Master of Science [M.S] [Entrepreneurship] From DePaul University

DePaul University Master of Science M.S. Entrepreneurship is a one-year, 48-credit graduate program designed for aspiring founders, innovation leaders, and venture professionals. The program operates in full-time, part-time, and 100 percent online formats. Minimum English proficiency: IELTS 6.5 or TOEFL 80 IBT. Annual tuition: USD 35,760 (INR 34.07 Lakhs). Intakes: January (Winter), April (Spring), June (Summer), September (Fall).

DePaul’s M.S. Entrepreneurship trains leaders to launch startups, innovate within large corporations, and invest through venture capital or angel networks. The curriculum covers the full lifecycle of ventures: ideation, funding, scaling, and exit strategies. Every course uses real-world case studies and live entrepreneur projects. Chicago’s thriving startup ecosystem provides internship and networking opportunities with VC firms, incubators, and angel investors. Ideal students have 0-5 years of work experience, strong analytical skills, and an appetite for building something from zero.

• Ranked #10 in M.S. Entrepreneurship programs nationally by Princeton Review and recognized top-20 globally.
• Optional Practical Training (OPT) extends 36 months after graduation, enabling full-time post-study work with any employer in the USA.
• Indian students comprise 20 to 25 percent of the international cohort; strong visa and work sponsorship support from DePaul’s immigration office.

Also Check: DePaul University M.S. Entrepreneurship Admission

DePaul University M.S. Entrepreneurship Fees and Living Costs 2026

The M.S. Entrepreneurship program costs USD 35,760 annually (INR 34.07 Lakhs). Most students complete the program in one year; total cost is typically USD 35,760 (INR 34.07 Lakhs). Online and part-time formats spread costs over 18-24 months but do not reduce the total tuition bill. Additional expenses like books, health insurance, and living costs bring the first-year total to approximately USD 39,360 to USD 41,160 (INR 37.50 Lakhs to INR 39.23 Lakhs).

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

• Tuition covers 48 credit hours across 12 courses; no hidden fees or additional course charges apply.
• Books range USD 1,200 to USD 1,800 per year depending on course selection and whether you purchase new or used copies.
• DePaul’s health insurance plan covers full-time students from age 0 to age 26 for USD 2,400 to USD 3,600 annually.
• Graduate students may waive insurance if they provide proof of comparable external coverage from their home country or employer.

Cost of Living in Chicago for M.S. Entrepreneurship Students

Tip for Indian students: Chicago’s Loop Campus and nearby Lincoln Park neighborhoods offer good public transit access. Shared rentals in these areas cost USD 900 to USD 1,100 monthly; private studios range USD 1,300 to USD 1,600. Many Indian students find roommate networks through DePaul’s international student organizations, which can reduce housing costs significantly.

Read More: USA Cost of Living Guide

DePaul University M.S. Entrepreneurship Admission

DePaul admits Entrepreneurship students quarterly: January, April, June, and September. Each intake carries rolling admissions; early applications significantly improve offer odds and scholarship awards. Minimum academic credentials: 3.0 undergraduate GPA on a 4.0 scale. GMAT and GRE are optional; the admissions team evaluates work experience, essays, entrepreneurial projects, and letters of recommendation with equal weight to test scores.

DePaul’s overall acceptance rate is 74 percent. The Entrepreneurship program admits at a similar rate because it places lower emphasis on test scores and higher value on entrepreneurial mindset, leadership essays, and demonstrated startup experience. Admitted Indian students typically hold GMAT 600-plus or GRE 310-plus, though many gain admission without test scores by showcasing startup projects, small-business ownership, or venture internships. Strong essays that articulate a clear startup vision or corporate innovation goal are competitive advantages even with a 3.2 GPA.

English Language Proficiency (ELP) for International Students

All non-native English speakers must demonstrate English fluency through standardized tests. DePaul accepts TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo, and PTE English examinations. No single test holds more weight; all are equally recognized by the admissions office for graduate programs.

• IELTS 6.5 with one band at 6.0 means strong listening and reading skills; speaking and writing are slightly weaker but still acceptable for graduate-level coursework.
• TOEFL iBT 80 typically requires 8 to 12 weeks of preparation for non-native speakers; Indian test-takers average 10-week timelines with coaching center preparation.
• Duolingo English Test is quickest (15 minutes online) and accepted by DePaul; scores arrive within 48 hours for faster application processing and is cost-effective at USD 49.

Tip for Indian students: IELTS is widely taught in Indian coaching centers; the 6.5 band is attainable in 6 to 8 weeks with dedicated study. Many students find IELTS more aligned with British English, which is taught in Indian schools.

Check Out: DePaul University Rankings

DePaul University M.S. Entrepreneurship Application

DePaul operates rolling admissions for the M.S. Entrepreneurship program. Applications are reviewed continuously from the moment the portal opens, and admission decisions are issued on a rolling basis until the cohort is full. Earlier applicants receive faster decisions and higher scholarship awards because funding pools are distributed first-come-first-served.

• Applications submitted before the deadline enter rolling review; decisions typically arrive within 2 to 4 weeks of receipt.
• Late applications (within 10 days of deadline) are reviewed on space availability; no guarantee of same-cycle placement or full funding remains.
• Indian applicants should file WES evaluations (7 to 10 days processing) and TOEFL or IELTS by the eighth week prior to avoid delays in decision timelines.
• International students must submit I-20 eligibility documentation after admission; SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System) registration takes an additional 2 to 3 weeks.

Application tip: DePaul weighs essays and entrepreneurial portfolios equally with GPA and test scores. A compelling "Why Entrepreneurship, Why DePaul" essay with a detailed startup plan or innovation pitch can offset a 3.2 GPA.

