Drexel: the complete school report for parents

What does Drexel actually weigh in admissions?

Drexel rates 4 of the 18 factors "Very Important": course rigor, GPA, test scores, class rank. It does not consider 3 of them at all. Every college reports these weights in section C7 of its Common Data Set; below is Drexel's 2025-2026 answer, read from the grid in its own file.

What GPA do admitted students actually have?

55% of enrolled students had a 3.75 GPA or above. The average was 3.79 on a 4 scale, reported for 94.4% of the entering class. This is the school’s own distribution, not an estimate from its admit rate.

Is transferring in easier than applying as a freshman?

Drexel admitted 58.2% of 2,596 transfer applicants, against 69.9% of first-year applicants. The two routes are similarly competitive here. The minimum college GPA considered is 2.5.

When do we apply, and does timing change the odds?

Applying Early Decision changes the odds materially: 78.3% of ED applicants were admitted against 69.9% overall, a gap of 8 points. ED is binding, so that advantage costs the ability to compare financial-aid offers.

What will Drexel actually cost us?

Families pay an average of $38,509 a year at Drexel after grants and scholarships. The published price is not what most families pay. The university reports meeting 82% of demonstrated need on average. It also gave 485 merit awards averaging $24,665 to first-years with no demonstrated need.

, which the federal data puts at about $268 a month in repayment Drexel’s net price calculator gives your own figure.

Does a degree from Drexel pay off?

Graduates earn a median $84,648 ten years after entering, and $69,063 at six years. 88% out-earn a typical high school graduate within six years. 77% are actively paying down their loans three years in.

$119,954 to $47,318, depending on the major. Median earnings five years out at Drexel:

College Scorecard, by field of study; highest and lowest shown.

Will my child actually graduate?

89% of first-years return for a second year. 78% within six (Fall 2019 cohort). The rate holds up across income: 76.3% of Pell-grant recipients graduate within six years against 79.8% of everyone else, a gap of 3.5 points.

How big are the classes?

45% of class sections have fewer than 20 students, while 3% have 100 or more. The student-faculty ratio is 9:1, and 58% of faculty are full-time. Accredited by Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

What is life at Drexel like?

12,318 undergraduates, 44% of first-years from out of state. 75% of freshmen live in university housing, falling to 16% across all undergraduates. Greek life is small: 12% of men join a fraternity and 8% of women a sorority. 29% of students are the first in their family to attend college, and the median family income is $74,533.

What this means for your student

• Course rigor is rated Very Important here, so the senior-year schedule should hold its AP, IB or honors depth rather than lighten.
• 55% of enrolled students are at a 3.75 GPA or above, averaging 3.79. Below that line the rest of the application has to carry real weight.
• Drexel rates test scores Very Important, so a score at or above its middle-50 range is close to expected rather than optional.
• Its highest-earning major returns $119,954 five years out against $47,318 at the other end, a gap wider than the one between most schools.
• See where your student actually stands: calculate their GPA and compare it against the distribution above.

Common questions about Drexel

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