🗓️ How Drexel’s Co-op Calendar Changes the Money Math
Drexel runs on quarters, and most majors build in co-op: six months of full-time work on the four-year track, or 18 months on the five-year track. Here’s the part that matters for your budget. Tuition is only billed in terms when your student is taking classes, and Drexel says the five-year co-op track costs the same total tuition as four years. Scholarships follow the same rule, so they pause during co-op too. University fees and Drexel housing (if your student keeps it) still get billed during co-op terms.
🏆 Full tuition for Philadelphia students with financial need (Liberty Scholars)
Average Net Price
$42,801/year
Average paid.
Automatic Merit
$10,000 to $35,000/yr
No separate application.
Scholarships Tracked
14 opportunities
1 automatic · 5 competitive · 8 hidden gem
Merit Evaluation
Holistic Review / Varies
Merit depends on profile rigor.
Testing Policy
Test-optional
Superscores ACT/SAT.
Key Deadlines
Priority: Nov 15 • FAFSA: Feb 1
Full-Tuition / Full-Ride
Liberty Scholars (Philadelphia residents with need)
Honors College
Honors Program Available
Financial Aid Forms
FAFSA & CSS Profile
🚨 Easy-to-Miss “Gotchas” at Drexel (Read This First)
Early Action gets you the early merit floor without the Early Decision commitment. Students admitted ED or EA get $20,000–$35,000 a year in merit. Regular Decision drops the floor to $10,000. Both early plans close Nov 15.
The CSS Profile is the only door to Drexel’s own need-based grant. The FAFSA alone won’t get a first-year student considered. It’s due Nov 25 for ED and EA, and Drexel says skipping it can affect the admission decision for students who asked for aid.
Drexel’s advertised “net tuition price” leaves out housing. The roughly $26,400 figure on Drexel’s site is tuition only. The federal all-in average is closer to $42,800 a year.
Test-optional really means test-optional, including for money. Drexel says in writing that skipping test scores doesn’t affect merit eligibility.
Named scholarships usually swap money, they don’t add it. Awards from Drexel’s AcademicWorks portal typically reduce or replace your student’s Drexel Grant.
FAQ
Is this college test-optional? Yes, for admission. Drexel University is test-optional for admission.
What is the middle 50% ACT/SAT? ACT: 28-33; SAT: 1260-1430.
Average net price? About $42,801/year after aid.
Does this school use waivers/reciprocity?
No. It is a private school, so everyone pays the same rate.
💰 Cost of Attendance at Drexel University: 2026–2027 Rates
Figures verified against official sources in October 2026.
📅 Planning for 2027–2028? These are the 2026–2027 rates, the newest Drexel University has published. Colleges usually release next year's costs in the spring, and we update this page when they do.
Budgeting tip: costs typically rise 2% to 5% a year. For 2027–2028, plan on roughly $1,700 to $4,200 more than the total below.
✔ Same price for every student, no matter which state you live in.
All students: billed cost per year
$84,846
Tuition, fees, housing, and meals for two semesters
Tuition & mandatory fees
$65,448
Housing & meals (typical)
$19,398
Total billed cost
$84,846
Average federal net price: $42,801 per year.
This is what first-time, full-time students who received grant aid paid after grants and scholarships, based on the most recent federal data. It counts books and living costs, so it can run higher than the billed total above. Families who got no grants are not in this average, so many middle-income families pay more. New to Net Price & SAI? Read our guide.
One Price for Everyone, but Some State Money Travels
Drexel is private, so a family from Ohio pays the same tuition as a family from Philadelphia. There’s no out-of-state discount to hunt for. Some state grant programs do follow students to Drexel, though: Drexel lists Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Ohio, Rhode Island, Vermont, and West Virginia. Pennsylvania families can use the PA State Grant (not during co-op terms) and the new Grow PA grant of up to $5,000 a year, which comes with a commitment to live and work in Pennsylvania after graduation. See our Pennsylvania aid guide for details.
FAQ: Cost of Attendance at Drexel University
What does a first year at Drexel actually cost in 2026–2027?
The billed costs are tuition of $63,078, fees of $2,370, and about $19,398 for on-campus housing and food. That comes to roughly $84,800 before any aid. Drexel’s full cost-of-attendance estimate, which adds books, a computer, transportation, and personal expenses, is $88,156.
Why does Drexel show a net price around $26,400 when federal data says about $42,800?
They measure different things. Drexel’s number is tuition minus average aid, with housing and food left out. The federal figure counts everything a family pays after grants and scholarships. For budgeting, the federal number is the more honest starting point.
Do we pay tuition while our student is on co-op?
