Applying for Financial Aid
First-Year and Transfer Applicants
We want you to be eligible for as much financial aid as possible, and here are a few steps for getting there. It is critical that you complete both applications, regardless of what you think your eligibility may be.
Completing the Financial Aid Applications
Step One: Submit the CSS Profile – All Applicants
Drexel requires the CSS Profile in order to be considered for Drexel need-based grant funding. This electronic application is provided by the College Board and gives Drexel an overview of your family's finances. You can review detailed information about this process on Drexel Central's How to File the CSS Profile page.
Admission Type
|
CSS Profile Deadline
|
Early Action/Early Decision
|
November 15 |
Regular Decision
|
February 15 |
Winter Entry Program
|
October 8
|
Transfer
|
1 month prior to the start of the term
Please note: Transfer students starting in the spring need to submit the CSS Profile prior to February 15, the date the CSS Profile closes.
|
If you are from a Sanctioned Country (North Korea) you cannot complete the CSS Profile. Instead, you should submit the International Student Financial Aid Application (ISFAA) according to the CSS Profile deadlines. Please note that the 2023-2024 form will be available in late October. Visit Drexel Central's How to File the CSS Profile page for more information.
Step Two: Submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) – U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents
The FAFSA is used to determine your eligibility for federal and state grants, work-study, and federal loans. The 2023–2024 FAFSA can be completed online starting October 1, 2022. Visit Drexel Central's How to File the FAFSA page for more information about this application.
| Admission Type |
FAFSA (Priority Deadline)
|
Early Action, Early Decision and Regular Decision First-Year Admission Plans
|
February 15 |
Winter Entry Program
|
October 8
|
Transfer
|
No deadline (recommend filing as soon as you apply for admission) |
Exploring Scholarship Opportunities
Once your admission application has been received, you are automatically considered for Drexel merit scholarships; but there are also Drexel and private scholarship opportunities that you may be eligible for that may require additional steps. Learn more about scholarship and grants.
The Fostering Independence Tuition Waiver Program
The Fostering Independence Tuition Waiver Program provides eligible foster youth with a tuition waiver for up to five academic years or until they reach age 26. View more information about the Fostering Independence Tuition Waiver Program.
Learning About Drexel's Cost of Attendance
At Drexel, we want to make sure the cost of a Drexel education is clear and that every family fully understands and takes advantage of all the financial resources available.
So how much does an investment in a Drexel education cost? Take a look at the breakdown of the average first-year costs at Drexel.
Your First-Year Costs
During your first year at Drexel, you will attend classes for three quarters: fall, winter, and spring. The enrollment plan for transfer students may be different depending on their transfer credit evaluation. Below are the estimated costs of tuition, fees, and average room and board based on three quarters for the 2023–2024 academic year.
| Tuition |
$58,293 |
| Fees |
$2,405 |
| Room and Board |
$17,550 |
These numbers reflect the estimated cost of attendance prior to any financial aid being applied.
In the 2022–2023 academic year, Drexel offered financial support to 99% of its incoming first-year students, as well as to 97% of its transfer students entering in fall 2022 who were seeking to complete their first bachelor's degree and had not already earned a graduate/professional degree; the average scholarship and grant aid offered to first-year students was $34,053, and the average offered to fall transfer students was $31,199. These amounts include federal, state, and institutional aid.
Please note for ACE applicants: View the ACE Cost of Attendance page for information specific to the ACE program.
Your subsequent yearly costs will be determined by your enrollment for each term. If you are:
- Enrolled in classes – you will be billed for tuition, University fees, and possible room and board.
- Enrolled in co-op – you will not be billed for tuition, but you will be billed for University fees and possible room and board.
Your enrollment depends on which co-op option you choose as part of your academic curriculum. Watch our Understanding Co-op video below for more information.
Learn more about our co-op program
It's important to remember that there may be other costs to consider during your education. Some of these include books, which vary by program, a computer for personal use, transportation, and miscellaneous personal costs. These other costs are taken into consideration when Drexel reviews your financial aid eligibility.
We invite prospective full-time first year students and their parents to use the following calculator as they plan for college. The information you provide will generate an estimated award eligibility with the following limitations and caveats:
- The net price calculator is only intended for use by first-time undergraduate domestic students and their families. International students should not use this calculator.
- Estimates are based on 2022–2023 cost of attendance figures and student aid eligibility requirements. Future costs and financial aid estimates are subject to change.
- Estimates are not an indication of a student's admissibility.
Launch the Net Price Calculator
Viewing Your Financial Aid Status in Discover Drexel
Information during the entire financial aid process, including the status of your financial aid applications and a detailed list of any aid you may be offered, will be available via
Discover Drexel, in the Financial Aid tab. Discover Drexel will also provide you with information about additional financing options you may be able to utilize to cover any costs not covered by financial aid, such as the Direct Parent PLUS Loan, payment plans, and private education loans. Once you submit your admission application to Drexel, you will be provided with login credentials for Discover Drexel. Admitted students will receive information about the financial aid that is being offered to them at the time of admission.
You may notice a list of outstanding financial aid requirements in the Financial Aid tab of Discover Drexel. You should only begin completing these requirements after you have confirmed your enrollment with Drexel, unless Drexel Central advises you to complete one or more sooner.
Drexel University strives to offer the most comprehensive financial aid package possible based upon all of the information we receive about your family. However, we recognize that sometimes, even with a complete admission application, CSS Profile and FAFSA, we may not know the whole story. If, after reviewing your financial aid package, you still would like Drexel to consider your additional circumstances, you can submit an appeal for reconsideration. Visit the Financial Aid Appeals for Admitted and Confirmed Students page for more information.