Admit rate has ranged 77%–82% over the last 5 years. Source: IPEDS via Urban Institute.
Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.
DeSales University is a small, Catholic liberal arts school in Pennsylvania's Lehigh Valley that punches above its weight in health professions and business. Founded on the 'Salesian' philosophy—a positive, humanistic approach emphasizing kindness and personal growth—the campus culture is notably upbeat and supportive. Its defining feature is a pragmatic, career-focused education, particularly strong in nursing and pre-med tracks, delivered in small classes with a 12:1 student-faculty ratio.
Admission requirements
Test-optional — scores considered if submitted
Required
High school transcript
Grade point average
Letters of recommendation
College-prep program
TOEFL (non-native English)
Considered (not required)
Class rank
Test scores (SAT/ACT)
Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.
More details
Undergrad enrollment
2,128
In-state tuition
$46,800
Out-of-state tuition
$46,800
Application Fee
$0
Graduation Rate
72%
Most Popular Majors
Nursing, Business, Psychology
First-Year Retention
83.4%
Student-Faculty Ratio
12:1
Median Earnings (10yr)
$61,295
Outcomes & value
Outcomes & value
Median earnings (10 yr)
$61,295
Value (earnings ÷ net price)
1.9×
Median debt at graduation
$25,788
Graduation rate
72%
First-year retention
83%
Reducing loan balance (3 yr)
71%
Pell (lower-income) share
24%
First-gen share (among federal-aid recipients)
30%
Financial health
2.6 / 3.0Meets the federal financial-responsibility standard
U.S. Dept. of Education Financial Responsibility Composite Score (FY2022-23). Scale −1.0 to 3.0; ≥1.5 meets the standard. Reported for private nonprofit & for-profit institutions only — public universities are state-backed and not scored, so this is a stability signal, not a ranking.
Top-earning majors
Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing$66,852
Finance and Financial Management Services$58,673
Accounting and Related Services$51,392
Human Resources Management and Services$50,231
Marketing$47,260
Business Administration, Management and Operations
Campus & location
Campus safety
On-campus violent crimes (2024)
0
Per 1,000 students
0.00
On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.
Climate
Pleasant days / yr
93
Summer high
83°F
Winter low
27°F
Annual rain
48.7"
Annual snow
19.6"
Natural-hazard risk
Relatively Moderate
Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.
Deep dive — research, future-scholar output & economic mobility▾
Research output
Institutional h-index
43
Scholarly works
795
Institutional research volume and impact from OpenAlex. The h-index reflects large research universities and will be low for teaching-focused liberal-arts colleges — not a measure of undergraduate quality.
Economic mobility
Mobility rate
0.7%
Bottom → top quintile
19%
From bottom quintile
4%
Mobility rate = the share of students who both start in the bottom household-income quintile and reach the top quintile; bottom → top is that chance conditional on starting at the bottom. Source: Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Cards (Chetty, Friedman, Saez, Turner & Yagan). Reflects 1980–82 birth cohorts, so it’s directional, not current.
Quick answers
What is the acceptance rate at DeSales University?
DeSales University's acceptance rate is approximately 77% (Center Valley, PA), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.
What SAT score do you need for DeSales University?
Admitted students at DeSales University typically score 1090–1260 on the SAT (the middle-50% range). Scores outside this band are still admitted, especially with strong applications.
How much does DeSales University cost?
At DeSales University, the average net price (after aid) is about $31,643 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.
How many undergraduates attend DeSales University?
DeSales University enrolls approximately 2,128 undergraduate students.
Where is DeSales University located?
DeSales University is located in Center Valley, PA.
Admissions
DeSales operates with a moderately selective, accessible admissions process. The university is , meaning applicants are not required to submit SAT or ACT scores, and an admissions interview may be required for some candidates. The process is designed to be straightforward, with the university advising students to apply early in their senior year to avoid stress. There is no application fee. While the outlines factors considered in admissions, the specific weight given to demonstrated interest at DeSales is not detailed in the provided sources. The rate—the percentage of admitted students who enroll—is approximately 17%.
