Drexel University Scholarships (2025–2026)
← Back to the Public and Private University Scholarships hub • See Pennsylvania state aid
- Tuition, housing, and what families actually pay on average
- Automatic merit ranges and who typically qualifies
- Competitive and hidden-gem scholarships worth a look
- Honors perks and how to stack awards the smart way
📊 Admissions Snapshot
- Acceptance Rate: ~80%
- Middle 50% ACT: 25–31
- Middle 50% SAT: 1250–1440
- Average GPA (HS): 3.82
Source: Drexel University Office of Admissions (most recent reported cycle). Middle 50% = the range where half of admitted students fall.
Comparing multiple schools? Try the Scholarship Tool to search by GPA, test scores, and state →
Drexel at a Glance
https://drexel.edu/admissions/financial-aid-affordability/undergrad/opportunities
https://drexel.edu/drexelcentral/finaid/grants/undergraduate-scholarships
https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/colleges/drexel-university/tuition-and-costs
https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/drexel-university-3256
💰 Cost of Attendance at Drexel University (2025–2026)
These are the direct, billed costs most full-time undergraduates pay when living on campus. Drexel uses a quarter system, so many official totals are shown as three terms (Fall/Winter/Spring). Additional expenses like books, transportation, and personal costs are not billed by the university but still factor into aid eligibility.
| Category | In-State | Out-of-State |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition & Mandatory Fees (3 terms) | $64,212 | $64,212 |
| Housing & Meals (standard estimate) | $18,000 | $18,000 |
| Total (Direct/Billed) | $82,212 | $82,212 |
Why only these items? We include the costs you typically pay directly to Drexel — tuition, required fees, and (if you live on campus) housing and meal plan charges. Drexel’s full Cost of Attendance also includes estimates for indirect expenses like:
- Books & supplies (often around $1,200/year)
- Transportation (often around $900/year)
- Personal expenses (often around $600/year)
- One-time/occasional items like a computer (admit term) and immunization fee (if applicable)
📉 Average Net Price (What Families Actually Pay)
The average net price is about $42,300 per year (federal estimate after grants and scholarships).
Your number can be much lower (or higher) depending on your family income, residency for state aid, and whether you earn merit scholarships.
Use Drexel’s Net Price Calculator for a personalized estimate.
Drexel is a private university, so it uses a single tuition and fee schedule for undergraduates regardless of residency. That means programs like WUE, ACM, and MSEP typically don’t apply here — the “discount” for most families comes from institutional merit scholarships and (when eligible) need-based grants, not residency-based tuition exchanges.
FAQ — Cost of Attendance at Drexel University
Why are in-state and out-of-state costs the same?
Because Drexel is a private university. It charges the same published tuition and general fees regardless of residency.
Why does Drexel list costs by “term” instead of by year?
Drexel runs on a quarter system, so tuition and fees are typically presented per term and then totaled for the academic year.
Are housing and meal costs fixed?
No. Housing and meal plans vary by selection, so Drexel publishes a standard estimate used for financial aid calculations.
Do co-op programs change tuition and fees?
Yes. Co-op can affect which terms you’re billed for tuition and general university fees, so students should confirm costs for their specific co-op track.
What’s the fastest way to estimate what we’ll actually pay?
Use Drexel’s Net Price Calculator, then layer in expected merit scholarships and outside awards.
https://drexel.edu/drexelcentral/cost/undergrad
https://drexel.edu/drexelcentral/cost/tuition/undergraduate
https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?212054
https://drexel.edu/drexelcentral/finaid/prospective-students/net-price-calculator/
✅ Automatic Merit Scholarships
Drexel awards many merit scholarships automatically with admission — meaning there’s typically no separate merit application to be considered. Award amounts can vary by applicant strength and (often) by application round.
Drexel is test-optional. If your student submits scores, Drexel’s public materials do not clearly confirm whether ACT/SAT scores are superscored. If you’re trying to use test scores to strengthen merit consideration, it’s smart to ask Drexel admissions how they treat multiple test dates.
| Scholarship | Award Amount | Eligibility | Separate App? | Renewable? | Who Actually Wins? | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drexel Merit Scholarship |
$10,000–$35,000 per year Common published ranges: EA/ED often listed at $20,000–$35,000/yr; RD often listed at $10,000–$35,000/yr. |
Incoming first-year applicants (and many transfer applicants) are considered automatically after the admission application is received. Test-optional; awards are based on the admission file (academics + overall strength). |
No | Yes — typically renewable with full-time enrollment and satisfactory academic progress. |
Strong academic admits; typical award recipients often look like: ~3.7+ GPA* and (if submitted) ~1250+ SAT / ~26+ ACT*. Drexel’s overall admitted profile is around a 3.8 GPA and mid-range SAT/ACT in the 1250–1440 / 25–31 bands. |
Merit consideration tracks the admission round you apply under: EA/ED: typically by Nov 1 RD: typically by Jan 15 |
*GPA/test ranges are estimates based on past recipients and published profiles; actual thresholds can change by year.