No. Tuition is only billed during class terms. You’ll still see university fees, and Drexel housing and meals if your student keeps them during co-op. Scholarships also pause during co-op, so plan around the class terms, not the calendar year.
Does the five-year co-op program cost more than four years?
Not in tuition. Drexel says the total tuition on the five-year, three-co-op track is the same as the four-year programs. What does stretch out is living costs, since your student is spread over five years instead of four. Co-op paychecks often help cover that.
How much of a family’s need does Drexel actually meet?
For first-year students in fall 2025 who qualified for need-based aid, Drexel met about 82% of need on average, according to its Common Data Set. Only about one in three of those students had their need fully met. Run the Net Price Calculator early and expect some gap.
Does tuition stay the same all four (or five) years?
Plan on increases. Drexel’s tuition went from $61,842 in 2025–2026 to $63,078 in 2026–2027, about 2%. Merit is usually set when your student is admitted, so the gap you cover can grow a little each year.
Nov 15: Complete ED or EA application. This locks in the higher $20,000 merit floor and unlocks the scholarship supplementals in Discover Drexel.
Nov 18–25: Liberty Scholars (ED), CSS Profile (ED and EA), FIRST Robotics, Tuition Exchange, Howley, Maguire, and Dragon Alumni recommendations for early applicants.
Jan 15: Regular Decision application due (merit floor drops to $10,000).
Feb 1: CSS Profile for RD, FAFSA priority date for everyone, and most RD scholarship supplementals.
Parent rule of thumb: if Drexel is on the list at all, aim for Nov 15 and Nov 25. Early Action is non-binding, and it’s where the better merit range lives.
Automatic Merit Scholarships at Drexel University
Drexel has one automatic award: the Drexel Merit Scholarship. Every admitted first-year is reviewed for it during the admission read, with no separate application. There’s no published GPA or test chart, so the amount comes from the whole application. When to apply matters most. ED and EA admits get $20,000–$35,000 a year. Regular Decision admits get $10,000–$35,000.
Find your student's tier
Enter the numbers you have. We'll highlight the automatic award your student would actually get and tuck the rest out of the way. Leave it blank to browse everything.
Residency
Based on published cutoffs for entering freshmen. Always verify with the college before finalizing plans.
Start with your state. The awards in this first group come from the state, not the college. They are decided by residency and the FAFSA, and they stack on top of whatever automatic merit award the college gives below. If you live out of state, use the toggle above and these will step aside.
State AidAutomaticstate residencyneed based
Pennsylvania State Grant
📅 Deadline: FAFSA and State Grant Form by May 1 ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
$6,000/yr
✔ Stackable
Pennsylvania resident with financial need; FAFSA plus the PA State Grant Form by May 1 for four-year schools; no GPA or test score; amount from PHEAA's need formula, 2026-27 maximum $6,000
✚
Stacking & Combining
Pennsylvania's main need grant, up to $6,000 a year in 2026-27 for the lowest-income families, less as income rises. Stacks with Pell and with every college award. Part-time enrollment cuts the award. Renew with a FAFSA by May 1 every year.
💡
Strategic Detail
State program, not a Drexel University award. Rules and amounts are set by the state and can change with each budget. Full details on the CollegeReadyParent PA page.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Need-based students who got both the FAFSA and the separate State Grant Form in by May 1. The second form is the miss: it is a PHEAA document, not a FAFSA step, and first-time applicants who skip it get nothing even with a perfect FAFSA.
State AidApp Requiredstate residencyservice
Grow PA Scholarship Grant
📅 Deadline: PHEAA application; 2026-27 window ran to Jan 7, 2027; next window not announced ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
$5,000/yr
✔ Stackable
Pennsylvania resident, at least half time in one of 460-plus eligible in-demand programs, no bachelor's degree yet; no income test; separate PHEAA application; signs a promissory note
✚
Stacking & Combining
Up to $5,000 a year for up to four years in an in-demand major, with a string attached: finish the degree and work in Pennsylvania in an in-demand field for as many years as you received the grant, or it converts to a loan. Stacks with the State Grant and college aid. First-come by application date.
💡
Strategic Detail
State program, not a Drexel University award. Rules and amounts are set by the state and can change with each budget. Full details on the CollegeReadyParent PA page.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students in nursing, education, engineering, trades, and the other listed fields who are sure they will stay in Pennsylvania after graduation. For anyone who might move, this is a loan with a nice name; the conversion is automatic and comes with interest.
