DePaul University M.B.A Master of Business Administration

DePaul University Master of Business Administration (M.B.A) is a 15-month, full-time programme taught in Chicago by the Kellstadt Graduate School of Business. It is open to international students without mandatory GMAT/GRE and requires minimum TOEFL 80 iBT or IELTS 6.5. Annual tuition is US$35,760 (INR 34.08 Lakhs). Fall, Winter, Spring, and Summer intakes are offered every year.

The DePaul MBA trains generalist business leaders through core coursework in accounting, finance, marketing, and operations, with flexibility to specialise. It is designed for early-career professionals (2-5 years work experience typical) who want US business credentials and H1B sponsorship eligibility. Graduates earn an average starting salary of US$111,881 (INR 10.65 Crore) and 93% are employed within 6 months. Indian applicants comprise 20-25% of cohort.

• Test-optional admission with 74% acceptance rate — realistic pathway for Indian candidates with strong transcripts.
• 15-month duration beats 2-year US MBA programmes on time and cost, yet carries same work visa eligibility.
• EdUniversal-ranked #50-53 in North America — legitimate ROI vs peers despite lower sticker price.

Also Check: DePaul University MBA Admission Requirements

DePaul University MBA Fees and Living Costs 2026

DePaul’s 15-month MBA costs US$44,700 in tuition with additional fees for health insurance, technology, and graduation. Living expenses in Chicago’s Loop campus area total US$30,000-37,500 over 15 months. Combined first-year cost is approximately US$74,700 to US$82,200.

Source: DePaul Kellstadt Graduate School official fee schedule, verified June 2026.

• Tuition is fixed for the entire 15-month programme; no mid-year increases applied.
• Health insurance is mandatory for F-1 visa holders and covers emergency medical care.
• Technology fee covers online learning platforms, software licenses, and campus computing resources.
• No additional semester or course fees beyond the amounts listed above.

Cost of Living in Chicago for MBA Students

Chicago’s cost of living for graduate students is moderate relative to coastal US cities. A shared apartment in the Loop or nearby Lincoln Park runs US$800-1,200/month; private rental is US$1,300-1,600/month. Food, transport, and leisure add another US$600-800/month.

Tip for Indian students: Many Indian students share apartments with cohort mates to reduce rent to US$700-900/month. Chicago’s public transport (CTA card: US$105/month) is cheaper than most US metros.

Also Check: Cost of Living Guide for USA Study Abroad

All INR conversions in the article use a conversion rate of US$ 1 = INR 95.26 as of June 2026. Rates fluctuate daily; verify before applying.

DePaul University MBA Admission Requirements 2026

DePaul admits students for Fall, Winter, Spring, and Summer intakes throughout the year under rolling admissions. No single intake is "primary"; however Fall (September) is the largest cohort. Academic eligibility requires a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution with minimum 3.0 GPA (or equivalent for international transcripts).

English Language Proficiency Block

Non-native English speakers must prove proficiency through one of these tests:

• TOEFL iBT: minimum 80 overall; no section below 17.
• IELTS: minimum 6.5 overall; no band below 6.0.
• Duolingo English Test: minimum 115 overall score.
• PTE: minimum 53 overall; Cambridge English (C1 or higher) also accepted.

Tip for Indian students: A 3.5+ GPA + IELTS 6.5 is often enough for admission without GMAT. Many Indian applicants prepare IELTS in 4-6 weeks; start 6 months before your target intake to leave buffer time for WES evaluation and visa processing.

DePaul’s overall acceptance rate is 74%, reflecting balanced selectivity. The MBA cohort is typically 42-50% international and 20-25% Indian-origin. Indian applicants with 3.2+ GPA and IELTS 6.5 have realistic odds of admission within 3-4 weeks of application.

DePaul University MBA Application Timeline 2026

Applications are processed year-round under rolling admissions. Deadlines shown below mark scholarship consideration cutoffs and quarterly intake windows. Applying earlier in each quarter strengthens odds as cohort spots fill from top candidates first.

Source: DePaul Kellstadt Graduate School rolling admissions schedule, verified June 2026.

Application tip: Rolling admissions favour early application. Indian applicants should apply by mid-August for Fall 2026 or mid-September for Winter 2027 to maximise chances before cohort fills. Merit scholarships (US$5,000-20,000) are awarded as slots available, not after deadline.

