling author Barbara Kingsolver, Pulitzer recipient James B. Stewart, ESPN founder
Bill Rasmussen William F. Rasmussen (born October 15, 1932) is an American sports director, and the founder of ESPN, along with Scott Rasmussen and Ed Eagan. Rasmussen was the first president and CEO of ESPN. ESPN was founded on July 14, 1978, and was launched ...
, U.S. Vice President
Dan Quayle James Danforth Quayle (; born February 4, 1947) is an American retired politician who served as the 44th vice president of the United States from 1989 to 1993 under President George H. W. Bush. A member of the Republican Party (United States), ...
, and 9/11 Commission Vice Chairman Lee Hamilton. Notable faculty members include Sunil Sahu, professor of political science; Erik Wielenberg, professor of philosophy; and Ellen Maycock, professor emerita of mathematics.


References


External links

*
Athletics website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Depauw University Universities and colleges established in 1837 Liberal arts colleges in Indiana Education in Putnam County, Indiana University and college buildings on the National Register of Historic Places in Indiana Buildings and structures in Putnam County, Indiana Tourist attractions in Putnam County, Indiana 1837 establishments in Indiana Universities and colleges affiliated with the Methodist Episcopal Church