Tuition & Financial Aid

For information on current tuition rates, please visit the Office of Student Accounts website. 

Undergraduate tuition is structured on a package rate. Full-time undergraduate students take between 12-18 credit hours per quarter and are charged the package price for tuition. Students taking fewer than 12 or more than 18 credit hours per quarter are charged on a per-credit hour basis. 

Graduate tuition is charged on a per-credit hour basis. 

Completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the first step in determining your eligibility for financial aid. To submit the FAFSA, visit https://fafsa.ed.gov. Be sure to include DePaul’s school code (001671) in the school section portion of the FAFSA. 

View additional undergraduate financial aid information on the Office of Financial Aid website. 

The scholarships below are available to incoming CDM students. For additional information or questions about the MS-MA Graduate, DCMA, Double Demon, and MFA scholarships, contact the CDM Graduate Admission Office. 

For information on additional scholarships offered through the university, please visit DePaul’s Scholarships website. 

FIRST Scholarship

In support of the FIRST mission, DePaul CDM has established a $5,000 scholarship for a student who has been actively involved on a participating FIRST team during his or her junior or senior year of high school. This scholarship is offered to an incoming freshman who will be pursuing a baccalaureate degree at DePaul CDM. The scholarship is non-renewable and is contingent upon maintaining good academic standing during the freshman year. Candidates must meet the regular academic requirements for admission to DePaul University. 

Qualifying Criteria

• Be a senior in high school.
• Have participated at least one full season during your junior or senior year on a FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) team or a FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) team.
• Apply and be admitted to DePaul University’s College of CDM as a full time student. (However, you do not need to have already been admitted at the time you apply for this scholarship.)
• Have a combined SAT score of at least 1100 and a GPA of at least 3.2 (on a scale of 4.0).

To apply for the FIRST Scholarship you must Visit the FIRST Scholarship web site to obtain the CDM FIRST Scholarship Application. Instructions about what to submit and where to send your completed application are included in the CDM FIRST Scholarship Application materials. The deadline to apply for the CDM FIRST Scholarship is March 1st. 

Double Demon Scholarship

Any newly admitted student who has graduated from DePaul (has a degree conferred—bachelor’s, master’s, or doctorate) is eligible to receive a Double Demon Scholarship, a 25% automatic discount for any GRADUATE coursework they take after that conferred degree. This applies to MS, MA, MFA, and certificate programs offered through the Jarvis College of Computing and Digital Media. The Double Demon Scholarship cannot be used in conjunction with any other institutional aid or discount.   

MS-MA Graduate Scholarship

The CDM MS-MA Graduate Scholarship is for new students seeking an MA or MS degree (excluding the MS in Computer Science, MS in Information Systems and MS in Digital Communication and Media Arts) who are U.S. citizens or permanent U.S. residents. 

This scholarship is awarded as $1,000 per term for the first three (3) terms of enrollment, for a total award of $3,000. This award cannot be used in combination with any other DePaul scholarships, waivers or awards. Students are automatically reviewed at the time of admission for this scholarship. 

DCMA (Digital Communication and Media Arts) Scholarship

The CDM DCMA Scholarship is for new students seeking an MA degree in DCMA with a Media Arts concentration who are U.S. citizens or permanent U.S. residents. 

This scholarship is awarded as $525 per course, up to two courses per term ($1,050) for the duration of the program. This award cannot be used in combination with any other DePaul scholarships, waivers or awards. Students are automatically reviewed at the time of admission for this scholarship. 

MFA Scholarship

A limited number of $7,500 scholarships are available for incoming MFA students ($2,500 is awarded in each of the first three quarters of attendance). To qualify, you must be incoming new MFA student to any CDM MFA program, apply by the priority application deadline, and undergo a portfolio review. All priority deadline admitted MFA students will be reviewed, so a scholarship application is not required. These merit-based scholarships cannot be combined with any other institutional aid. 

CDM Presidential Scholarship – International Students only, beginning Fall 2024

Eligible programs of study include MS degrees in; artificial intelligence, computer science, cybersecurity, data science, human-computer interaction, information systems, game programming, health informatics and software engineering. Applicants must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher to be considered. There is no need for a separate application, the scholarship is awarded at admission. Selected students will be awarded from $6,000 to $9,000 over six consecutive terms. Students must be enrolled full-time for disbursement. This merit-based scholarship cannot be combined with any other institutional aid.   

The CDM Scholarship Program awards scholarships and grants annually to continuing CDM undergraduate and graduate students. Learn about available opportunities on the CDM Scholarships and Grants page. 

Students are also encouraged to visit Scholarship Connect for a full list of available scholarships at DePaul. 

A limited number of funding opportunities are available for qualified CDM graduate students. Graduate assistantships and PhD funding provide tuition and monetary awards based on academic merit, experience in the field, and recommendations. 

Students in the MFA in Creative Producing program are required to pay an annual fee of $645 that covers parking and events (screenings, panels, and tours).  

The Employer Tuition Deferral Plan is designed for students who receive tuition reimbursement from their employers. Since employer reimbursement is generally issued at the end of the term, this option provides an extended payment due date. Learn more on the Student Financial Accounts website. 

DePaul University is a participant in the Yellow Ribbon GI Education Enhancement Program, which will cover almost all tuition expenses for veterans who qualify for the Post 9/11 GI Bill® at 100 percent of the benefit. Learn more about Veterans Financial Aid at DePaul University or to speak to someone about military financial aid, please contact Megan Giedraitis. 

The Office of Veterans Affairs can assist you with a variety of forms that need to be submitted for the GI Bill®. The forms you will need to submit are as follows: 

• FAFSA-Free Application for Federal Student Aid
• Veteran's Affairs Educational Benefits Form
• Copy of your Certificate of Eligibility
• Copy of your DD214

All Veterans Benefits documents except the FAFSA should be sent to: 

Office of Veterans Affairs
DePaul Center, Suite 11014
1 E. Jackson Blvd
Chicago, IL 60604