Drexel University
#6 Highest-Paying Online MBA Programs- Graduation Rate
- 78% B+
- Solid completion rate — most students graduate
- Earnings (10yr)
- $84,648 A+
- Top 3% nationally — exceptional earning power
- Net Price
- $38,509 F
- 125% more than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 79% C
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 14.2× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $14.2 over 20 years. Ranked #6 in Highest-Paying Online MBA Programs.
Every $1 spent returns $14.2 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $2,032,628.
What The Data Says
-
A C+ overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
-
Graduates earn 108% more than the national college median.
-
A 78% graduation rate — 36% above the national average.
-
Every $1 invested returns $14.2 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Economic Footprint
- World Rank
- #190
- Times Higher Education
- Research Score
- 36/100
- Times Higher Education
Why Drexel University Matters
Drexel University is a private research university in Philadelphia, PA ranked #190 in the world by Times Higher Education, and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a top-tier research enterprise and a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduates whose earnings land in the top 3% of all U.S. colleges.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Private Research University
- Carnegie Class
- R1 · Very High Research
- Enrollment
- 13,233
- Setting
- Urban
- Primary Strengths
- Health Professions, Engineering, Business & Marketing, Visual & Performing Arts
Why students choose Drexel University
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Competitive — admits about 79% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 1240–1440. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $38,509 a year after grants and scholarships — 125% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $84,648 ten years after enrolling — 108% above the typical college, against $25,325 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Strong cross-class social capital — an economic-connectedness score of 1.82 (Opportunity Insights).
See mobility →Overview
With over 13,200 students, Drexel University is a great fit for those seeking a hands-on educational experience, particularly in fields like Engineering, Health Professions, and Business & Marketing. The university's acceptance rate of 79% suggests a welcoming environment, which can be reassuring for students looking for a place where they can thrive academically. Many students appreciate the strong focus on experiential learning, including co-op programs that allow them to gain real-world experience while they study.
After graduation, students from Drexel can expect impressive earning potential, with graduates reporting a median income of $84,648 ten years after completing their degree. This financial outcome is particularly appealing, given how many graduates find themselves in well-paying fields. Affordability is a significant factor too, with a net price of $38,509 after aid, making it accessible for many families. Although the Pell Grant rate sits at 27%, it reflects the university’s commitment to supporting students from diverse financial backgrounds.
When considering the practical aspects, Drexel’s median debt of $25,325 is relatively manageable, especially when balanced against the earning potential. Students who tend to thrive here are often those ready to engage fully in their education, taking advantage of the co-op experiences and networking opportunities available. This proactive approach can really pay off, leading to successful careers and a solid return on investment for their education.
Rankings
- #6 Highest-Paying Online MBA Programs
- #9 Best Online MBA Programs for Finance
- #15 Best MBA Programs for Healthcare Management
- #19 Best Engineering Colleges in Pennsylvania
- #20 Best Online MBA Programs
- #20 Best Online MBA Programs for Marketing
- #20 Best Online MBA Programs for Supply Chain
- #21 Best Online MBA Programs for Social Mobility
Can I Get In?
How selective Drexel University is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Drexel University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Drexel University admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 79%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,345. The graduation rate is roughly 78%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 79%
- Retention Rate
- 90%
- SAT Average
- 1345
- ACT Midpoint
- 29
- SAT Range
- 1240–1440
- ACT Range
- 27–32
- Full-Time Faculty
- 58%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $12,380
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 9:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.75
- First-Gen Students
- 29%
- Applicants
- 37,040
- Admitted
- 29,487
Inside the Admissions Office
School-reported Common Data Set · 2025-26
The acceptance rate tells you how hard Drexel University is to get into. Its Common Data Set tells you what happens once you are admitted: how many students say yes, how many arrived without test scores, and whether applying early tilts the odds. 7% of admitted students go on to enroll here, making it a school most admitted students ultimately pass on.
- Yield Rate
- 7%
- of admits enroll
- Submitted SAT
- 35%
- of enrolled freshmen
Test-optional, in practice. Only about 35% of enrolled freshmen submitted an SAT or ACT score, so a strong application without test scores is genuinely competitive here, not a long shot.