The academic experience at DeSales is defined by its tight focus and practical outcomes. The university offers 74 majors with a dominant tilt toward pre-professional fields. Health professions and related programs, along with business, management, and marketing, are the most popular academic tracks. Nursing is the single largest major, followed by business, psychology, biology, and health service preparatory studies. This focus is reflected in national recognition; DeSales ranks #296 among National Universities in the 2025 U.S. News & World Report list and receives specific acknowledgment for its Bachelor of Science in Nursing program.
Earnings = median of students working ~10 years after entry; debt = median of graduates. Value divides 10-yr earnings by one year’s net price — read it as earnings per dollar of annual cost, not a full lifetime ROI; it favors lower-cost schools. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~2 years and reflect all students, not your intended major.
$42,682
Biology, General$42,235
Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, Other$38,289
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings). Figures cover graduates who received federal aid and lag ~2 years; not all programs report data.
The 12:1 student-faculty ratio supports a personalized learning environment. The university reports a first-year retention rate of 83.4%, indicating students are generally satisfied and academically supported after their initial year. AP credit is accepted, allowing students to potentially accelerate their studies.
Life on the Center Valley campus is active and community-oriented, heavily influenced by the institution's Catholic, Salesian identity, which promotes a "positive, upbeat attitude." Nearly half (47%) of students live in college-owned, -operated, or -affiliated housing, while 53% live off-campus. The university fosters involvement through "tons of clubs and organizations," with a year-round calendar of events including concerts, standup comedy, lectures, and athletic events. Social life includes weekend frat and house parties, according to student reviews. The university's official Instagram presence showcases a campus life infused with this positive Salesian approach. Beyond social clubs, student life resources encompass fitness facilities, diverse dining options, spiritual support, and career development services.
DeSales produces solid graduation and career preparation results, particularly for a regional university. The four-year graduation rate for the 2018 cohort is reported at 71%, and the six-year rate is 70%. Another source places the overall graduation rate at 71%, ranking DeSales in the top 25% nationally for this metric. These figures underscore the institution's effectiveness in shepherding students to degree completion. The university also highlights exceptional outcomes for specific pre-professional tracks; for instance, it has achieved a 100% medical school for its post-baccalaureate pre-medical program students in consecutive years—a rate far exceeding the national average for all matriculants.
DeSales is a tuition-driven institution that utilizes financial aid extensively to make attendance feasible. A significant majority of students—over 70%—receive financial aid, with the average aid package reported at $39,597. The university offers various payment options, scholarships, and grants to help offset costs and encourages families to use its Calculator for estimation. It's important to note that DeSales utilizes federal loan programs as part of its aid packages; for example, Direct Unsubsidized Loans are available to students regardless of demonstrated financial need. The provided sources do not indicate that DeSales has a "no-loan" policy or commits to meeting 100% of demonstrated financial need solely with grant aid.
DeSales carves out a distinctive niche by fusing a specific spiritual ethos with relentlessly practical academics. It’s not just a Catholic university; it’s a Salesian one, built on the philosophy of St. Francis de Sales, which translates to a campus culture consciously geared toward optimism, kindness, and personal development—a "positive approach to life" that the university actively cultivates. This humanistic foundation supports a no-nonsense, career-launching curriculum. The school is essentially a pre-professional powerhouse in a liberal arts wrapper, with nursing and health sciences as its undisputed flagship. Its exceptional 100% medical school for its post-bac pre-med program is a telling data point, demonstrating an ability to deliver outsized results in high-stakes fields. For students seeking a supportive, close-knit environment that explicitly values character and provides a direct runway to in-demand professions—especially in healthcare—DeSales offers a compelling and focused alternative to larger, more impersonal institutions.
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