Disclaimer: Award amounts, eligibility thresholds, and selection volumes may change annually depending on funding and applicant pools. Some institutional awards may replace or reduce other aid rather than stack — confirm current rules with Drexel before assuming totals.
FAQ — Automatic Merit Scholarships at Drexel
Do we have to apply separately for merit scholarships at Drexel?
Usually no. Drexel states that students are automatically considered for merit scholarships once the admission application is received. If your student is admitted, the merit decision (if offered) typically arrives with the admission package.
Why do some students see different merit ranges (EA/ED vs. Regular Decision)?
Drexel commonly publishes different “typical” merit ranges by application round — with EA/ED often showing a higher starting range than RD. In plain English: applying earlier can improve the chance of landing in the higher part of the merit band.
If Drexel is test-optional, should we still submit scores for merit?
If your student has strong scores (or you’re aiming for the higher end of the merit range), submitting scores can still help. But since Drexel is test-optional and doesn’t clearly publish superscore rules, the safest approach is: submit scores only if they strengthen the overall file.
Is the Drexel Merit Scholarship renewable for all four years?
Typically yes, as long as the student stays full-time and meets Drexel’s satisfactory academic progress requirements. Renewal details and credit/term rules can matter — especially for students on nontraditional schedules.
Does merit stack with other Drexel scholarships?
Sometimes. Drexel also has departmental and affiliation-based awards (for example, portfolio-based or transfer honor society awards). But some large program awards can have stacking limits — always verify whether a specific scholarship replaces other Drexel aid.
https://drexel.edu/admissions/financial-aid-affordability/undergrad/opportunities
https://drexel.edu/drexelcentral/finaid/grants/undergraduate-scholarships
🏆 Competitive / Flagship Scholarships
In addition to automatic merit, Drexel offers a small number of high-impact, competitive scholarships. These awards usually require specific eligibility (such as transfer status or prior degree completion) and are not guaranteed for otherwise strong applicants.
Drexel does not run a single, campus-wide “Presidential” or “Full Ride” competition for first-year students. Instead, its flagship awards are programmatic and often tied to transfer pathways or specific affiliations.
| Scholarship | Award Amount | Eligibility | Separate App? | Renewable? | Who Actually Wins? | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Drexel Promise |
50% of tuition Applied after admission and eligibility verification |
Transfer students who have earned an associate degree from an accredited community college and meet GPA and enrollment requirements. |
No separate general scholarship application; eligibility is program-based |
Yes — renewable with continued full-time enrollment and program compliance | High-performing community college graduates pursuing a bachelor’s degree at Drexel; most recipients have a solid CC GPA and a completed associate pathway. | Tracks the transfer admission cycle; deadlines vary by term |
Disclaimer: Competitive scholarship availability, award amounts, and renewal terms may change by year. Some flagship awards cannot be combined with Drexel merit or need-based aid — always confirm stacking rules before assuming totals.
FAQ — Competitive / Flagship Scholarships at Drexel
Is there a full-tuition or full-ride scholarship at Drexel?
No. Drexel does not currently advertise a universal full-tuition or full-ride scholarship for first-year students.
Its largest awards are program-specific (such as transfer pathways) rather than open competitions.
Can first-year students apply for the Drexel Promise?
No. The Drexel Promise is limited to transfer students who have already completed an associate degree at a community college.
Does the Drexel Promise stack with merit scholarships?
Usually no. The Drexel Promise typically replaces other Drexel merit or need-based institutional aid.
Students should review their aid package carefully to understand how awards interact.
Are there other “flagship” scholarships not listed here?
Drexel’s remaining large awards tend to be departmental, talent-based, or affiliation-based and are better categorized as
Hidden Gem scholarships rather than campus-wide flagship competitions.
Should strong first-year students expect competitive scholarships beyond automatic merit?