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Drexel University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Drexel University is $62,412, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $38,509. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $28,055 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $25,325 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $62,412
- Out-of-State
- $62,412
- Avg Net Price
- $38,509
- Median Debt
- $25,325
- Pell Grant Rate
- 27%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 49%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $28,055
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $29,435
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $34,970
- Family Income $110K+
- $48,089
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Drexel University — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Drexel University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Drexel University earn a median of $84,648, well above the national average for bachelor's degree holders.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $69,063
- 8 Years
- $79,235
- 10 Years
- $84,648
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.3x
- Earning > $25K
- 83%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (759)
- 26%
- 100% (759)
- 26%
- 100% (759)
- 26%
- 100% (759)
- 26%
How Drexel Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
College ROI Calculator
Is Drexel University Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Drexel University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $38,509/year ($154,036 total). Graduates earn $84,648 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $2,186,664 in total earnings — a net gain of $2,032,628 (14.2× your investment). The median debt is $25,325, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 78% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $154,036
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $2,186,664
- Net Return
- $2,032,628
- ROI Multiple
- 14.2×
- Cost Per Year
- $38,509
- Median Debt
- $25,325
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 78%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Research & Teaching
Data: Times Higher Education World University Rankings
How Research-Intensive Is Drexel University? World Rank, Teaching & Citations
Times Higher Education places Drexel University at #190 worldwide, a mark of serious research standing. Its profile spans a research score of 36/100, teaching at 45/100, and citation impact of 58/100, reflecting both the volume of research output and how often that work is cited by scholars elsewhere.
- World Rank
- #190
- Teaching
- 45
- Research
- 35.9
- Citations
- 58.2
- International
- 60.6
Innovation & Knowledge Creation
Patents, inventors, and research influence · Opportunity Insights & Times Higher Education
- Research Score
- 36/100
- Times Higher Ed
- Academic Influence
- 58/100
- Citation impact (THE)
- Industry Engagement
- 27/100
- Knowledge transfer (THE)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
Top Programs
The fields Drexel University awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Health Professions 18% $86,974 early-career
- Engineering 16% $85,310 early-career
- Business & Marketing 16% $82,387 early-career
- Visual & Performing Arts 11% $54,035 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 11% $89,627 early-career
- Biology & Biomedical 4% $42,420 early-career
- Psychology 3% $37,059 early-career
- Social Sciences 3% $77,692 early-career
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Drexel University's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPharmacist$136,030 · 3% growthResilient 82
- CPetroleum Engineer$135,690 · 2% growthResilient 72
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Drexel University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Drexel University admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 79%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,345. The graduation rate is roughly 78%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Drexel University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Drexel University is $62,412, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $38,509. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $28,055 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $25,325 in federal student loans.
Is Drexel University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Drexel University earn a median of $84,648, well above the national average for bachelor's degree holders.
How Connected Is Drexel University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Drexel University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.82, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 8% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
How Research-Intensive Is Drexel University? World Rank, Teaching & Citations
Times Higher Education places Drexel University at #190 worldwide, a mark of serious research standing. Its profile spans a research score of 36/100, teaching at 45/100, and citation impact of 58/100, reflecting both the volume of research output and how often that work is cited by scholars elsewhere.
Does Drexel University offer Early Decision?
No. Drexel University does not report a binding Early Decision plan (2025-26 Common Data Set).
Is Drexel University really test-optional?
In practice, yes. Only about 35% of enrolled first-year students submitted an SAT or ACT score, so a strong application without test scores is genuinely competitive at Drexel University (2025-26 Common Data Set).
What percentage of admitted students enroll at Drexel University?
About 7% of admitted students choose to enroll at Drexel University — its yield rate (2025-26 Common Data Set). Yield reflects how often a school wins when applicants weigh competing offers.
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Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Drexel University.
- Loyola University ChicagoChicago, IL · Close peer75% grad $71,530 earn 82% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar grad rate · similar size
- Rochester Institute of TechnologyRochester, NY · Close peer70% grad $76,571 earn 67% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Fordham UniversityBronx, NY · Close peer81% grad $85,569 earn 59% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Quinnipiac UniversityHamden, CT · Close peer77% grad $83,759 earn 72% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona BeachDaytona Beach, FL · Close peer67% grad $84,131 earn 65% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar net price
- DePaul UniversityChicago, IL · Close peer69% grad $68,751 earn 76% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar grad rate · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Drexel University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Drexel University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.82, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 8% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note