Undergraduate Co-op Salary Guide
The Drexel Co-op program is competitive for employers and students. Employers should consider the salary guide below as a starting point when making offers of employment to Drexel Co-op students. Employers should also consider their potential competitors in the recruiting process, additional employment benefits, transportation requirements, etc.
The salary information in the tables below reflects combined data from students in the four year and five year co-op programs. These salaries are based on the median hourly rate of paid co-op experiences from the 2021–2022 academic year. Unpaid experiences and experiences receiving only stipends are not included in the data analysis.
Although salaries do fluctuate with current market conditions, the figures below provide a general idea of what students in Drexel programs are paid. The three categories represent the 25th percentile, the 50th percentile, and the 75th percentile of co-op salaries. For example, the 25th percentile indicates the 25% of students in paid experiences make less than the listed amount. Seventy-five percent of students make more than the amount listed in the 25th percentile.
Students should also consider the competitive nature of the co-op program when reviewing co-op opportunities. Co-op salaries, much like career salaries, are driven by the industry and market needs. While the vast majority of co-op positions are paid, some students enter into unpaid co-op arrangements based on the quality of the work experience and/or its ability to best fit the student's interests. In some circumstances, co-ops may be unpaid because of industry standards. For example, co-op positions in the fields of research and the creative arts are typically unpaid. While the salary guide below is a guideline for gross hourly rate, it does not constitute a guarantee of co-op income.
Lastly, employers and students should be aware that the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and related state and local
statutes may govern the relationship between
employers and co-op students (including minimum wage and overtime). Depending on the compensation and location of the job, it is encouraged that organizations consider offering incentives such as stipends, housing and relocation assistance, transportation assistance, or industry-specific opportunities in order to attract the best candidates. Employers are encouraged
to review the Department of Labor Fact Sheet Regarding Unpaid Interns and Students to determine whether its provisions are relevant to the circumstances of their co-op positions.
Drexel University Median Hourly Co-op Earnings By Major
| Major |
25th Percentile |
Median |
75th Percentile |
| Biological Sciences |
$12.35 |
$15.00 |
$18.00 |
| Chemistry |
$17.00 |
$20.00 |
$21.00 |
| Communication |
$15.00 |
$18.50 |
$20.00 |
| Criminology and Justice Studies |
$16.00 |
$18.00 |
$18.00 |
| English |
$11.00 |
$13.75 |
$17.00 |
| Environmental Science |
$14.00 |
$15.00 |
$16.31 |
| Environmental Studies and Sustainability |
$15.00 |
$16.31 |
$18.00 |
| General Hum & Soc Science |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
| Geoscience |
$15.00 |
$15.00 |
$16.00 |
| Global Studies |
$15.00 |
$16.00 |
$18.00 |
| History |
$14.25 |
$15.00 |
$15.48 |
| Mathematics |
$20.00 |
$23.76 |
$29.00 |
| Philosophy |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
| Philosophy, Politics & Econ |
$12.50 |
$17.00 |
$18.00 |
| Physics |
$15.00 |
$19.00 |
$26.00 |
| Political Science |
$13.50 |
$15.00 |
$17.75 |
| Psychology |
$12.75 |
$15.00 |
$17.00 |
| Sociology |
$13.25 |
$15.00 |
$16.00 |
| Total |
$14.00 |
$15.10 |
$20.00 |
*Less than 50% of co-op positions in this program were paid.