State AidApp Requiredstate residencyneed based
Ready to Succeed Scholarship
📅 Deadline: No separate application; FAFSA and State Grant Form early ✓ Renews (2.5 GPA, 3 yrs)
$500–$2,500/yr
✔ Stackable
🏫 2.5+ GPAPennsylvania resident; 2.5 cumulative GPA and 24 completed credits, so it starts sophomore year; family income under the state cap (PHEAA lists $200,000; some college pages still show $175,000); nominated by participating colleges from the FAFSA and State Grant Form, in order of completion date
✚
Stacking & Combining
A merit-plus-need award that kicks in after freshman year: with the PA State Grant it tops out at $2,500 a year full time, $1,250 part time, minimum $500. For middle-income families above the State Grant range this is often the only state money. Stacks with college aid. First-come by FAFSA date.
💡
Strategic Detail
State program, not a Drexel University award. Rules and amounts are set by the state and can change with each budget. Full details on the CollegeReadyParent PA page.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Sophomores and up with a 2.5 whose families earn too much for the State Grant but under the cap, and who filed early. It is nominated by the college, not applied for, so the families who never hear about it are the ones who assumed state aid was only for low income.
One award, not a pile. Colleges apply your student's single best automatic award. Automatic scholarships almost never stack with each other, though some stack with housing, departmental, or outside money. The stacking notes on each card tell you which.
Automatic
Drexel Merit Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Nov 15. Applying Early Decision or Early Action raises the floor to $20,000 per year. ✓ Renews
$10,000–$35,000/yr
✔ Stackable
First-year and transfer applicants, domestic and international. Not available to students seeking a second bachelor's degree. Transfers who receive The Drexel Promise are not considered for merit.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Merit sits inside the overall aid package alongside a need-based Drexel Grant, federal and state aid, and outside scholarships, up to Drexel's cost of attendance. Transfer students who receive The Drexel Promise cannot also receive merit.
💡
Strategic Detail
Every first-year applicant is reviewed for merit automatically during the admission read. For students entering in fall 2027, Drexel publishes a range of $20,000 to $35,000 per year for Early Decision and Early Action admits, and $10,000 to $35,000 per year for Regular Decision. There is no published GPA or test score grid, and Drexel says going test-optional does not affect merit eligibility. The award applies only to terms when your student is in classes. Co-op terms carry no tuition charge and no scholarship. Drexel's current page lists full-time enrollment as the renewal requirement; older versions also listed a 2.0 cumulative GPA, so check the award letter for the exact terms.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Every admitted first-year gets reviewed, so the real question is where in the range your student lands. Students near the top of Drexel's admitted profile (about a 3.79 average GPA, SAT 1260 to 1430 and ACT 28 to 33 among those who submit) and those who apply by the Nov 15 early deadline see the strongest offers.
Data last verified Oct 2, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.
Note: Drexel considers your student’s highest section scores across test dates for both the SAT and ACT. Choosing test-optional does not affect merit eligibility. Merit is applied only during class terms, not co-op terms.
Automatic Merit FAQs (Drexel University)
How much is the Drexel Merit Scholarship?
For students starting in fall 2027, Drexel publishes $20,000–$35,000 a year for Early Decision and Early Action admits and $10,000–$35,000 for Regular Decision admits. Transfer awards are decided case by case.
Is there a GPA or test score chart that guarantees a certain amount?
No. Drexel doesn’t publish one. The admissions committee sets the amount when it admits your student. Students near the top of Drexel’s admitted profile (about a 3.79 average GPA, SAT 1260–1430, ACT 28–33 among those who submit) tend to see the stronger offers.
Does Early Decision get more merit than Early Action?
Not on paper. Both early plans carry the same published range. If your student isn’t ready to commit, Early Action by Nov 15 gets the same $20,000 floor without the binding agreement.
Will applying test-optional hurt my student’s merit?
Drexel says no. Choosing test-optional doesn’t affect financial aid eligibility, including merit. Only about 39% of Drexel’s fall 2025 first-years submitted scores. Send them only if they help.
Does merit renew, and what happens during co-op?
It renews for your student’s undergraduate program as long as they stay full-time. It’s applied only during class terms. Co-op terms have no tuition and no scholarship. Drexel’s current page doesn’t list a GPA requirement, but older versions said 2.0, so read the renewal terms in your award letter.
Can merit be combined with need-based aid?
Yes. Merit is packaged with a Drexel Grant (if you file the CSS Profile and qualify), federal and state aid, and outside scholarships, up to Drexel’s cost of attendance. The one exception is transfers on The Drexel Promise, who can’t also receive merit.
Drexel doesn’t run a big, open-to-everyone essay competition for a full ride. Its competitive awards depend mostly on who your student is connected to: their city, their high school, a parent’s employer, or a robotics team. If one of these fits your family, it can be serious money. If none do, Drexel Merit is where most families’ scholarship dollars will come from.
✅ Quick Check: Does Your Student Qualify?
