DeVry University is a private for-profit university headquartered in Lisle, Illinois, that now teaches almost entirely online. Its main federal record, DeVry University-Illinois, reported 31,296 students in fall 2024, 97% of undergraduates studying exclusively online. Its pros are flexible online programs for working adults, a long history in technology and business education, and HLC accreditation; its cons are a high net price, heavy borrowing, very low graduation rates and a $100 million FTC settlement over deceptive job-placement claims.
Below are the pros and cons in detail, with cost and outcome figures from the federal College Navigator database and regulatory history from the Federal Trade Commission, so you can judge whether DeVry is legit and a good school for you.
DeVry University at a Glance
- Type: private for-profit university; its graduate school is the Keller Graduate School of Management.
- Founded: 1931 in Chicago as the De Forest Training School, teaching projector and radio repair.
- Owner: Cogswell Education, which took over DeVry from Adtalem Global Education in December 2018.
- Enrollment (fall 2024, DeVry University-Illinois): 31,296 total, 28,046 undergraduate; 86% of undergraduates are 25 or older and 56% study part-time.
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 43 to 1.
Pros: What DeVry Does Well
- Flexible online study. 97% of undergraduates study exclusively online, and the majority attend part-time, so programs fit around a job.
- A focus on technology and business. DeVry grew out of electronics training and has offered bachelor’s degrees in technical fields since 1969; its Keller Graduate School of Management has offered MBAs for working adults since 1976.
- Stable tuition. College Navigator lists tuition and fees of $17,488 for three years running, and $17,408 for 2024-2025.
- Grant aid for most freshmen. In 2023-2024, 97% of full-time first-time students received grants or scholarships, averaging $7,810.
- Accredited. DeVry is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, so its degrees are recognised and eligible for federal aid.
Cons: What to Weigh Before You Enroll at DeVry
- A high net price. The average net price for full-time first-time students was $30,889 in 2023-2024, and it was $30,231 even for families earning up to $30,000.
- Heavy borrowing. 85% of full-time first-time students took out student loans in 2023-2024, averaging $7,521.
- Very low graduation rates. Of full-time first-time bachelor’s students who began in fall 2018, 12% graduated in four years and 18% in six. The overall graduation rate was 37%.
- A $100 million FTC settlement. In December 2016, DeVry and its parent company agreed to a $100 million settlement of an FTC lawsuit alleging they misled prospective students with ads claiming that 90 percent of graduates actively seeking employment landed jobs in their field within six months. The settlement included $49.4 million in cash for harmed students and $50.6 million in debt relief.
- Little instructor contact on paper. A 43 to 1 student-to-faculty ratio means classes are large relative to faculty.
What DeVry Costs
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition and fees, 2024-2025 | $17,408 |
| Total estimated cost living off campus (not with family), 2024-2025 | $43,792 |
| Average net price, 2023-2024 | $30,889 |
| Average grant for first-time students, 2023-2024 | $7,810 |
By income, the 2023-2024 net price ranged from $30,231 (up to $30,000) to $35,359 (over $110,000), so aid does little to reduce the price for lower-income students. Compare those figures with public online programs in your state.
Is DeVry a Good School? What the Numbers Say
DeVry is a legitimate, accredited university, and a working adult who needs a flexible online technology or business degree, and who has employer tuition help, may find it convenient.
The federal numbers are poor for first-time students: an 18% six-year bachelor’s rate for the fall 2018 cohort, 65% retention, an average net price above $30,000 and 85% borrowing. Combined with the FTC’s findings about its past job-placement advertising, most students should compare DeVry carefully with public and nonprofit online options.
Who Accredits DeVry, and Is It Legit?
DeVry University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. It first received full accreditation in 1981, and its Keller Graduate School of Management was the first for-profit school accredited by the North Central Association, in 1977. Because College Navigator’s record for DeVry University-Illinois points to the Department of Education’s accreditation database for current status, check DeVry’s standing directly at hlcommission.org before enrolling.
Who DeVry Suits, and Who Should Look Elsewhere
A good fit for: working adults with employer tuition assistance who need a flexible online program in technology, business or management and understand the outcome data.
Worth comparing alternatives if: you would pay mostly with loans, you are a recent high school graduate, or a public university offers the same degree online.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is DeVry accredited? Yes, by the Higher Learning Commission.
- Is DeVry a for-profit school? Yes. It is owned by Cogswell Education.
- What was the DeVry FTC settlement? A $100 million settlement in December 2016 over ads about graduates’ employment and earnings.
- Is DeVry online? Mostly. 97% of undergraduates study exclusively online.