With "The DePauw Promise," the University Reaches an Important Milestone

GREENCASTLE, Ind., Aug. 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- DePauw University is pleased to unveil "The DePauw Promise," the next major step to ensure that talented students can access a DePauw education. This new initiative expands upon DePauw's commitment to increase access and remove cost as a barrier for talented and ambitious students who want to attend one of the nation's premier liberal arts institutions. Starting with the 2026-2027 incoming class, the university will meet 100% of the calculated financial need for every incoming first-year student. 

Thanks to careful fiscal stewardship and the tremendous generosity of friends and alumni, DePauw has been able to distribute more scholarships and aid to students over the past few years and is now poised to deliver a total of $66 million in aid and scholarships in the 2026-2027 academic year. The increase in financial assistance allows DePauw to meet the full calculated financial need of the incoming class through a combination of scholarships, grants, work study, and student loans.

The DePauw Promise is the latest step in the university's ongoing effort to make a DePauw education accessible to students of all financial backgrounds. It also reflects the remarkable spirit of the entire DePauw community, which is united by a shared dedication to students and families. The initiative relies on both current use and endowed funds to initiate the project and secure its ongoing support in perpetuity.

President Lori White put The DePauw Promise in perspective: "There are many important elements in our Bold & Gold 2027 strategic plan. Meeting the financial needs of every student and ensuring nothing stands in the way of talented students pursuing a DePauw education is critical to our success. We are deeply grateful to our campus community, alumni and friends for supporting our commitment to making a DePauw education accessible to more students."

Financial need is met through a combination of scholarships, grants, work study and student loans. Admission to DePauw is selective, and the admissions team builds talented classes through a holistic and student-centered admission process. Applicants demonstrate strong academic achievement, intellectual curiosity, ethical leadership and the desire to learn from and with others in a collaborative residential environment.

Reaching this milestone with The DePauw Promise is cause for celebration and marks a renewed commitment to advancing the university's mission to create the leaders the world needs. Beth Petrie, DePauw's vice president for enrollment management, said, "This is a significant moment and one we intend to continue to build on. It's another leap forward in recruiting and retaining talented students for DePauw University, a move that positions DePauw to ensure that nothing stands between talented students and all DePauw has to offer." 

About DePauw University
DePauw University is a private liberal arts college located in Greencastle, Indiana. Founded in 1837, DePauw has a history of providing students with a transformative education that prepares them for a lifetime of success. DePauw hosts a student body of 1,917 undergraduate students pursuing 52 majors. Sixty one percent of our students come from Indiana or surrounding states to study in Greencastle. DePauw's interdisciplinary approach to education means both students and departments unite for shared learning experiences, study groups and off-campus service opportunities to solve problems and build bridges in the community.

SOURCE DePauw University