Award
Who It’s For
Supplemental Due
Liberty Scholars
Philadelphia residents with financial need
Nov 18 (ED) / Feb 1 (EA, RD)
Howley College Scholars
Howley Foundation partner high schools, Pell-eligible
Nov 25 (ED, EA) / Feb 1 (RD)
Maguire Scholars
Maguire Foundation partner high schools
Nov 25 (ED, EA) / Feb 1 (RD)
Tuition Exchange
A parent works at a Tuition Exchange member college
Nov 25 (ED, EA) / Feb 1 (RD)
FIRST Robotics
Current or former FIRST team members, any major
Nov 25 (ED, EA) / Feb 1 (RD)
All of these supplementals live in the Discover Drexel portal under the Enrichment & Scholarship Applications tab. That tab only shows up after the admission application is submitted, so don’t wait until deadline week to send the main application.
Full TuitionApp Requiredgeographicneed based
Liberty Scholars Program
📅 Deadline: Nov 18 for Early Decision applicants. ✓ Renews
Full Tuition
tuition_and_fees
✘ Not stackable
⚠ Philadelphia residents with demonstrated financial need only.
New first-year applicants with a home address in the city of Philadelphia and demonstrated financial need, applying to a full-time, on-campus program in any major.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Drexel says federal and Pennsylvania state aid can be used for the costs Liberty does not cover. Drexel does not say whether merit or the Drexel Grant layer on top; confirm in the award letter.
📄
How to Apply
Submit the admission application (Nov 15 for ED or EA, Jan 15 for RD). Then complete the Liberty Scholars supplemental and 500-word essay in the Discover Drexel portal under the Enrichment & Scholarship Applications tab, plus the CSS Profile and FAFSA by your plan's deadlines. Finalists interview.
Selection criteria: Combines academic record, essay strength, demonstrated financial need, and interview performance; the finalist interview is a decisive stage.
✎ Essays🎤 Interview🌟 Finalist Event
💡
Strategic Detail
Liberty Scholars covers 100% of tuition and general university fees for Philadelphia students with financial need. It renews for class terms as long as your student stays full-time and meets the program participation requirements each year. It does not cover housing, dining, textbooks, health insurance, study abroad fees, or major-specific program fees; federal and Pennsylvania state aid can help with those. Finalists are invited to an interview held during business hours.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Philadelphia students with real financial need who turn in every piece on time: admission application, Liberty application with the 500-word essay, CSS Profile, and FAFSA. Grades get you in the door; the essay and interview decide it.
App Requiredpipelineneed based
Howley College Scholars Program
📅 Deadline: Nov 25 ✓ Renews
$30,000
✘ Not stackable
⚠ Howley Foundation partner high schools; must be Pell-eligible.
First-year, fall-start applicants who attend a Howley Foundation partner high school.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Drexel does not publish stacking rules for this award; check the award letter.
📄
How to Apply
Submit the admission application by your plan deadline, then the Howley Scholars supplemental in Discover Drexel under the Enrichment & Scholarship Applications tab.
💡
Strategic Detail
A partnership between Drexel and the Howley Foundation for students from the foundation's partner high schools. Drexel lists the award as $30,000 and renewable; confirm in the award letter whether that is an annual figure. Renewal comes with strings: a five-year co-op program in one of the majors named in the agreement, meeting with a Drexel liaison every term, steady progress toward graduation, filing the FAFSA every year and staying Pell-eligible, and living on campus for the first two years.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students already in the Howley Foundation pipeline at a partner high school who qualify for a Pell Grant and are ready to commit to a five-year co-op major.
App Requiredpipeline
Maguire Scholars College Program
📅 Deadline: Nov 25 ✓ Renews (3 GPA)
Varies
✘ Not stackable
⚠ Maguire Foundation partner high schools only.
First-year, fall-start applicants who attend a Maguire Foundation partner high school.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Drexel does not publish stacking rules for this award; check the award letter.
📄
How to Apply
Submit the admission application by your plan deadline, then the Maguire Scholars supplemental in Discover Drexel under the Enrichment & Scholarship Applications tab.
💡
Strategic Detail
Offered with the Maguire Foundation to students from its partner high schools. Drexel lists the amount as varying. It applies only during class terms and renews with a 3.0 cumulative GPA, full-time enrollment, involvement in extracurriculars or community service at Drexel, and participation in Maguire Scholar events.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students already connected to the Maguire Foundation through a partner high school who can hold a 3.0 and stay involved on campus.
App Requiredaffiliationemployment
Tuition Exchange Program Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Nov 25 ✓ Renews
$45,000/yr
✘ Not stackable
⚠ Parent must work at a Tuition Exchange member institution.
