Exploring Philadelphia
Drexel University's home of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is the birthplace of America and the world's first Heritage City.
Drexel's College of Computing & Informatics (CCI) sits in West Philadelphia in a neighborhood called University City — appropriately named because both Drexel’s University City campus and the University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) campus are both located here. A plethora of modern and historic buildings, diverse residents, workers and college students all coexist in an inclusive American culture within this area — which is well-reflective of the environment at Drexel University.
University City consists of many Drexel academic buildings, but the University also has campuses around Philadelphia, including Queen Lane and Center City — the heart of the city of Philadelphia. All campuses are accessible via the Drexel shuttle, which is free for Drexel students, faculty and professional staff. Students may also use Philadelphia's public transporation system known as Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA), which consists of a subway, buses, trolleys and trains that provide regional transportation to Philadelphia suburbs.
The Greater Philadelphia area is easily accessible by air and rail, as well as places along the Eastern seaboard such as the New Jersey beach, the Pocono Mountains, New York City, and Washington, DC (all approximately two to three hours away by car).
Read more about living in Philadelphia on Drexel University's website
Housing for Drexel CCI Students
Communities around Drexel’s campus are densely packed with affiliate and off-campus housing. We encourage students to investigate all options to learn more about pricing, location and amenities.
Some possible housing options are listed below for your convenience. Please keep in mind that the resources mentioned below are not official recommendations by Drexel CCI, but rather a compiled list of housing options:
For additional information regarding housing, please refer to the ISSS Pre-Arrival Handbook.
Weather in Philadelphia
Philadelphia experiences a variety of weather conditions. From sun to snow, Philly has it all! Summers in Philadelphia are usually warm and humid. The winter can be cloudy, cold, wet and snowy. The fall and spring bring moderate temperatures and vibrant colors to the city. The average temperature in Philadelphia varies from 26°F (-3.33°C) to 87°F (30.56°C), and rarely drops below 13°F (-10.56°C) or above 94°F (34.44°C). The summer heat lasts for roughly three-and-a-half months, starting around the end of May to mid-September, with an average daily high temperature of 77°F (25°C). The hottest day of the year is July 21, with an average high of 87°F (30.56°C) and low of 70°F (20.11°C). Winter lasts for roughly three months, from December 2 to March 7, with an average daily high temperature below 49°F (9.44°C). The coldest day of the year is January 30, with an average low of 26°F (-3.33°C) and high of 40°F (4.44°C). It rains throughout the year in Philadelphia, with the most rainfall occurring during the 31 days centered around July 27 and accumulating to an average of 3.8 inches. The snowy period of the year generally lasts for around four months, from November 22 to March 28, with a sliding 31-day liquid-equivalent snowfall of at least 0.1 inches. The most snow falls during the 31 days centered around January 25, with an average total liquid-equivalent accumulation of 0.7 inches.
Public Safety Information
All U.S. universities are obligated by law to collect and disclose crime statistics in and around their campuses. Because of Drexel's location in University City and its status as a college town and central commerce district, Drexel's campuses have a standing security force and police force that has reciprocity with the University of Pennsylvania police, the City of Philadelphia police, and various US government agencies such as the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and Homeland Security. Drexel offers students several options to help them stay safe both on and off campus, such as walking escorts, shuttles, and safety workshops.
For additional information regarding campus security, please refer to the ISSS Pre-Arrival Handbook or Drexel’s Campus Safety website.
Transportation
SEPTA: An abbreviation for "Southeastern Pennsylvania Transit Authority," SEPTA includes all subways, trains, buses, and trolleys that transport Philadelphia residents across the city and to neighboring suburbs:
- Market-Frankford Line: The Market-Frankford Line (commonly known as the Blue Line, the MFL or "El" because of its elevated rails) runs east from the Frankford Transportation Center to 69th Street, including two stops near Drexel's University City Campus. This line also stops at City Hall, where travelers can transfer to the Broad Street Line, another Philadelphia subway line.
- Broad Street Line: The Broad Street Line follows Broad Street from Fern Rock Station (north) to AT&T Station (south), where you'll find the stadium complex and Philadelphia's renowned sports teams including the Eagles, Phillies, and Flyers.
- SEPTA Trolleys: Several green trolley lines run across Drexel's campus, including stops on both 33rd and 30th streets. You may ride them south to Center City and 13th Street, or north to the 40th Street Trolley Portal, where they divide into longer routes.
- SEPTA Buses: SEPTA buses run across Philadelphia, but there are numerous routes that are suitable for Drexel's campus — look for the 21, 30, 31, 42, and LUCY Loop buses, with more routes accessible from 30th Street Station.
- Regional Rail: Regional Rail serves neighboring suburbs with stops at 30th Street Station, University City (near Penn Hospital), Suburban Station, and Jefferson Station. Every 30 minutes, the Airport line runs to and from Center City.
PATCO: Since 1969, PATCO has provided fast, reliable transportation that connects riders to the region. With 13 stations to serve you, from Lindenwold, New Jersey through Center City, Philadelphia, you'll easily get to where you need to go. Discover all PATCO has to offer!
Indego Bikeshare: Indego, Philadelphia's bike-share program, provides 24-hour, 30-day, and yearly pass options for riding one of the city's hundreds of bright blue bicycles and white, electric-assist bicycles, which are located at over 140 stations across the city and are accessible 24/7, 365 days a year. The sites of the stations are chosen based on their closeness to community services, job areas, bike and transit infrastructure, community groups, and public feedback. A touchscreen kiosk with a map of the service region is available at many stations. You may check out a bike via the smartphone app or at a dock using an Indego Key.
Dragon Shuttle: Drexel University provides free transportation across its three campuses: University City Campus, Center City Campus (via the Dragon Shuttle) and the Queen Lane Campus. The bus service includes three fixed routes (Powelton/Spring Garden, Dragon and Queen Lane) and operates Monday through Friday. Students, faculty and professional staff are permitted unlimited use of this service at no charge. Upon boarding a bus, all students, faculty and professional staff are required to present a valid Drexel University ID to the driver.
Student Health & Wellness
- Mental Health Counseling: Students needing emotional support are encouraged to take advantage of the free, confidential and culturally-responsive counseling available through Drexel's Counseling Center.
- Drexel's Student Health Center provides a range of health services in a confidential environment staffed by doctors and nurse practitioners.
- The Office of Health Insurance and Immunizations provides important information regarding compliance with Drexel's health insurance and immunization policies in order to ensure the health and well-being of all members of the Drexel community.
- Pharmacies: There are several chain pharmacies in the University City neighborhood, as well as various hospitals within a few blocks of CCI to service students. Drexel has a dispensary for students; however, most students choose to receive care through one of the city's Drexel student health insurance providers.
- Disability Resources empowers individuals who have documented disabilities by working together to proactively provide reasonable accommodations.
- The Center for Autism and Neurodiversity (CAN) provides robust support for Drexel's neurodiverse students and aims to ensure that CAN participants take advantage of University life, develop the academic and social skills needed to pursue career opportunities, and lead full and enriched lives.
- Recreation Center: the state-of-the-art Drexel Recreation Center is the fitness hub in University City open to all. Undergraduate students' membership is included in tuition fees, while graduate students may purchase membership at a reduced rate.