Generally no. For most first-year applicants, Drexel’s automatic merit range is the primary institutional scholarship opportunity,
with additional aid coming from departmental or external sources.
https://drexel.edu/admissions/undergrad/transfer/drexel-promise
https://drexel.edu/drexelcentral/finaid/grants/undergraduate-scholarships
🎖 Honors College
Drexel’s honors experience is centered on the Pennoni Honors College. It focuses on enriched academics, advising, and research opportunities — not on guaranteed, honors-only tuition scholarships.
Unlike some public universities, Drexel does not advertise a separate, automatic “Honors Scholarship” tied solely to honors admission. Any funding associated with honors participation is typically embedded within general merit, departmental awards, or donor-funded scholarships.
| Program | Admission Type | Separate Application? | Automatic Scholarship? | Typical Profile | What Students Actually Get | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pennoni Honors College | Competitive | Yes — honors application or invitation (process varies by cycle) | No | High-achieving admits; often around ~3.8+ GPA* with strong rigor, curiosity, and faculty engagement | Priority advising, enriched seminars, undergraduate research access, faculty mentoring, and honors recognition on transcript | Typically aligns with admission rounds (EA/ED/RD) |
*Academic profiles are estimates based on recent cohorts and published student data; exact thresholds are not publicly posted and can vary by year.
FAQ — Honors College at Drexel
Does being admitted to the Pennoni Honors College come with extra scholarship money?
Not automatically. Drexel does not publish a guaranteed honors-only scholarship. Any additional funding typically comes from general merit, departmental awards, or donor scholarships rather than honors admission itself.
Is the Honors College worth it if there’s no extra money?
For some students, yes. The value is academic and experiential — priority advising, research access, smaller seminars, and stronger faculty connections — which can matter for graduate school or competitive internships.
How do students apply to the Pennoni Honors College?
The process varies by year. Some students are invited based on their admission application, while others complete a short honors application or essay. Details are usually provided after or alongside admission.
Does honors participation affect co-op?
No negatively. Honors students still participate fully in Drexel’s co-op system, and many use honors research or faculty mentoring to strengthen co-op and post-graduation outcomes.
Can honors students access more scholarships later?
Sometimes. Honors status can strengthen applications for departmental or donor-funded awards listed in AcademicWorks, but it does not unlock automatic funding on its own.
https://drexel.edu/pennoni/
https://drexel.edu/drexelcentral/finaid/grants/undergraduate-scholarships
⭐ College Specialty
Drexel University is nationally recognized for blending academics with real-world experience in a way few universities do. Families often hear about Drexel’s co-op program first—and for good reason—but the school’s strengths go deeper than that. Drexel has built a reputation for engineering and technology-driven fields, business and entrepreneurship, and design-forward creative programs, all tightly connected to industry partners in Philadelphia and beyond.
- Co-op & Career-Integrated Education: One of the largest and most established cooperative education programs in the U.S., allowing students to graduate with up to 18 months of paid, full-time work experience.
- Engineering & Technology: Well known for programs in biomedical engineering, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, and computing—often linked directly to applied research and industry projects.
- Business & Entrepreneurship: The LeBow College of Business is recognized for experiential learning, analytics, and entrepreneurship, with strong pipelines into finance, consulting, and corporate roles.
- Design, Media & the Arts: The Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts & Design is nationally respected for design, digital media, fashion, and creative technology, emphasizing portfolio-based outcomes.
- Health Sciences & Biomedical Fields: Strong ties to healthcare, research hospitals, and biotech employers make Drexel a common choice for students pursuing applied health and biomedical careers.
🔗 Official Drexel University Links
Use Drexel’s official university resources below to verify admissions details, scholarship policies, costs, and academic programs. Always rely on these pages for final deadlines, eligibility rules, and award terms.
-
Undergraduate Admissions:
https://drexel.edu/admissions/undergrad -
Application Types & Deadlines (EA, ED, RD):
https://drexel.edu/admissions/apply/undergrad-instructions/deadlines/ -
Scholarships & Institutional Aid:
https://drexel.edu/drexelcentral/finaid/grants/undergraduate-scholarships -
Cost of Attendance & Tuition:
https://drexel.edu/drexelcentral/cost/undergrad -
Net Price Calculator:
https://drexel.edu/drexelcentral/finaid/prospective-students/net-price-calculator/ -
Admitted Student Profile / Common Data Set:
https://drexel.edu/institutionalresearch/university-data/common_data -
Pennoni Honors College:
https://drexel.edu/pennoni -
Academic Programs & Majors:
https://drexel.edu/academics/undergraduate-programs