First-year, fall-start applicants with a parent affiliated with a Tuition Exchange member college or university.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Drexel says federal and state aid can still apply. It does not say whether merit or the Drexel Grant stack on top; confirm in the award letter.
📄
How to Apply
Submit the Drexel admission application by your plan deadline, and have the eligible parent submit the Tuition Exchange application through their HR office by Drexel's TEP deadline.
Selection criteria: TEP applications ranked against network-wide allocation; strong admission profile and timely submission drive selection.
💡
Strategic Detail
If a parent works at a college that belongs to the Tuition Exchange network, your student can be nominated for a tuition award at Drexel. Drexel's scholarships page lists $45,000 for 2027–2028, while its separate Tuition Exchange page still shows $44,000 for 2026–2027. It is tuition-only, applies during class terms, and renews with full-time enrollment. Students who get it can still receive federal and state aid for other costs.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Children of benefits-eligible employees at TEP member colleges who get the paperwork in early. Eligibility is certified by the parent's employer, so start with that HR office in early fall.
App Requiredfirst robotics
FIRST Robotics Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Nov 25 ✓ Renews
$8,000/yr
✘ Not stackable
⚠ Requires prior or current FIRST Robotics participation.
First-year applicants to any major who are current or former FIRST participants.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Drexel does not publish stacking rules for this award; check the award letter.
📄
How to Apply
Submit the admission application by your plan deadline, then the FIRST Robotics supplemental in Discover Drexel under the Enrichment & Scholarship Applications tab.
Selection criteria: Verification of FIRST participation plus admission decision; not competitively scored beyond meeting eligibility criteria and submitting the supplemental on time.
💡
Strategic Detail
Drexel gives $8,000 per year to admitted first-year students in any major who have taken part in FIRST robotics (FLL, FTC, or FRC). It applies during class terms and renews with full-time enrollment. The short supplemental unlocks in Discover Drexel after the admission application is in.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Any admitted first-year with FIRST on their activity list who files the supplemental on time. Major does not matter.
Data last verified Oct 2, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.
❓ Flagship / Competitive Scholarship FAQs
What does Liberty Scholars cover, and what doesn’t it?
It covers 100% of tuition and general university fees for Philadelphia students with financial need. It doesn’t cover housing, dining, textbooks, health insurance, study abroad fees, or major-specific fees. Federal and Pennsylvania state aid can help with those. Your student needs a Philadelphia home address, the Liberty application with a 500-word essay, the CSS Profile, and the FAFSA. Finalists interview.
Does my student have to study engineering to get the FIRST Robotics Scholarship?
No. Any major qualifies. If FIRST is on your student’s activity list, the $8,000-a-year award comes down to filing the supplemental by Nov 25 (ED or EA) or Feb 1 (RD).
How much is Tuition Exchange worth at Drexel?
Drexel’s scholarships page lists $45,000 for 2027–2028. Its separate Tuition Exchange page still shows $44,000 for 2026–2027. The application goes through the parent’s HR office, not your student. Drexel’s pages also disagree on the Early Action deadline (Nov 25 vs. Feb 1), so treat Nov 25 as the real date.
How do I know if my student’s high school is a Howley or Maguire partner?
Ask the school counselor. These programs run through the foundations’ partner schools, so families in them usually hear about it at school. The Howley award also requires Pell eligibility and a five-year co-op major.
Do these awards stack with Drexel Merit?
Drexel doesn’t publish stacking rules for these competitive awards. Assume they may adjust other Drexel aid and read the award letter closely. Federal and state aid still apply on top.
Most of Drexel’s extra money doesn’t come from a big scholarship search. It comes from a few small steps families skip.
File the CSS Profile on time (Nov 25 for ED and EA). It’s the only way into Drexel’s need-based grant.
Line up a Drexel alum to fill out the Dragon Alumni recommendation by Nov 25. Any graduate works, not just a parent.
Submit a portfolio if Westphal is even your second choice. No portfolio means no Westphal scholarship.
Transfers: finish the associate degree before enrolling. The Drexel Promise pays half of tuition.
Parent translation: these steps take an afternoon. Skipping them can cost thousands a year.
💎 Hidden Gem Scholarships
These awards don’t make the brochure, but they can make Drexel more affordable. Some depend on a form, an audition, or a portfolio. A few are just for transfers. One (AcademicWorks) looks like extra money but usually isn’t.
App Requiredneed based
Drexel Grant (Need-Based)
📅 Deadline: Nov 25 for early applicants. ✓ Renews
Varies
✔ Stackable
First-year and full-time on-campus transfer applicants, domestic or international, who file the CSS Profile. Not available to students seeking a second bachelor's degree.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Packaged alongside merit and federal and state aid, up to cost of attendance. Named scholarships from Drexel's AcademicWorks portal usually reduce or replace this grant rather than adding to it. Transfers on The Drexel Promise cannot receive it.
