National university
#10 Best colleges in the Philadelphia areaDrexel University
Philadelphia, PA · Private nonprofit · 4-year
Your real cost
Average price after aid $38,509 a year
Median debt at graduation: $25,325 (all students)
Estimate your own price · the college’s net price calculator
Campus tour
Briana’s Drexel Campus Tour · From the college’s official YouTube channel. Plays from YouTube when you tap it.
Rankings
Where this college places on our top lists. Lists are worked out from official data and our own research; places in the top quarter of each list are shown. See every list
In America
- Best colleges for criminal justice in America#43 of 1,046
- Best colleges for exercise science and kinesiology in America#67 of 950
- Best colleges for accounting in America#88 of 1,132
- Best colleges for nursing in America#84 of 1,068
- Best colleges for marketing in America#73 of 834
- Best colleges for business in America#149 of 1,563
Show 21 more
- Best colleges for education in America#135 of 1,318
- Best colleges for communications and journalism in America#127 of 1,238
- Best colleges for finance in America#79 of 744
- Colleges with the highest graduation rates in America#225 of 1,829
- Best colleges in America#227 of 1,829
- Best colleges for psychology in America#179 of 1,418
- Best test-optional colleges in America#197 of 1,481
- Best colleges for biology and pre-med in America#182 of 1,358
- Best colleges for English in America#173 of 1,283
- Best colleges for history in America#179 of 1,247
- Best colleges for art and design in America#172 of 1,187
- Colleges with the most faculty per student in America#105 of 704
- Best colleges for mathematics in America#184 of 1,215
- Best colleges for chemistry in America#183 of 1,162
- Best colleges for political science and pre-law in America#178 of 1,116
- Best colleges for computer science in America#129 of 750
- Best colleges for engineering in America#139 of 749
- Colleges that spend the most on teaching in America#134 of 704
- Best colleges for economics in America#176 of 788
- Best large colleges in America#60 of 256
- Best colleges in the Philadelphia area#10 of 41
In Pennsylvania
- Best colleges for criminal justice in Pennsylvania#6 of 82
- Best colleges for nursing in Pennsylvania#5 of 68
- Best colleges for exercise science and kinesiology in Pennsylvania#5 of 56
- Best colleges for accounting in Pennsylvania#9 of 80
- Best colleges for business in Pennsylvania#13 of 108
- Best colleges for communications and journalism in Pennsylvania#11 of 90
Show 18 more
- Best colleges for education in Pennsylvania#12 of 85
- Colleges with the most faculty per student in Pennsylvania#9 of 62
- Best colleges for marketing in Pennsylvania#9 of 60
- Best colleges in Pennsylvania#18 of 118
- Best colleges for finance in Pennsylvania#9 of 58
- Best test-optional colleges in Pennsylvania#18 of 113
- Best colleges for psychology in Pennsylvania#17 of 105
- Best colleges for biology and pre-med in Pennsylvania#17 of 98
- Colleges that spend the most on teaching in Pennsylvania#11 of 62
- Colleges with the highest graduation rates in Pennsylvania#21 of 118
- Best colleges for English in Pennsylvania#16 of 87
- Best colleges for engineering in Pennsylvania#11 of 57
- Best colleges for history in Pennsylvania#17 of 80
- Best colleges for political science and pre-law in Pennsylvania#17 of 80
- Best colleges for chemistry in Pennsylvania#17 of 77
- Best colleges for mathematics in Pennsylvania#17 of 77
- Colleges that pay for themselves fastest in Pennsylvania#12 of 54
- Best colleges for art and design in Pennsylvania#17 of 74
Academic Excellence
Each measure counts for the share shown.
- Graduation rate 35% of scoreThis measure counts for 35% of the Academic Excellence score.78%
- First-year retention 20% of scoreThis measure counts for 20% of the Academic Excellence score.90%
- Entering students' test scores 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.SAT 1,345 · ACT 29.5
- Student-to-faculty ratio 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.9 to 1
- Instructional spending per student 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.$22,377
Bars show points on each measure’s scale. How Academic Excellence is computed.
Source: College Scorecard (College Scorecard, most recent cohorts (data release 06/10/2026))
What families pay, by income
Average yearly price after grants and scholarships, for students who receive federal aid.
| Family income | Price after aid |
|---|---|
| Up to $30,000 | |
| $30,001–$48,000 | |
| $48,001–$75,000 | |
| $75,001–$110,000 | |
| Over $110,000 |
Full cost of attendance before aid: $76,835 a year.
Use the college’s net price calculator for your own estimate.
Cost and value
Federal data: what families pay after aid, what graduates earn, and what they owe.
| Undergraduate students Fall enrollment (IPEDS) | 13,589 |
|---|---|
| Men and women College Scorecard, fall 2023 | Men 51% · Women 49% |
| First-generation students College Scorecard | 29% |
| First-year students from another state IPEDS, fall 2023 | 48% |
| Total students | 21,703 |
| Average net price (per year) After grants and scholarships, for students receiving federal aid | $38,509 |
| Cost of attendance (per year) | $76,835 |
| Median federal debt at graduation | $25,325 |
| Graduation rate First-time, full-time students finishing within 150% of normal time | 78% |
| Graduation rate for Pell grant recipients College Scorecard, within 6 years | 60% |
| Graduation rate for first-generation students College Scorecard, within 6 years | 58% |
| Borrowers paying down their loans within 3 years College Scorecard, within 3 years | 77% |
| First-year retention | 90% |
| Median earnings 10 years after entry | $84,648 |
| Admission rate | 79% |
| Application fee IPEDS, 2023–24 | $50 |
| Typical rent HUD fair market rent, FY2026 | About $1,520 a month for a one-bedroom |
| Students receiving Pell grants | 27% |
| Average SAT | 1345 |
|---|---|
| SAT reading & writing | 620–700 |
| SAT math | 620–740 |
| ACT composite | 27–32 |
| Test policy | Considered but not required |
Value: Solid (how it’s computed)
Sources: College Scorecard · IPEDS College Navigator · Net price calculator
College Scorecard, most recent cohorts (data release 06/10/2026); IPEDS 2024-25 directory and institutional characteristics; fall 2023 enrollment.
