Acceptance Rate
79%
Avg. SAT
1440
75th percentile
“Drexel turns college into a launchpad with the nation's largest mandatory co-op program, blending classes and full-time jobs from day one.”
Philadelphia, PA
Location
Large City
Campus Setting
You arrive at Drexel in Philadelphia's bustling University City neighborhood, founded in 1891 by financier Anthony J. Drexel, who poured his fortune into creating practical education for working-class Philadelphians shut out of elite circles. Unlike ivory-tower institutions, Drexel skips the frills for hands-on training that mirrors real jobs, drawing students who crave resumes packed with experience over four years of lectures. You'll thrive here if you're pragmatic, deadline-driven, and unfazed by urban hustle—think future engineers tinkering in labs or business majors negotiating deals—but it won't suit dreamers seeking leafy quads or endless Greek life, as the co-op rhythm scatters you across the city (or country) for work stints, trading campus bonding for paychecks averaging $11,000 per term. Philly envelops you: historic cobblestones, cheesesteak stands, and Sixers games steps away, but expect the grit of SEPTA buses, occasional street noise, and navigating safer University City amid the city's broader challenges.
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Admissions
Acceptance Rate
Test Policy
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Average GPA
Application Fee
Academics
Student-Faculty Ratio
Programs Offered
Full-Time Faculty
Women Faculty
Research Spending
Available Online
Degree Levels Offered
In Drexel's classrooms, professors ditch dusty theory for project marathons and co-op prep, with a 9:1 student-faculty ratio ensuring your biomedical engineering schematic gets real feedback, not just a grade. You alternate five-month academic quarters with paid full-time gigs at places like Merck or Comcast, racking up 18 months of experience by graduation—far more than peers at traditional schools. Standouts include the LeBow College of Business for its deal-making simulations and the Westphal College of Media Arts & Design, where you design apps amid urban inspiration; research abounds in co-op labs, but tradeoffs hit hard: the quarter system feels relentless, weed-out courses in engineering claim casualties, and pure humanities seekers find slim pickings compared to nearby UPenn.
Student Body
Total Enrollment
13,309 undergrad • 7,844 grad
Undergraduate
Graduate
International
White
45%
Black / African American
10%
Hispanic / Latino
8%
Asian
19%
Other / Multi-racial
18%
Campus Life
Campus Setting
Philadelphia, PA
Varsity Athletics
NCAA Athletics
A typical Drexel week flips between quarter-packed classes, Dragon gym sessions, and co-op commutes, leaving weekends for Philly's Reading Terminal Market feasts or South Street bar hops with your diverse crew of 16,000 undergrads from 100+ countries. Campus buzzes with 300+ clubs—from robotics to urban gardening—but co-ops mean half the students vanish quarterly, diluting that constant rah-rah vibe; you'll live in high-rise dorms overlooking the Schuylkill River or off-campus amid rowhouses, fostering independence over house parties. Traditions like the annual DragonHoops mania and convocation bonfires add spark, yet the urban pulse brings tradeoffs: milder Northeast winters than Midwest slush, but SEPTA delays, nearby construction din, and a professional edge that quiets the wild-child scene.
Housing
On-Campus Housing
Housing Capacity
Meal Plan Available
Average Room & Board
Athletics
Athletic Association
Coastal Athletic Association
ROTC & Veteran Support
Army
Yes
Navy
Yes
Air Force
Yes
Veteran’s Programs Available
Yellow Ribbon Program (Post-9/11 GI Bill)
Yes
Credit for military training
Yes
Dedicated point of contact for veteran support services
Yes
Recognized student veteran organization
Yes
Member of DoD Voluntary Educational Partnership MOU
Yes
Cost & Aid
In-State Tuition
Out-of-State Tuition
Room & Board
Estimated Cost
Financial Aid
Students Receiving Aid
Receiving Pell Grants
Average Grant
Average Federal Loan
Net Annual Cost by Household Income
Household Income
Avg. Net Cost
$0 – $30K
$11,843
$30K – $48K
$14,724
$48K – $75K
$19,656
$75K – $110K
$25,062
$110K+
$31,912
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Outcomes & Earnings
Retention Rate
90%
4 Years Graduation Rate
43%
6 Years Graduation Rate
73%
Median 10-Year Earnings
$84,648
90% of first-time, full-time students complete their freshman year at Drexel University and return in the fall. 43% of first-time, full-time students graduate in 4 years, and 73% graduate within 6 years.
Graduation Rate
4-year grads
43%
4-5 years
30%
6-8 years
1%
Non-grad
26%
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Key Statistics
Type
Private
Tuition
$56,595
Acceptance
79%
Undergrads
13,309
4-Year Grad Rate
43%
Endowment
$843M
Philadelphia, PA 19104