📄
How to Apply
File the CSS Profile by Nov 25 (ED or EA) or Feb 1 (RD), and file the FAFSA by Feb 1 for federal and state aid.
💡
Strategic Detail
This is Drexel's own need-based grant, and the CSS Profile is the only way in. The FAFSA covers federal and state aid but will not get a first-year student considered for Drexel's grant money. The grant goes to tuition first, then fees and Drexel housing. It renews for up to 12 class terms with full-time enrollment, which covers the class terms in both the four-year and five-year co-op plans. Drexel also warns that skipping the CSS Profile can affect the admission decision for students who said they want aid.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Families with demonstrated need who file the CSS Profile by the deadline. For fall 2025, Drexel met about 82% of need on average for first-year students who qualified.
Automaticmajortalent
Westphal Portfolio Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Portfolio due with the admission application: Nov 15 (Early Decision and Early Action) or Jan 15 (Regular Decision). ✓ Renews
Varies
✔ Stackable
⚠ Westphal College of Media Arts & Design majors with a portfolio.
First-year and transfer applicants, domestic and international, to Westphal College majors who submit a portfolio.
✚
Stacking & Combining
One of only two Drexel awards (with Phi Theta Kappa) that Drexel clearly allows on top of The Drexel Promise for transfers. Drexel does not spell out how it combines with first-year merit; check the award letter.
💡
Strategic Detail
Students applying to a major in the Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts & Design are considered automatically when they submit their portfolio with the admission application. The amount varies. It renews during class terms with full-time enrollment, but only while your student stays in a Westphal major. If Westphal is your student's second-choice program on the application, Drexel says to submit a portfolio anyway.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
First-year and transfer applicants to Westphal majors with a strong creative portfolio. Students who list Westphal as a backup major and skip the portfolio take themselves out of the running.
App Requiredaffiliation
Dragon Alumni Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Nov 25 ✓ Renews
$1,500/yr
✘ Not stackable
⚠ Requires a recommendation from a Drexel graduate.
First-year or transfer applicants recommended by a Drexel graduate. Not available to students seeking a second bachelor's degree.
✚
Stacking & Combining
The Drexel Promise page lists this award as combinable in one place and leaves it out in another, so transfers should confirm with Drexel.
📄
How to Apply
Ask a Drexel alum to complete the Dragon Alumni Scholarship recommendation form before Nov 25 (ED or EA) or Feb 1 (RD).
Selection criteria: Awarded based on verified alumni relationship and timely completion of endorsement steps; not a holistic academic competition.
💌 Letters of Rec
💡
Strategic Detail
$500 per class term toward tuition for first-year or transfer students who are recommended by a Drexel graduate. That works out to about $1,500 in a year with three class terms, and less in co-op years. The alum fills out Drexel's online recommendation form; your student does not apply separately.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Any applicant who knows a Drexel graduate willing to fill out a short form before the deadline. It does not have to be a parent.
App Requiredtalent
Drexel Performing Arts Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Audition-based; usually awarded after enrollment is confirmed. Contact the Performing Arts Department for audition dates. Non-Renewable
$2,000
✘ Not stackable
⚠ Must audition for and join a Drexel ensemble.
Students in any major who audition for a Drexel performing arts ensemble.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Drexel does not publish stacking rules for this award; check the award letter.
📄
How to Apply
Confirm enrollment, then audition for a Drexel ensemble through the Performing Arts Department.
💡
Strategic Detail
Students who audition for and join a Drexel performing arts ensemble can receive a tuition-only award of up to $2,000. It is usually awarded after your student confirms enrollment, so it will not show up in the first aid offer. Drexel does not say whether it renews.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students who plan to keep playing, singing, or dancing in college and audition for a Drexel ensemble, regardless of major.
Automaticpipelinemajor
Materials Summer Institute Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Admission application deadline: Nov 15 (Early Decision and Early Action) or Jan 15 (Regular Decision). ✓ Renews
$750/yr
✘ Not stackable
⚠ Must have attended the Materials Science & Engineering Summer Institute.
Fall-start first-year materials science and engineering students who attended Drexel's Materials Science & Engineering Summer Institute.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Drexel does not publish stacking rules for this award; check the award letter.
💡
Strategic Detail
$250 per class term toward tuition, about $750 in a year with three class terms, for fall-start materials science and engineering students who attended Drexel's Materials Science & Engineering Summer Institute. Renews with full-time enrollment during class terms.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students who attended the Materials Summer Institute and then apply to Drexel's materials science and engineering major.
