About Drexel University

Drexel University is a private, nonsectarian coeducational university, founded in 1891 by financier and philanthropist Anthony J. Drexel.

Location

Drexel's 60-acre University City Main Campus is located in the University City district of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, about a 10-minute walk from Center City, Philadelphia's downtown neighborhood.

Drexel also has four auxiliary campuses:

  • Students in the College of Nursing and Health Professions and the School of Public Health attend class at our Center City Hahnemann Campus, located in the heart of the city.
  • The Drexel University College of Medicine is located at our Queen Lane Medical Campus in East Falls, a largely residential section of Philadelphia that's only 15 minutes from the attractions of Center City.
  • Drexel University in South Jersey, also known as Drexel at BCC, is located at Burlington County College in Mt. Laurel, New Jersey. This satellite campus primarily serves residents of southern New Jersey who are interested in pursuing a Drexel education close to home.
  • The Center for Graduate Studies in Sacramento, California, offers the opportunity to complete graduate coursework with a combination of classroom and online courses through our new site in downtown Sacramento.

Directions and Campus Maps

Student Enrollment

11,215 undergraduates
6,142 graduate and professional students

Geographic Distribution

Students come from 48 U.S. states and 95 foreign countries. Seven percent of undergraduates and 11 percent of graduate students are international students.

Faculty

Approximately 95 percent of Drexel's full-time faculty members hold a PhD or the highest degree in their field. Many of the Engineering faculty members are registered professional engineers. As a matter of policy, faculty members engaged in research and graduate teaching are also required to teach at the undergraduate level. Thus, the undergraduate student benefits from the research activities of the faculty. Specially selected faculty members serve as advisors for freshmen. The student to faculty ratio is 9 to 1.

Academic Programs

Academic Calendar: Quarter System

Undergraduate Programs: 73 full-time programs
Graduate Programs: 78 master's programs and 32 doctoral programs

Colleges and Schools:

  • Arts and Sciences
  • Business
  • Biomedical Engineering, Science, and Health Systems
  • Education
  • Engineering
  • Information Science and Technology
  • Law
  • Media Arts & Design
  • Medicine
  • Nursing and Health Professions
  • Pennoni Honors College
  • Public Health
  • Professional Studies

Degrees Granted: Bachelor's, Master's, Doctoral, Certificate, Post-Bachelor's Certificate, Post-Master's Certificate

Accreditation

Drexel University is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. In addition, Drexel programs are accredited by their respective top professional accreditation bodies, including the AACSB (Business), ABET (Engineering), ALA (Library Science), CEPH (Public Health), and NLNAC (Nursing).

Athletics

NCAA Division I, Colonial Athletic Association

Student Activities

Students can choose from more than 180 cultural, media, social, service, and professional organizations.

Residential Life

On-campus housing is guaranteed for freshmen. Eight residence halls offer suite-style and double-occupancy rooms. Learning communities give students the option of living with others who share their academic or professional interests.

Drexel Co-op

Providing undergraduate students with up to 18 months of professional experience before graduation, Drexel Co-op is one of the most extensive and well-respected co-op programs in the nation. Students work for nearly 1,300 companies in 29 states and 17 foreign countries. An average paid six-month co-op salary is $13,760.

Technology

In 1983 Drexel became the first university to require all entering students to have microcomputers. In 2000 Drexel became the first major university to operate a fully wireless campus, allowing students, faculty, and staff to access the Internet from indoors and outdoors, anywhere on the University’s main 60-acre campus. In 2002 Drexel launched the first mobile Web portal service for students, enabling them to access a range of information via virtually any Web-enabled handheld device, from anywhere in the world.

Study Abroad

Drexel University offers a variety of study, study-internship, and co-operative education programs in Asia, Europe, and Latin America. All Study Abroad programs (subject to departmental approval) are designed to fulfill a portion of degree or University requirements. Students must have good academic standing and go through an application process. For some programs, knowledge of a foreign language is required. Interested students should begin planning during their first year at Drexel.

Library Facilities

Drexel University has three libraries: W.W. Hagerty Library, located on the University City Main Campus; Hahnemann Library, located on the Center City Hahnemann Campus; and the Queen Lane Library, located on the Queen Lane Medical Campus. The collections emphasize subjects relevant to the University's disciplines, with print resources distributed to meet the needs of the programs and departments at each location. In addition, the Drexel University libraries' Web-based information system includes a wide range of electronic databases, electronic journals and books, and other resources.

Financial Aid

All accepted students are encouraged to file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by March 1.

  • Percentage of the entering class applying for financial assistance: 77%
  • Average financial assistance package offered: $21,000

Costs for Students Beginning in 2008–2009

Costs vary depending upon a student's academic program, associated fees, housing, and meal plan. All entering resident freshmen are required to live in residence halls and participate in the meal plan for three quarters.

  Three Co-op Option
(5 Years)		 One Co-op Option/
No Co-op Option (4 Years)
Tuition $28,500 $35,100
Fees $1,970 $1,970
Housing $7,275 $7,275
Meal Plan $4,860 $4,860

After Drexel

  • In the most recent academic year, 2,384 students received bachelor's degrees.
  • Of students who graduated in spring, 90 percent were either employed, in graduate school, or were in a
    service organization.
  • Of those who obtained full-time employment, 90 percent accepted a position related to their training at Drexel and 39 percent are working with a former co-op employer.
  • 58 percent of graduates plan to attend graduate or professional school within two years.