Earnings by major
Median earnings of bachelor’s graduates a few years after finishing, by major (College Scorecard).
| Major | Median earnings |
|---|---|
| Finance | |
| Computer engineering | |
| Computer science | |
| Construction Management | |
| Management science | |
| Electrical engineering | |
| Management information systems | |
| Information technology | |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | |
| Nursing | |
| Accounting | |
| Chemical Engineering | |
| Mathematics | |
| Information science | |
| Economics | |
| Engineering Technologies/Technicians | |
| Pre-health | |
| Materials Engineering | |
| International business | |
| Other legal professions and studies | |
| Mechanical engineering | |
| Interdisciplinary studies | |
| Marketing | |
| Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies | |
| Business (general) | |
| Architectural Engineering | |
| Civil engineering | |
| Liberal arts | |
| Business administration | |
| Chemistry | |
| Architecture | |
| Public health | |
| Global studies | |
| Biology | |
| Entrepreneurship | |
| Political science | |
| Public relations | |
| Design | |
| Health administration | |
| Psychology | |
| Criminology | |
| Natural resources and conservation | |
| Kinesiology and exercise science | |
| Teacher education | |
| Counseling and mental health | |
| Arts management | |
| Culinary arts | |
| Film and video |
Also offered (no earnings published yet): Allied health, Anthropology, Architectural History, Criticism, and Conservation, Audiovisual Communications Technologies/Technicians, Broadcasting, Computing and information science, Criminal justice, Dance, Data Analytics, Data Science, Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services, East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, Electromechanical Engineering, Engineering (general), English, Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering, Experimental psychology, Fine arts, Geology and earth science, German, Graphic communications, History, Hospitality management, Leisure and Recreational Activities, Medical assisting, Middle/Near Eastern and Semitic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, Nutrition Sciences, Other communication, journalism, and related programs, Other english language and literature/letters, Philosophy, Physics, Real Estate, Romance languages, Secondary education, Sociology, Software and media applications, Theatre, Visual and performing arts.
What students study most
Share of bachelor’s degrees by field, first majors in 2023–24 (IPEDS).
| Field | Share of degrees |
|---|---|
| Engineering | |
| Health professions | |
| Business | |
| Computer and information sciences | |
| Visual and performing arts |
Campus life
| School colors | |
|---|---|
| Setting | City |
| Part-time undergraduates | 7% |
| Undergraduates aged 25 and older | 7% |
| On-campus room and board (per year) | $18,096 |
| Sports | NCAA Division I · Colonial Athletic Association |
| ROTC | Army · Navy · Air Force |
| Study abroad | Offered |
| Students per faculty member | 9 to 1 |
| Undergraduates registered with the disability office | About 10%IPEDS, 2023–24 |
| Disability services | Visit the office’s pageThe college’s own page |
| Faculty who are full-time | 58%College Scorecard, fall 2023 |
| Endowment per student | $51,497IPEDS, 2023, per student |
| Dorm space | For about 25% of studentsBeds per undergraduate; not who lives on campus |
| Nearest airport with airline service | Philadelphia International Airport (PHL)About 6 miles away · about 20 minutes by car |
| Town population | 1,579,706Census, 2020–2024 |
| Nearest city of 250,000 people or more | PhiladelphiaAbout 5 miles away · about 15 minutes by car |
| Typical weather | 35°F in January · 80°F in JulyNOAA, 1991–2020, from Phila Franklin Inst, PA |
Federal data (IPEDS and College Scorecard), except school colors.
Campus safety reports
On-campus crimes reported in 2024, per 1,000 students.
| Category | This campus | U.S. rate |
|---|---|---|
| Rape | 0.08 | 0.07 |
| Robbery | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Aggravated assault | 0.00 | 0.04 |
| Burglary | 0.05 | 0.08 |
| Motor vehicle theft | 0.22 | 0.15 |
Numbers reflect what each campus reported. They differ with campus size and how reporting is done, so compare with care. U.S. rate: total reported offenses divided by total students at every institution in the report.
Questions families ask
- What is Drexel University’s Compass Score?
- Excellent (grade A-). It ranks in the top 13% of rated colleges. The grade comes from outcomes (40%: graduation, retention and earnings), entering students (40%: test scores and selectivity), cost (15%: debt and price after aid) and teaching (5%: class size), all from federal data.
- How much does Drexel University cost after financial aid?
- The average net price is $38,509 a year for students who receive federal aid, after grants and scholarships. What your family pays depends on income; the college’s net price calculator gives your own estimate.
- How hard is it to get into Drexel University?
- Drexel University admitted 79% of applicants in the most recent federal data.
- How do Drexel University’s graduates do?
- 78% of first-time, full-time students graduate within six years; the median earnings of former students ten years after entry are $84,648; the median federal debt at graduation is $25,325.
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About this school’s data
- IPEDS unit ID 212054
- Carnegie classification: Doctoral university (very high research)
- Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education (U.S. Department of Education DAPIP)
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