| Major |
25th Percentile |
Median |
75th Percentile |
| Biomedical Engineering |
$18.50 |
$20.00 |
$24.00 |
| Major |
25th Percentile |
Median |
75th Percentile |
| Accounting |
$19.25 |
$21.00 |
$26.00 |
| Behavioral Econ, Busn & Orgns |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
| Business Analytics |
$19.00 |
$21.00 |
$25.00 |
| Business and Engineering |
$18.50 |
$20.00 |
$23.00 |
| Business Undeclared |
$15.00 |
$18.00 |
$19.00 |
| Economic Analysis |
$17.00 |
$18.50 |
$25.00 |
| Economics |
$18.00 |
$20.00 |
$22.70 |
| Economics and Business |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
| Esport Business |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
| Finance |
$19.00 |
$20.00 |
$23.00 |
| General Business |
$16.25 |
$19.00 |
$20.00 |
| International Business |
$15.00 |
$19.00 |
$20.00 |
| Legal Studies |
$18.00 |
$19.00 |
$21.00 |
| Management Information Systems |
$19.00 |
$21.00 |
$25.00 |
| Marketing |
$16.00 |
$19.00 |
$20.00 |
| Operations and Supply Chain Management |
$18.00 |
$20.65 |
$23.53 |
| Organizational Management |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
| Real Estate Management & Development |
$15.00 |
$16.50 |
$20.00 |
| Sport Business |
$12.00 |
$16.75 |
$18.00 |
| Sport Management |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
| Technology Innovation Management |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
| Total |
$18.00 |
$20.00 |
$22.00 |
| Major |
25th Percentile |
Median |
75th Percentile |
| Computer Science |
$21.00 |
$25.00 |
$31.00 |
| Computing & Info Sci Undecl |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
| Computing and Security Technology |
$19.00 |
$23.00 |
$25.00 |
| Data Science |
$21.38 |
$24.00 |
$25.50 |
| Information Systems |
$19.00 |
$20.38 |
$25.00 |
| Software Engineering |
$21.00 |
$25.00 |
$33.00 |
| Total |
$20.00 |
$25.00 |
$30.00 |
| Major |
25th Percentile |
Median |
75th Percentile |
| Elementary Education |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
| Teacher Education |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
| Total |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
| Major |
25th Percentile |
Median |
75th Percentile |
| Architectural Engineering |
$18.00 |
$20.00 |
$22.00 |
| Chemical Engineering |
$20.00 |
$22.00 |
$25.00 |
| Civil Engineering |
$18.00 |
$19.50 |
$21.58 |
| Computer Engineering |
$20.00 |
$24.00 |
$27.00 |
| Construction Management |
$19.00 |
$20.00 |
$23.00 |
| Electrical Engineering |
$20.50 |
$22.75 |
$25.25 |
| Engineering |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
| Engineering Technology |
$19.00 |
$20.00 |
$22.50 |
| Engineering Undeclared |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
| Environmental Engineering |
$16.33 |
$18.00 |
$20.00 |
| Materials Science and Engineering |
$18.00 |
$20.00 |
$24.00 |
| Mechanical Engineering |
$18.13 |
$20.00 |
$23.00 |
| Total |
$18.50 |
$21.00 |
$23.90 |
| Major |
25th Percentile |
Median |
75th Percentile |
| Entrepreurship and Innovation |
$15.00 |
$17.50 |
$19.32 |
| Total |
$15.00 |
$17.50 |
$19.32 |
*Less than 50% of co-op positions in this program were paid.
| Major |
25th Percentile |
Median |
75th Percentile |
| Custom-Designed Major |
$14.50 |
$16.50 |
$19.00 |
| Total |
$14.50 |
$16.50 |
$19.00 |
| Major |
25th Percentile |
Median |
75th Percentile |
| Animation and Visual Effects* |
$15.00 |
$15.24 |
$19.00 |
| Architectural Studies |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
| Art History |
$12.00 |
$12.00 |
$17.00 |
| Dance |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
| Design and Merchandising* |
$12.50 |
$15.00 |
$18.00 |
| Entertainment and Arts Management* |
$15.00 |
$15.00 |
$15.00 |
| Fashion Design* |
$12.00 |
$12.00 |
$15.00 |
| Film and Television* |
$14.00 |
$15.00 |
$15.10 |
| Game Design and Production* |
$14.00 |
$17.00 |
$23.72 |
| Graphic Design |
$15.00 |
$16.00 |
$19.00 |
| Interior Design |
$15.38 |
$17.00 |
$18.00 |
| Music Industry* |
$15.00 |
$15.00 |
$17.00 |
| Photography* |
$15.00 |
$16.00 |
$17.75 |
| Product Design |
$15.00 |
$15.00 |
$19.00 |
| Screenwriting and Playwriting* |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
| User Experience & Interact Design |
$16.00 |
$19.00 |
$20.00 |
| VR and Immersive Media Design |
$19.00 |
$20.00 |
$20.00 |
| Total |
$15.00 |
$15.00 |
$19.00 |
*Less than 50% of co-op positions in this program were paid.
| Major |
25th Percentile |
Median |
75th Percentile |
| Behavioral Health Counseling* |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
| Culinary Arts and Science |
$14.00 |
$15.00 |
$20.00 |
| Health Sciences |
$11.63 |
$12.35 |
$15.00 |
| Health Services Adminstration |
$12.50 |
$15.00 |
$18.00 |
| Hospitality Management |
$13.50 |
$15.00 |
$16.50 |
| Nursing |
$14.00 |
$14.00 |
$14.05 |
| Nutrition and Foods* |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
| Total |
$12.50 |
$14.00 |
$15.00 |
*Less than 50% of co-op positions in this program were paid.
| Major |
25th Percentile |
Median |
75th Percentile |
| General Studies |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
| Total |
$13.50 |
$15.30 |
$18.00 |
*Less than 50% of co-op positions in this program were paid. Students who participate in the First-Year Exploratory Studies program complete their co-op experiences through the college or school in which they declare their major at the end of their freshman year.
| Major |
25th Percentile |
Median |
75th Percentile |
| Public Health |
$12.00 |
$15.50 |
$20.00 |
| Total |
$12.00 |
$15.50 |
$20.00 |