DePauw University (/dəˈpɔː/ də-PAW) is a private liberal arts college in Greencastle, Indiana, United States.

The college has a Methodist 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".

[5] Its residential campus is located 45 miles (72 km) west of Indianapolis and is spread across 175 acres and 36 buildings, with an additional 520-acre DePauw Nature Park.

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).

[21][22] In 2025, DePauw was ranked tied for 50th among liberal arts colleges in the United States by U.S. News & World Report.

[31][better source needed] 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.

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 and press.

In 2012, SPJ returned to the DePauw campus with the assistance of Eugene S. Pulliam Distinguished Visiting Professor of Journalism Mark Tatge "[33] Begun in 1986 and presented free of charge and open to all, Ubben Lecturers have included Malala Yousafzai, Bill Clinton, Benazir Bhutto, Margaret Thatcher, Jane Goodall, Tony Blair, TV's Jimmy Kimmel, Elie Wiesel, Colin Powell, Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck, Spike Lee, Mikhail Gorbachev, Brad Stevens, and Condoleezza Rice have spoken.

Students, streaking from their respective residences, run to and from the Columbia Boulder, located in the center of the campus near the East College building.

In 2006, the Delta Zeta sorority chapter at DePauw University became embroiled in controversy for deactivating certain members based on their perceived attractiveness.

[38] 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.

Performers in recent years have included Dave Matthews, Train, The Black Eyed Peas, Ben Folds, Rufus Wainwright, and Guster.

Past guests have included Billy Joel, Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, The Carpenters, America, Yo-Yo Ma, and Harry Chapin.

[citation needed] The DePauw Tigers compete in the NCAA Division III North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC).

Every year since 1890, DePauw University has competed in American football against its rival Wabash College in what has become the Monon Bell Classic.

[40] In 1933, head coach Ray "Gaumey" Neal led the DePauw Tigers football team to an unbeaten, untied, and unscored opening season.

Neal nearly duplicated this feat in 1943, but DePauw, 5–0–1, finished the season with one scoreless tie and six points allowed in a different game.

[41] In 2007, the Tigers defeated Washington University in St. Louis to win the Division III title in women's basketball.

The women's softball team won the regional title, advancing to the Division III College World Series for the first time in school history.

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, 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, U.S. Vice President Dan Quayle, and 9/11 Commission Vice Chairman Lee Hamilton.