Read More: DePaul Graduate Admission Requirements

DePaul University M.S. Entrepreneurship Scholarships

DePaul awards merit scholarships to Entrepreneurship students based on academic strength and entrepreneurial potential demonstrated in applications. Scholarships range USD 5,000 to USD 20,000 annually (INR 4.76 Lakhs to INR 19.05 Lakhs). Awards are distributed on a rolling basis with admissions decisions; earlier applicants have significantly higher odds of maximum awards because funding pools are allocated sequentially.

A student with a 3.5 GPA, 650 GMAT, and a published business plan or startup pitch can expect a USD 12,000 to USD 15,000 offer (INR 11.43 Lakhs to INR 14.29 Lakhs). After one-year tuition (USD 35,760 = INR 34.07 Lakhs), the scholarship reduces the total to USD 23,760 to USD 20,760 (INR 22.64 Lakhs to INR 19.81 Lakhs). For Indian families, this translates to a post-aid cost of INR 19 to 22.64 Lakhs for the entire degree plus living expenses over one year.

Teaching and research assistantships are also available at USD 7,500 (INR 7.15 Lakhs) in exchange for 10 to 15 hours of monthly work in DePaul’s business center, innovation lab, or entrepreneurship club. International students are fully eligible for assistantships and many use them to cover health insurance costs or supplement living expenses.

Scholarship reality: Merit awards are non-renewable annually if you extend your program length beyond one year. Scholarship amounts do not increase in subsequent years; part-time students extending to two years receive the same one-year award spread across two years.

Also Check: DePaul Scholarships for International Students

DePaul University M.S. Entrepreneurship Salary

DePaul M.S. Entrepreneurship graduates reported median gross salary of USD 64,000 (INR 61.01 Lakhs) within 6 months of graduation. Roles include startup founder (typically unpaid in year one with equity compensation), product manager at venture-backed companies (USD 80,000 to USD 120,000 base plus equity), venture capital analyst (USD 60,000 to USD 80,000 base plus 20 percent bonus), and management consultant (USD 70,000 to USD 100,000). Overall placement rate is 91 percent within 6 months of graduation.

Top employers include Deloitte, JP Morgan Chase, Amazon, Google, and Microsoft, as well as early-stage startups in Chicago’s tech ecosystem and across major U.S. hubs. Salary varies significantly by role: founders earning equity report breakeven or losses in the first 18 months before revenue scales. Corporate innovation roles and venture roles show immediate salary, whereas startup founders prioritize equity stake and learning over current cash. Salary is calculated as gross income before federal income tax (20 to 24 percent), state income tax (3.75 percent in Illinois), and FICA (7.65 percent); net monthly income for a USD 64,000 salary is approximately USD 4,200 to USD 4,500 (INR 4.01 Lakhs to INR 4.29 Lakhs).

Source: DePaul Career Outcomes Report 2025

ROI reality: Total cost with scholarship (INR 22.64 Lakhs) is recouped in the first nine months of employment at the median salary; entrepreneur founders may take 24 to 36 months to reach profitability and comparable compensation.

Read More: USA Post-Study Work Visa and OPT Benefits

USA Visa Pathway for M.S. Entrepreneurship Students

Indian students qualify for the F-1 Student Visa to study in the USA. After graduation, students are automatically eligible for Optional Practical Training (OPT): 12 months of full-time work authorization, plus 24 months additional STEM extension (total 36 months). The M.S. Entrepreneurship program qualifies for the full STEM extension because it encompasses data-driven business analytics, technology strategy, and digital innovation components in the curriculum.

• F-1 visa processing from Indian consulates typically takes 4 to 6 weeks after document submission; expedited appointments can accelerate the timeline to 2 to 3 weeks.
• OPT allows work with any U.S. employer without visa sponsorship during the 12-month base period; H-1B sponsorship becomes available after OPT expires or during year two if the employer chooses early sponsorship.
• Spouse and dependent children may join on F-2 dependent visa but cannot work; they are included in student health insurance at an additional cost of USD 3,500 to USD 4,500 annually.
• Students may travel in and out of the USA freely during OPT, provided they maintain valid F-1 status and no employment gap exceeds 90 days.

Visa reality: 36 months of OPT provides a realistic pathway to work authorization and green-card sponsorship from the same employer; no immediate H-1B visa is required after graduation, reducing sponsorship burden on startup employers.

Also Check: USA F-1 Student Visa Requirements

DePaul University M.S. Entrepreneurship Ranking 2026

DePaul’s Master of Science in Entrepreneurship is ranked #10 nationally among U.S. graduate entrepreneurship programs by The Princeton Review (2026). The Driehaus College of Business holds AACSB accreditation, placing it in the top 5 percent of business schools globally. Subject-specific rankings are limited in the entrepreneurship discipline; however, QS World University Rankings (2026) places DePaul at #151 to #200 globally across all subject areas combined.

The M.S. Entrepreneurship program’s #10 national ranking reflects curriculum depth (12-course, 48-credit structure), strong industry partnerships (live case studies with Chicago-based founders and venture firms), and post-graduate placement metrics. DePaul’s graduate entrepreneurship program is consistently ranked in the top 20 nationally; the undergraduate program ranks at #15 globally by Princeton Review. Recognition comes from faculty expertise (many professors are serial entrepreneurs and angel investors), alumni startup success (graduates have founded over 150 companies), and employer feedback valuing the program’s practical, real-world curriculum.

Key insight: DePaul’s M.S. Entrepreneurship does not compete against MBA programs in rankings; it is evaluated as a specialized master’s degree in a dedicated discipline, which boosts its percentile standing in entrepreneurship specifically.

Check Out: DePaul University Ranking Comparison