Automatic⚠ Transfer Onlytransfer
The Drexel Promise
📅 Deadline: Follows the transfer admission deadline for the term your student is entering. ✓ Renews (2 GPA)
Varies
✘ Not stackable
⚠ Transfers with a completed associate degree only.
🏫 2.0+ GPA🎓 TransferTransfer applicants who have earned, or will earn before enrolling, an associate degree from an accredited community college or two-year school, entering a full-time on-campus program for a first bachelor's degree.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Cannot be combined with other Drexel merit or need-based aid, with two clear exceptions: Phi Theta Kappa and the Westphal Portfolio Scholarship. One spot on the Promise page also lists the Dragon Alumni Scholarship while its FAQ does not, so confirm that one. Federal and state aid still apply.
💡
Strategic Detail
Drexel's guaranteed transfer award: 50% off tuition for students who finish an associate degree at an accredited community college and enroll full-time, on campus, in their first bachelor's program. There is no separate application; mark the associate degree on the admission application and Drexel verifies it. It renews with full-time enrollment and a 2.0 cumulative GPA for up to 12 class quarters. No CSS Profile is required, but file the FAFSA for federal and state aid. Students who finish an associate degree through dual enrollment in high school are not eligible.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Community college graduates from anywhere in the country who are admitted to a full-time, on-campus program. Meet the criteria and it is yours.
Automatic⚠ Transfer Onlytransferaffiliation
Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Transfer admission deadline for your entry term. Must be awarded at admission; it cannot be added once enrolled. ✓ Renews
$1,500/yr
✔ Stackable
⚠ Transfers who are active Phi Theta Kappa members.
🎓 TransferFull-time, on-campus transfer applicants who are active members of Phi Theta Kappa. Not available to students seeking a second bachelor's degree.
✚
Stacking & Combining
One of two Drexel awards that can be combined with The Drexel Promise.
💡
Strategic Detail
$500 per class term toward tuition for full-time, on-campus transfer students who are active Phi Theta Kappa members. Renews during class terms with full-time enrollment. Drexel says that if it is not awarded during admission, it cannot be added later.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Community college transfers who are active PTK members and say so on the admission application.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
AcademicWorks Named Scholarships
📅 Deadline: Oct 30 (recommended completion date for 2026–2027). Non-Renewable
Varies
✘ Not stackable
🎓 All UndergradStudents with a Drexel login. Individual funds set their own criteria.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Usually reduces or replaces the Drexel Grant; in most cases it does not add new money.
📄
How to Apply
Sign in at drexel.academicworks.com with a Drexel ID and complete the General Application and any Conditional Application.
Selection criteria: Varies by fund; many awards consider academic performance, financial circumstances, major or program, and responses to application questions.
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
Drexel's online portal for donor-funded named scholarships. Students sign in with their Drexel ID, complete a general application, and may get a second, college-specific application. For 2026–2027 the portal opened Sept 6 and Drexel recommends finishing by Oct 30. Here is the catch: for undergraduates, a named scholarship usually reduces or replaces the Drexel Grant awarded at admission. It changes where the money comes from, not how much your student gets. Scholarships are generally not paid during co-op terms, and the donor may require a thank-you letter.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Current students who match a donor's criteria. It costs nothing to apply, but families should not budget on it as extra money.
Data last verified Oct 2, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.
❓ Hidden Gems FAQ
Is the FAFSA enough to get Drexel’s need-based grant?
No. First-year students need the CSS Profile to be considered for the Drexel Grant. The FAFSA covers federal and state aid. File both: CSS Profile by Nov 25 (ED or EA) or Feb 1 (RD), and FAFSA by Feb 1.
Who can recommend my student for the Dragon Alumni Scholarship?
Any Drexel graduate. The alum fills out Drexel’s online form by Nov 25 for early applicants or Feb 1 for Regular Decision. It pays $500 per class term toward tuition, and Drexel won’t accept late recommendations.
Will winning a named scholarship on AcademicWorks lower our bill?
Usually not. Drexel’s portal says a named scholarship generally reduces or replaces the Drexel Grant your student already got. It’s worth applying because some donors require it, but don’t count it as new money.
When is the performing arts scholarship awarded?
Usually after your student confirms enrollment and auditions for a Drexel ensemble. It’s tuition-only, up to $2,000, and won’t appear on the first aid offer.
How does The Drexel Promise work for transfer students?
Finish an associate degree at an accredited community college, get admitted to a full-time on-campus program, and Drexel covers 50% of tuition for up to 12 class quarters with a 2.0 GPA. There’s no separate application. It can’t be combined with other Drexel aid except Phi Theta Kappa and the Westphal Portfolio Scholarship.
