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Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science

#212 in US ranking Los Angeles, CA
Type:
Private not-for-profit
Programs:
4 years or more

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Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science award
Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science award

Cost

Cost / year
$44,630
Tuition & fees
$18,950
Avg. aid
$16,515
Receiving aid
100%

Admissions

Acceptance rate
39%

Outcomes

Graduation rate
30%
Median salary
$58,202
1 yr after graduation

What are the graduation rates for students at Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science?

CDU's reported six-year graduation rate for the measured undergraduate cohort is 30%; its four-year rate is 15%. The reported first-year retention rate is 50%. These figures warrant attention, but they describe defined student groups rather than the likelihood that every CDU student will complete a degree.

Federal graduation-rate measures generally follow first-time, full-time students seeking a bachelor's degree. They do not capture the outcomes of transfer students, graduate students, and many part-time students in the same way. That distinction is especially important here: the reported entering class included far more transfer-in undergraduates than first-time undergraduates, and small first-time cohorts can produce large year-to-year swings in percentages.

Applicants should look beyond the institution-wide rate to ask their intended program about course availability, clinical placement progression, transfer-student completion, and typical time to degree. The reported rates alone do not establish why students left or how a particular program performs.

What is the earning potential for graduates at Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science?

A prospective student should evaluate earnings by degree and occupation, not assume that a single CDU-wide salary represents outcomes in nursing, biology, public health, and other fields. These paths differ in licensing requirements, additional education, location, and work experience.

College Scorecard earnings measures, when reported for a program, apply to a defined group of former students at a specified time after attendance or completion; they are not starting-salary offers or guarantees. Privacy rules and small cohorts can also limit what a program-level figure conveys. Compare any reported median with the size and definition of the measured group, then consider likely borrowing, required further training, and the range of jobs associated with the credential.

CDU reports access to individual and group career counseling, résumé preparation, career exploration resources, and interview workshops. Those services can support a job search, but their availability should not be confused with verified employment or earnings outcomes.

Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science Graduation Rate

Avg. graduation
30%
4-year graduation
15%
6-year graduation
30%

Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science Retention and Employment

First-year retention, full-time students
50%
First-year retention, part-time students
67%
Employed 1 year after graduation
93%

Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science Median Alumni Salary Over Time

1 year after graduation
$58,202
4 years after graduation
$112,516
5 years after graduation
$85,233
7 years after graduation
$118,191
10 years after starting college
$79,596

Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science Graduations Per Degree

BACHELOR’S Degree

Women Men Total

Health Professions and Related Programs

33841

Biological and Biomedical Sciences

549

MASTER’S Degree

Women Men Total

Health Professions and Related Programs

15442196

Biological and Biomedical Sciences

131326

Data last updated on November 5, 2026

Data sources: IPEDS 2024-25, Peterson 2026, College Scorecard 10/2026, Clery 2024 (2023-24), OpenAlex 2026

Figures on this profile come from federal and third-party datasets in the editions listed above and are refreshed periodically, so they may differ from what the institution currently reports. Confirm costs, deadlines and requirements with the school before making decisions.

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