Drexel vs. Penn State

Deciding between Drexel University and Penn State Main Campus? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Drexel University
Penn State Main Campus

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Drexel Philadelphia, PA
  • Penn State University Park, PA
  • Setting
  • Drexel Large City
  • Penn State Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Drexel 21,153
  • Penn State 50,737
  • Type
  • Drexel Private 4 Year
  • Penn State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Drexel #118
  • Penn State #185
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Drexel -
  • Penn State -
  • Status
  • Drexel Non-profit
  • Penn State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Drexel
  • Penn State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Drexel $62,412
  • Penn State $20,644
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Drexel $62,412
  • Penn State $41,790
  • Room & Board
  • Drexel $18,096
  • Penn State $14,474
  • Average Net Price
  • Drexel $42,801
  • Penn State $27,889
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Drexel $35,051
  • Penn State $11,336
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Drexel 100%
  • Penn State 37%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Drexel 37,314
  • Penn State 88,478
  • Admitted
  • Drexel 29,642
  • Penn State 53,579
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Drexel 79.4%
  • Penn State 60.6%
  • Enrolled
  • Drexel 8.1%
  • Penn State 17.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Drexel 1340
  • Penn State 1330
  • Typical ACT score
  • Drexel 29
  • Penn State 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • Drexel 3.67
  • Penn State -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Drexel A-
  • Penn State -
  • Admissions Standards
  • Drexel Very High
  • Penn State Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Drexel
  • Penn State Low
  • ACT Range
  • Drexel 27/32
  • Penn State 27/32
  • SAT Range
  • Drexel 1240/1440
  • Penn State 1240/1420
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Drexel Test optional
  • Penn State Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Drexel Jan 15, 2027
  • Penn State

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Drexel 9:1
  • Penn State 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Drexel
    • Health Professions (22%)
    • Business (21%)
    • Engineering (18%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)
  • Penn State
    • Business (16%)
    • Engineering (12%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Drexel 68%
  • Penn State 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Drexel $77,400
  • Penn State $55,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Drexel 77%
  • Penn State 69%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Drexel $26,243
  • Penn State $26,818
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Drexel $271
  • Penn State $277

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Drexel 46%
  • Penn State 52%
  • % Women
  • Drexel 54%
  • Penn State 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Drexel High
  • Penn State Medium
  • HBCU
  • Drexel No
  • Penn State No
  • % White
  • Drexel 54%
  • Penn State 69%
  • % Asian
  • Drexel 14%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Black
  • Drexel 7%
  • Penn State 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Drexel 6%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Native American
  • Drexel 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Drexel 1%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Drexel 3%
  • Penn State 3%
  • % International
  • Drexel 13%
  • Penn State 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Drexel 2%
  • Penn State 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Drexel 46%
  • Penn State 53%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Drexel 44%
  • Penn State 40%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Drexel Yes
  • Penn State Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Drexel No
  • Penn State Yes
  • Meal Plan
  • Drexel Yes
  • Penn State Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Drexel Yes
  • Penn State Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • Drexel No
  • Penn State Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare Drexel University in Philadelphia, PA with Penn State Main Campus in University Park, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Penn State Main Campus is larger than Drexel based on total student enrollment (50,737 students vs. 21,153 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Drexel University is located in Philadelphia, PA (Large City setting); Penn State Main Campus is in University Park, PA (Small City setting).
  • Drexel University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Drexel University 9:1; Penn State Main Campus 16:1.

Drexel vs. Penn State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Drexel or Penn State? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Penn State Main Campus than Drexel ($27,889 vs. $42,801).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Main Campus are 20% lower than at Drexel University ($14,474 vs. $18,096).
  • Drexel University is 202.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State (about $41,768 more per year; $62,412.00 vs. $20,644.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 49.3% higher at Drexel than at Penn State Main Campus (about $20,622 more per year; $62,412.00 vs. $41,790.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Drexel University than at Penn State Main Campus (100% vs. 37%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Drexel University students is 209.2% larger than aid received by Penn State Main Campus students ($35,051 vs. $11,336).

Drexel vs. Penn State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Drexel or Penn State? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Penn State and Drexel.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Drexel University (1340) is 10 points higher than at Penn State (1330).
  • Incoming Drexel students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 29) as students at Penn State (29).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Drexel University 1240/1440; Penn State Main Campus 1240/1420.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Drexel University 27/32; Penn State Main Campus 27/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Drexel - Test optional; Penn State - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Drexel Jan 15, 2027.
  • Drexel has a higher acceptance rate (79.4%) than Penn State (60.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 8.1% at Drexel vs. 17.1% at Penn State.

Drexel vs. Penn State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Drexel and Penn State? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Penn State Main Campus's six-year graduation rate (87%) is higher than Drexel University's (68%).
  • Graduates from Drexel University earn a median of about $22,100 more per year than Penn State graduates about ten years after starting college ($77,400 vs. $55,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Drexel University graduates have a $575 lower median loan debt than Penn State graduates ($26,243 vs. $26,818).
  • Among borrowers, Drexel graduates have an estimated $6 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State graduates ($271 vs. $277).
  • More Drexel graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State students, three years after graduation. (77% vs. 69%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.