Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Drexel University #182 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $91,041, placing Drexel University in the 93.3 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, and Drexel University sits in the 97.2 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Drexel University #47 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. --- Students at Drexel University earn more than similar students at comparable institutions, a pattern that holds across the university's business, engineering, and technology programs and reflects Drexel's co-op model connecting graduates to employers before they finish their degrees. Median earnings four years after enrollment place Drexel University well above most private four-year institutions, with a return on investment ranking that reflects both strong graduate earnings and the university's Philadelphia labor-market reach.
Azimuth ranks Drexel University #182 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private university in Philadelphia, PA, Drexel University enrolls roughly 13,233 undergraduates. Retention stands at 89.5% and the six-year graduation rate is 78.2%, figures that reflect solid degree completion relative to the broader nonprofit four-year landscape. Where Drexel University performs strongest is return on investment. Azimuth ranks Drexel University #47 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $23,374 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Drexel University in the 97.2 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The university's degree output leans toward Business, and its cooperative education model channels students into employer relationships early, a pattern consistent with the strong early-career earnings the data reflects. Mobility sits in the 88.9 percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions for mobility, and affordability lands in the 5.1 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions — the latter shaped by private-university pricing that, even after aid, runs above many public alternatives. Access sits in the 72.3 percentile for access among nonprofit four-year institutions; Drexel University admits about 79.4% of applicants and enrolls 26.8% Pell-eligible and 29.2% first-generation students, a moderate access profile for a private research university of this size.
Drexel University's published cost of attendance is $76,835, but need-based aid reshapes what families actually pay. Low-income families see a net price of approximately $28,055, middle-income families pay around $34,970, and higher-income families pay approximately $48,089. Azimuth ranks Drexel University #1352 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. Drexel's aid structure draws on federal, state, and institutional sources, with need-based grants forming the core of most packages. The gap between sticker price and net price can be substantial for lower-income families, though the spread across income bands reflects the degree to which institutional aid is concentrated toward demonstrated need — families considering Drexel should review the net price illusion to understand how published costs compare with what most students pay. Families apply using the FAFSA and CSS Profile, and Drexel participates in federal and state grant programs alongside its institutional aid offerings. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $25,325, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $40,932; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $91,041, median federal debt of $25,325 projects to a monthly payment of about $286 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Drexel University is a strong fit for students drawn to business, engineering, and applied professional fields who want a private research university experience in Philadelphia, PA, with a co-op-oriented curriculum that connects directly to employer networks. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $91,041, placing Drexel University in the 93.3 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions — and earn about $23,374 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Drexel University in the 97.2 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. 26.8% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 29.2% are first-generation students, giving the institution meaningful access reach for a private university. Median student debt at graduation is $25,325, and higher-income families pay a net price of approximately $48,089 — figures that make Drexel most financially straightforward for families who can manage private-university costs or who qualify for strong need-based aid. Fit depends on two realistic filters: Drexel University admits about 79.4% of applicants, making it moderately selective, and its program mix centers on Business and applied professional fields — students whose interests align with those areas will find the strongest earnings trajectory and career-placement outcomes.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
Detailed metrics, charts, and full data breakdown
Financial GPS Tool
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This is the Drexel University hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Drexel University's published cost of attendance is $76,835, but need-based aid reshapes what families actually pay. Low-income families see a net price of approximately $28,055, middle-income families pay around $34,970, and higher-income families pay approximately $48,089.
Azimuth ranks Drexel University #1352 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.
Drexel's aid structure draws on federal, state, and institutional sources, with need-based grants forming the core of most packages. The gap between sticker price and net price can be substantial for lower-income families, though the spread across income bands reflects the degree to which institutional aid is concentrated toward demonstrated need — families considering Drexel should review the [net price illusion](/analysis/is-college-worth-it-part-1-the-net-price-illusion/) to understand how published costs compare with what most students pay.
Families apply using the FAFSA and CSS Profile, and Drexel participates in federal and state grant programs alongside its institutional aid offerings. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $25,325, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $40,932; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions.
For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $91,041, median federal debt of $25,325 projects to a monthly payment of about $286 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Computer Engineering
80 graduates
Computer Science
168 graduates
Construction Management
18 graduates
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods
206 graduates
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering
81 graduates
Drexel University's program mix is anchored in Business, engineering, and health-related fields — a portfolio shaped by the university's cooperative-education model and its location in Philadelphia's dense employer market. Business accounts for 25% of graduates, Engineering accounts for 17%, and Arts accounts for 9%, giving the institution a distinctly applied-professional orientation.
Across 57 programs serving roughly 3,786 students annually, 41 meet Azimuth's ranking threshold. Nursing is the program that combines the largest cohort scale with strong earnings, making it a central driver of the institution's overall financial profile.
The highest four-year earnings belong to Computer Science, where 168 graduates earn median earnings of $113,610 four years after enrollment — Azimuth ranks the program #137 nationally for median earnings four years after enrollment nonprofit four-year institutions. Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods follows with 206 graduates earning $104,599, and Azimuth ranks Biomedical/Medical Engineering #24 nationally for median earnings four years after enrollment nonprofit four-year institutions, with 100 graduates earning $101,362.
Among the largest programs by cohort, Nursing program graduates 581 students with median earnings of $100,646, and the The Accounting program graduates 299 students with median earnings of $100,317. Azimuth ranks Nursing #111 nationally for median earnings four years after enrollment nonprofit four-year institutions, [per the program-ranking methodology](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/).
Several of Drexel University's strongest programs are high-mobility pathways where graduates enter the workforce directly — particularly in engineering, computing, and business fields where Drexel's co-op structure gives students employer exposure before graduation. Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods, with 206 graduates earning $104,599, and Mechanical Engineering, with 184 graduates earning $93,638, represent applied fields where four-year earnings reflect real labor-market outcomes.
Health-related programs such as Design and Applied Arts (169 graduates, $66,294 in median earnings) may include a mix of direct-to-workforce and grad-school-dependent pathways depending on specialization. The [supply-demand map](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how these program families align with national wage trends and employer demand. ```
Graduates of Drexel University earn median earnings of $91,041 four years after enrollment, placing Drexel University in the 93.3 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. That figure sits above the $95,739 median at comparable institutions (same control and size band).
Graduates earn about $23,374 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Drexel University in the 97.2 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Drexel University #47 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
The earnings pattern reflects Drexel University's applied, professionally oriented degree mix. Business is the dominant program family, accounting for 25% of graduates, with Engineering at 17% and Arts at 9%.
Nursing combines strong enrollment with solid pay, anchoring the institution's aggregate return story. Azimuth ranks Nursing #111 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions [per the program-ranking methodology](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/), with 581 graduates earning median earnings of $100,646.
The Accounting program graduates 299 students with median earnings of $100,317, and Azimuth ranks Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods #12 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, with 206 graduates earning median earnings of $104,599. Mechanical Engineering and Design and Applied Arts round out the top earners, with 184 and 169 graduates earning median earnings of $93,638 and $66,294 respectively.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
New York University Similar quality tier in Northeast (#4285 ranked) | NY | 9% | $82,509 | #4285 | Compare |
Boston College Similar quality tier in Northeast (#4288 ranked) | MA | 16% | $103,937 | #4288 | Compare |
Brown University Similar quality tier in Northeast (#4271 ranked) | RI | 5% | $93,487 | #4271 | Compare |
Bentley University Similar quality tier in Northeast (#4302 ranked) | MA | 45% | $120,959 | #4302 | Compare |
Lehigh University Similar quality tier in Northeast (#4265 ranked) | PA | 26% | $105,584 | #4265 | Compare |
