

Drexel University is institutionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. Institutional accreditation evaluates the university as a whole, including its educational operations and capacity to meet established standards.
Individual professional programs may have separate accreditation relevant to their fields. For example, applicants to engineering, nursing, business, public health, medicine, or law should check the accreditation of the specific degree they intend to enter. Institutional accreditation and programmatic accreditation answer different questions: the former concerns the university; the latter may matter for a particular licensing route or professional credential.
Accreditation is relevant to institutional eligibility for federal student aid, but it does not automatically make every course transferable or every graduate eligible for a professional license. Receiving institutions decide which credits they accept, and licensing boards can impose additional education, examination, or supervised-practice requirements.
First-year applicants to Drexel generally submit an undergraduate application, a secondary-school transcript, and supporting materials specified for their applicant category and intended program. Drexel is not an open-admission institution; it reviews academic preparation alongside other parts of an application.
Its admissions information identifies the high school record, GPA, and recommendations as application considerations. A high school diploma or accepted equivalency can establish completion of secondary education. Applicants should follow the current application instructions for essays and any program-specific materials: design or performing-arts programs, for example, may use portfolios or auditions that are not required of every applicant.
SAT and ACT scores are not universally required under Drexel's test-optional approach. In the reported entering cohort, about 35% submitted SAT scores and 4% submitted ACT scores; the median scores among enrolled students who submitted them were 1310 and 29, respectively. Those medians describe score submitters, not a minimum for admission or the academic profile of the entire class.
Drexel reported admitting about 79% of first-time applicants in the referenced admissions cycle. That institution-wide rate should not be read as an applicant's individual probability of admission, particularly for programs with additional requirements. International applicants whose prior education was not conducted in English should check the applicable English-proficiency rules and accepted tests. Deadlines and application rounds can vary by program and entry term, so the relevant admissions calendar - not a general university deadline - should govern an application.
Drexel's reported standard undergraduate application fee is $65. Applicants should confirm the amount shown in their application before paying, because fees can differ by degree level or application route.
Eligible applicants may request an application-fee waiver through the available application process or Drexel's admissions procedures. Common bases for a waiver include demonstrated financial need, but applicants should use Drexel's stated criteria rather than assume that receiving financial aid automatically waives the fee. Request a waiver before submitting payment; an application fee is distinct from any later enrollment or housing deposit.
Drexel students may explore ROTC through arrangements involving cooperating institutions rather than assuming that every military branch operates a Drexel-hosted unit. Reported participation options include Air Force ROTC and Navy ROTC through a host institution; students interested in Army ROTC should verify the current participating unit and enrollment route.
ROTC courses must fit around a student's degree and, where applicable, co-op schedule. Participation alone should not be confused with receiving an ROTC scholarship. Scholarship selection, medical and citizenship qualifications, training requirements, and any eventual service commitment depend on the branch and the student's status. Prospective cadets or midshipmen should discuss scheduling with both the ROTC unit and their Drexel academic or co-op adviser before committing to a degree plan.
Drexel accepts transfer applicants and generally considers college credit earned at accredited institutions. Transfer admission and transfer-credit acceptance are separate decisions: an applicant can be admitted without every previous course satisfying a Drexel degree requirement.
Transfer applicants should expect to submit transcripts from each college attended, along with any high school records required for their circumstances. Drexel also needs sufficient course information to determine equivalencies; a syllabus may be requested when a title alone does not establish what was taught. The university reports transfer entry in fall, winter, spring, and summer, but a particular major may have a narrower entry schedule or sequencing constraints.
Drexel reports accepting certain examination-based credit, including CLEP, subject to its credit policies. AP credit is another possible route for eligible students. Before enrolling, ask for an official, program-specific transfer-credit evaluation showing which credits count toward general education, the major, and electives. That distinction is especially important for sequential courses, clinical programs, and degrees with co-op requirements. Applicants should also check the current residency requirement - the coursework that must be completed at Drexel to earn its degree - and any applicable articulation agreement.
Drexel offers education-abroad advising and programs that can include term-length study, shorter faculty-led experiences, and international opportunities connected to a student's academic or professional interests. Availability depends on destination, program approval, and the student's major and schedule.
Students considering an exchange or an approved outside provider should obtain academic approval before departure so they understand how courses will count toward their degree. The quarter calendar and co-op rotations can make timing particularly important. An international co-op is not automatically the same as a study-abroad program: employment placement, academic credit, visa rules, and financial-aid treatment may differ.
Costs also vary. Students should compare program charges, travel, housing, insurance, and visa expenses, then ask Drexel's education-abroad and financial-aid offices how their particular aid package would apply. Approval of a program does not imply that every expense will be covered.
8% of admitted students enrolled (2,399 of 29,642)
Regular application deadline
January 15Application fee
$65Early Decision
Yes, deadline November 15Early Action
Yes, deadline November 15Median composite SAT score
1310Median composite ACT score
29Percent of students submitting ACT scores
4%Percent of students submitting SAT scores
35%High school completions
General Educational Development (GED) requiredSecondary school GPA
RequiredSecondary school rank
Considered but not requiredSecondary school record
RequiredCompletion of college-preparatory program
Considered but not requiredRecommendations
RequiredFormal demonstration of competencies
RequiredAdmission test scores
Considered but not requiredTOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language
RequiredOther Test (Wonderlic, WISC-III, etc.)
Neither required nor recommendedOpen admission policy
NoDual credit
NoCredit for life experiences
YesAdvanced placement (AP) credits
YesROTC-Navy
ROTC branch unit at a cooperating host institutionROTC-Air Force
ROTC branch unit at a cooperating host institutionStudy abroad
YesStudent can complete their preparation in certain areas of specialization
YesPreparation at another institution required
NoApproved by the state for initial certification or licensure of teacher
YesGenerally accepts credits
YesAccept ACE recommendation for credit
YesPossible transfer
Fall, Winter, Spring, SummerData last updated on November 2, 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.