Drexel University

Key Highlights

• Private non-profit institution with strong academic tradition
• Located in a major metropolitan area with excellent opportunities
• Research-intensive with extensive graduate programs
• Diverse academic programs across multiple disciplines

Student Life & Environment

Campus life at Drexel reflects its urban location and co-op schedule. During any given term, a significant portion of the student body is away on co-op, creating fluctuating campus populations and social circles. This makes building sustained friendships challenging since roommates and classmates may have different co-op schedules. Students learn to maintain relationships across distances and during periods when their paths rarely cross on campus. Housing options include traditional residence halls for first-year students and apartment-style living for upperclassmen. Many students eventually move to off-campus apartments in the surrounding University City neighborhood, where housing stock includes everything from high-rise buildings to converted row houses. Greek life exists but does not dominate social scenes. About 10 percent of students participate in fraternities and sororities that provide community for members but do not define campus culture. Student organizations number over 300, covering academic interests, cultural groups, recreational activities, and professional development. The DAC (Drexel Athletic Center) provides recreation facilities, and Division I athletics give students teams to support in the Colonial Athletic Association. Basketball draws the most student interest, though the program competes in a league below major conferences.

Location & Surroundings

University City positions Drexel at the heart of Philadelphia academic and medical infrastructure. The campus sits directly adjacent to Penn, across the Schuylkill River from Center City, and surrounded by hospitals including Penn Medicine, Children Hospital of Philadelphia, and the VA Medical Center. This concentration creates internship, research, and employment opportunities that few locations can match. The neighborhood has changed dramatically over recent decades, with new restaurants, coffee shops, and retail replacing older commercial strips. 30th Street Station provides Amtrak access to New York, Washington, and beyond, while SEPTA regional rail connects to Philadelphia suburbs. The Market-Frankford elevated train stops at campus, making car-free living practical. Philadelphia offers major city amenities including professional sports, world-class museums, historic sites, and restaurant scenes that have improved markedly in recent years. The Reading Terminal Market provides an iconic food hall experience. South Street, Old City, and Rittenhouse Square neighborhoods offer different flavors of urban entertainment. Costs remain lower than New York, Boston, or Washington, making Philadelphia attractive for students on budgets. Weather brings genuine seasons with hot, humid summers and cold winters that include occasional significant snowfall.

Costs & Career Outcomes

Tuition and fees at Drexel approach 60,000 dollars annually, placing the university among the more expensive private institutions nationally. Five-year programs increase the total educational investment, though co-op earnings provide significant offset. Students typically earn between 15,000 and 25,000 dollars during each six-month co-op, with some technical fields paying considerably more. Over three co-ops, students may earn 60,000 to 100,000 dollars or more while gaining professional experience. Financial aid packages reduce stated costs for many families, with need-based aid and merit scholarships cutting net prices substantially below sticker. The university has faced criticism for high costs, though outcomes data shows graduates earning salaries that compare favorably to peer institutions. Career outcomes represent the core value proposition. The co-op program creates direct pipelines to employment, with many students receiving job offers from co-op employers before graduation. Career services support extends beyond co-op placement to include interview coaching, networking events, and alumni connections. Engineering, computing, and business graduates command strong starting salaries, often exceeding 70,000 dollars in technical fields. Health sciences programs feed graduates into the surrounding medical infrastructure. The alumni network of over 150,000 graduates maintains strong Philadelphia presence while extending nationally through co-op employer connections.

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