College Intel
← Back to colleges

Drexel University

Private

Philadelphia, PA

Visit website ↗

Drexel University was founded in 1891 by financier and philanthropist Anthony J. Drexel as the Drexel Institute of Art, Science and Industry, notable for admitting students without restriction by religion, race, gender, or socioeconomic status. Drexel formalized its cooperative education program, which weaves multiple six-month, full-time work experiences into a degree, in 1919. It is classified as a global R1-level research university, and its affiliates include the Academy of Natural Sciences, the nation's oldest major natural science museum and research organization.

Admissions

Admit rate79%
SAT range1240–1440
ACT range27–32
Undergrads13,233
Yield (admits who enroll)10%
Next deadlineNov 15, 2026 (ED1)

Cost & outcomes

Cost of attendance$76,835
4-year grad rate78%
Median earnings, 10yr out$84,648

From the US Dept of Education College Scorecard, most recent year reported. Not every school reports every field.

Where do you stand against Drexel University's numbers?

Check your chances here

How Drexel University weighs your application

From Drexel University's own Common Data Set, 2024-25, Section C7 -- not a generic admissions checklist. What is a Common Data Set?

Academic factors
Rigor of secondary school recordVery important
Class rankVery important
Academic GPAVery important
Standardized test scoresVery important
Application essayImportant
RecommendationsImportant
Nonacademic factors
InterviewConsidered
Extracurricular activitiesConsidered
Talent/abilityConsidered
Character/personal qualitiesImportant
First generationConsidered
Alumni relation (legacy)Considered
Geographical residenceNot considered
State residencyNot considered
Religious affiliationNot considered
Volunteer workConsidered
Work experienceConsidered
Level of interest (demonstrated interest)Considered
BUILD YOUR FIT SCORESee how Drexel University actually weighs your profile, free, no account needed
See full profile -- financial aid, campus life, and what Drexel University weighs in your application

Paying it back

Undergrads taking federal loans49%
Loan balance still growing, 3yrs out77%

"Still growing" means a borrower's payments aren't yet covering interest 3 years into repayment -- not a default rate. A high number here can mean real repayment difficulty, or just a lot of grads who deferred for graduate school, so read it alongside the school's typical outcomes above.

Majors & earnings

Architecture and Related Services
Architecture$72,915/yr
Biological and Biomedical Sciences
Biology, General$72,197/yr
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services
Finance and Financial Management Services$121,832/yr
Construction Management$105,887/yr
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods$104,599/yr
Management Information Systems and Services$101,790/yr
Accounting and Related Services$100,317/yr
International Business$94,595/yr
Marketing$89,486/yr
Business/Commerce, General$86,878/yr
Business Administration, Management and Operations$84,040/yr
Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations$71,613/yr
Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication$66,750/yr
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services
Computer Science$113,610/yr
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management$101,488/yr
Information Science/Studies$98,548/yr
Education
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods$54,571/yr
Engineering
Computer Engineering$117,537/yr
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering$102,978/yr
Biomedical/Medical Engineering$101,362/yr
Chemical Engineering$99,338/yr
Materials Engineering$94,694/yr
Mechanical Engineering$93,638/yr
Architectural Engineering$85,839/yr
Civil Engineering$84,992/yr
Engineering Technologies and Engineering-Related Fields
Engineering Technologies/Technicians, General$97,379/yr
Health Professions and Related Programs
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing$100,646/yr
Health/Medical Preparatory Programs$95,081/yr
Public Health$72,736/yr
Health and Medical Administrative Services$65,999/yr
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions$54,395/yr
Legal Professions and Studies
Legal Professions and Studies, Other$93,811/yr
Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies$87,416/yr
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities$84,166/yr
Mathematics and Statistics
Mathematics$98,709/yr
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other$92,778/yr
International/Globalization Studies$72,375/yr
Natural Resources and Conservation
Natural Resources Conservation and Research$58,495/yr
Parks, Recreation, Leisure, and Fitness Studies
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness$58,488/yr
Personal and Culinary Services
Culinary Arts and Related Services$48,094/yr
Physical Sciences
Chemistry$82,185/yr
Psychology
Psychology, General$63,287/yr
Social Sciences
Economics$98,178/yr
Political Science and Government$66,756/yr
Criminology$58,751/yr
Visual and Performing Arts
Design and Applied Arts$66,294/yr
Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management$54,328/yr
Film/Video and Photographic Arts$42,980/yr

Median earnings 4 years after graduation, by major, from the US Dept of Education. Only shown where the school reports a real figure for that major -- most schools don't report every major they offer, especially smaller programs.

Campus life

On-campus housingYes
Required to live on campusNo
Dormitory capacity3,411
Typical room charge$10,629
Typical board charge$6,351

Room and board are shown separately from the cost of attendance above -- that total already includes them alongside tuition and fees, this just breaks out the living-cost portion.

What matters in your application

GPARequired
Class rankConsidered, not required
RecommendationsRequired

From this school's own reporting to the US Dept of Education on what it formally requires, considers, or doesn't use when reviewing applications.

Frequently asked questions

What does Drexel University look for in applicants?

Per Drexel University's own Common Data Set (Section C7), it rates rigor of secondary school record, class rank, academic GPA, standardized test scores as "very important" in admissions decisions -- its own stated top factors, not a generic guess.

What is Drexel University's acceptance rate?

Drexel University in Philadelphia, PA admits approximately 79% of applicants, based on the US Dept of Education's most recently reported figures.

What SAT score do I need for Drexel University?

Admitted students at Drexel University typically score between 1240–1440 on the SAT (25th–75th percentile).

What ACT score do I need for Drexel University?

Admitted students at Drexel University typically score between 27–32 on the ACT (25th–75th percentile).

How much does Drexel University cost?

Drexel University's total cost of attendance is reported at $76,835 per year, including tuition, fees, and room and board.

When is the application deadline for Drexel University?

Drexel University's earliest deadline is Nov 15, 2026 (ED1), per its own published admissions calendar.

Does Drexel University require students to live on campus?

No -- Drexel University doesn't require students to live in on-campus housing.

Comparing Drexel University against another school?

Open the comparison view