Our student is in Phi Theta Kappa. Can we add that scholarship later?
No. Drexel says the PTK Scholarship has to be awarded during admission. Make sure the membership is on the transfer application.
Drexel’s Honors Program lives inside the Pennoni Honors College. It’s built around small, discussion-based classes that mix students from different majors, plus events, mentoring, and leadership roles. About 10% of Drexel undergraduates are in it. Admission is not automatic. Your student applies separately through the Discover Drexel portal. The Honors application shows up about four days after the main application is submitted.
Early Decision: admission application by Nov 15, Honors application by Nov 20, decision by mid-December.
Early Action: admission application by Nov 15. Honors application by Nov 20 for a mid-December decision, or by Feb 1 (reviewed on a rolling basis).
Regular Decision: admission application by Jan 15, Honors application by Feb 1, decision by April 1.
Honors Scholarships & Fellowships
This institution does not offer designated Honors College scholarships at this time.
Straight talk on money: Drexel doesn’t publish any scholarship tied to Honors admission. Getting into Honors changes your student’s classes and community, not the aid offer. The money still comes from Drexel Merit, the Drexel Grant, and the awards above.
What Else Pennoni Offers
Custom-Designed Major: students can build their own degree across fields.
Undergraduate Research: support for getting into faculty research early.
Fellowships Office: help applying for national and international fellowships after Drexel.
Second chance: current Drexel first- and second-year students can apply in spring with a 3.2 GPA.
Honors FAQs (Drexel University)
Is the Honors Program automatic for students with high grades?
No. Every student applies separately. Drexel looks at grades, activities and leadership, writing, and real interest in Honors courses and events.
Does Honors come with a scholarship?
Not directly. Drexel doesn’t attach a dedicated scholarship to Honors admission. Your student’s merit and need-based aid are decided separately.
Is there a GPA cutoff?
Not for incoming first-years. Drexel describes a “very competitive” academic record and says GPA isn’t the only factor. Current students and transfers need at least a 3.2.
What if my student isn’t admitted to Honors?
There’s no appeal. Your student can apply again as a current Drexel student in their first or second year. Applications open April 1 and are due in early June.
Can transfer students join?
Yes, with a 3.2 GPA and at least seven academic terms left at Drexel. Admitted transfers apply between April 1 and July 31. Up to 9 Honors credits from a previous college may count toward Honors requirements.
Drexel is a private research university in the middle of Philadelphia. It’s built for students who want to graduate with a résumé, not just a diploma. The whole place is organized around co-op, so classes and real jobs alternate. That’s why the calendar runs on quarters and why so many families end up comparing a four-year plan against a five-year one.
Nationally Known Program: Drexel Co-op: Students can graduate with up to 18 months of full-time, paid work experience in their field, spread across as many as three different jobs. U.S. News ranks Drexel #2 in the country for co-ops and internships. For parents, the payoff is a student who has tried out a career before committing to it, and often a job offer before graduation.
Business: The LeBow College of Business is Drexel’s most popular area, with about one in five bachelor’s degrees. Co-op gives business students real finance, marketing, and accounting jobs before senior year.
Engineering & Computing: Engineering and computing majors sit in the Nick Howley College of Engineering and Computing. Together they account for more than a quarter of Drexel’s graduates. Biomedical engineering has its own school and ties into Philadelphia’s hospitals and research labs.
Nursing & Health Professions: About one in six Drexel graduates earn a health degree. Programs include an accelerated BSN for career changers. Students aiming for medical or optometry school can look at the BA/BS+MD and BS+OD early assurance tracks.
Design & Media Arts: The Westphal College of Media Arts & Design covers fields like game design, animation, fashion, architecture, and film. It’s also where the portfolio scholarship lives.
🔗 Official Drexel University Links
Use Drexel’s official pages below to double-check deadlines, award amounts, and costs before your student applies. If anything on this page conflicts with Drexel’s site, go with Drexel and check your award letter.
Drexel is a different kind of college bet. The sticker price is high, the calendar is unusual, and the payoff is built into co-op: your student can graduate with up to 18 months of real work behind them. On the money side, most families will rely on two things. One is Drexel Merit, which rewards applying by Nov 15. The other is the Drexel Grant, which only opens up if you file the CSS Profile on time. Beyond those, the extra dollars depend on connections. A Philadelphia address, a partner high school, a parent at a Tuition Exchange college, a FIRST team, or a Drexel alum willing to fill out a form can each add to the offer.
Our best advice: apply Early Action if you’re not ready for Early Decision, file the CSS Profile by Nov 25, and budget with the federal net price of about $42,800, not Drexel’s tuition-only number. Then compare the actual award letter to that figure before you commit.
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