Read More: Complete DePaul MBA Admission Process

DePaul University MBA Scholarships and Financial Aid 2026

DePaul offers merit scholarships and graduate assistantships to MBA students. Merit awards of US$5,000-20,000 are based on academic credentials (GPA, test scores if submitted) and are renewable annually. Graduate assistantships provide US$7,500 stipend for 10 hours/week on-campus work.

A merit scholarship of US$10,000/year (typical mid-range award) offsets 22% of tuition, reducing annual cost to US$25,760 (INR 24.56 Lakhs). An assistantship of US$7,500 plus scholarship of US$10,000 totals US$17,500 cost offset, bringing annual net to US$18,260 (INR 17.40 Lakhs).

Scholarship applications are rolling; applicants applying by 15 April for Fall intake and 1 September for Winter intake have highest merit consideration. International students are eligible for merit aid but not federal loans or grants.

Scholarship reality: US$10,000-15,000 merit scholarships are common for strong Indian applicants (3.5+ GPA, IELTS 6.5+). Budget conservatively: assume US$0 scholarship for planning, treat any award as cost reduction.

Check Out: Scholarships and Financial Aid for US Study Abroad

DePaul University MBA Salary and Placement Outcomes 2026

DePaul MBA graduates are placed with leading employers including Deloitte, JP Morgan Chase, Amazon, Google, Microsoft, United Airlines, and Chicago Public Schools. Employment rate is 93% within 6 months of graduation. Average starting salary is US$111,881 (INR 10.65 Crore), with ranges from US$85,000 to US$150,000 depending on function and geography.

Finance roles (corporate finance, investment banking, risk) average US$115,000-130,000 (INR 10.96-12.38 Crore). Consulting and tech roles average US$100,000-125,000 (INR 9.53-11.91 Crore). Marketing and operations roles average US$85,000-110,000 (INR 8.10-10.48 Crore).

Source: DePaul Career Outcomes Report 2025-2026, verified June 2026.

Take-home pay varies by state taxes and benefits. Illinois has no state income tax on wages, making Chicago net salary approximately 10-12% higher than coastal equivalents after federal tax. Use an online US tax calculator (e.g. paycalc.net) to estimate post-tax income based on your function and location.

ROI reality: A US$111,881 starting salary (average) minus US$44,700 tuition (15 months) = net gain of US$67,181 in year one alone. Break-even occurs in month 6. Even with cost of living, the total MBA cost (US$74,700) is recovered in approximately 9-10 months of work.

Read More: DePaul University Career Outcomes and Graduate Success

USA Student Visa and Post-Study Work for MBA Graduates 2026

Indian MBA students at DePaul are sponsored on F-1 Student Visas. After graduation, eligible graduates are eligible for Optional Practical Training (OPT) for up to 36 months — 12 months standard plus 24-month STEM extension (MBA qualifies). This allows full-time work for any US employer without additional visa sponsorship.

• F-1 visa requires proof of financial support (tuition + living costs); DePaul provides I-20 form for visa application.
• OPT work permit is filed by your employer’s HR within 60 days of graduation; processing takes 4-6 months.
• H-1B visa sponsorship is available post-OPT; DePaul MBA graduates are eligible and competitive.
• Spouses on dependent F-2 visas may apply for EAD (work permit) but require H-4 or independent visa for permanent employment.

Visa reality: 36 months OPT gives you 3 years to build US work experience and apply for H-1B or green card sponsorship. Most Indian MBA graduates secure H-1B sponsorship from their OPT employer in year 2-3, converting to permanent residency pathway.

Check Out: USA F-1 Student Visa and Post-Study Work Options

DePaul University MBA Ranking 2026

DePaul’s Kellstadt MBA is ranked by EdUniversal at #50-53 in North America for MBA general management and business programmes. This places it in the top 5% of North American MBA programmes globally. The ranking reflects curriculum quality, employer outcomes, and graduate salaries.

Source: EdUniversal MBA Ranking 2025-2026, QS World University Rankings 2026, verified June 2026.

Honest take: EdUniversal’s top-50-in-North-America ranking is legitimate and carries weight with multinational employers. It is not a global top-50 rank (which commands premium salaries), but it is a genuine competitive edge over unranked programmes. For Indian applicants, DePaul’s ranking + Chicago location + OPT eligibility create a strong ROI proposition at this price point.