Drexel vs. UVA

Deciding between Drexel University and University of Virginia 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
University of Virginia Main Campus

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Drexel Philadelphia, PA
  • UVA Charlottesville, VA
  • Setting
  • Drexel Large City
  • UVA Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Drexel 21,153
  • UVA 26,409
  • Type
  • Drexel Private 4 Year
  • UVA Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Drexel #118
  • UVA #58
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Drexel -
  • UVA -
  • Status
  • Drexel Non-profit
  • UVA Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Drexel
  • UVA

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Drexel $62,412
  • UVA $21,803
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Drexel $62,412
  • UVA $59,512
  • Room & Board
  • Drexel $18,096
  • UVA $14,800
  • Average Net Price
  • Drexel $42,801
  • UVA $18,427
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Drexel $35,051
  • UVA $28,715
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Drexel 100%
  • UVA 39%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Drexel 37,314
  • UVA 58,951
  • Admitted
  • Drexel 29,642
  • UVA 9,909
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Drexel 79.4%
  • UVA 16.8%
  • Enrolled
  • Drexel 8.1%
  • UVA 40%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Drexel 1340
  • UVA 1480
  • Typical ACT score
  • Drexel 29
  • UVA 33
  • Average High School GPA
  • Drexel 3.67
  • UVA 3.85
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Drexel A-
  • UVA A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Drexel Very High
  • UVA Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Drexel
  • UVA Very High
  • ACT Range
  • Drexel 27/32
  • UVA 32/35
  • SAT Range
  • Drexel 1240/1440
  • UVA 1410/1540
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Drexel Test optional
  • UVA Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Drexel Jan 15, 2027
  • UVA

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Drexel 9:1
  • UVA 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Drexel
    • Health Professions (22%)
    • Business (21%)
    • Engineering (18%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)
  • UVA
    • Social Sciences (23%)
    • Engineering (10%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)
    • Business (8%)
    • Psychology (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Drexel 68%
  • UVA 94%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Drexel $77,400
  • UVA $77,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Drexel 77%
  • UVA 86%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Drexel $26,243
  • UVA $19,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Drexel $271
  • UVA $201

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Drexel 46%
  • UVA 45%
  • % Women
  • Drexel 54%
  • UVA 55%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Drexel High
  • UVA Medium
  • HBCU
  • Drexel No
  • UVA No
  • % White
  • Drexel 54%
  • UVA 60%
  • % Asian
  • Drexel 14%
  • UVA 13%
  • % Black
  • Drexel 7%
  • UVA 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • Drexel 6%
  • UVA 6%
  • % Native American
  • Drexel 0%
  • UVA 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Drexel 1%
  • UVA 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Drexel 3%
  • UVA 5%
  • % International
  • Drexel 13%
  • UVA 5%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Drexel 2%
  • UVA 6%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Drexel 46%
  • UVA 66%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Drexel 44%
  • UVA 29%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Drexel University in Philadelphia, PA with University of Virginia Main Campus in Charlottesville, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Virginia Main Campus is larger than Drexel based on total student enrollment (26,409 students vs. 21,153 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Drexel University is located in Philadelphia, PA (Large City setting); University of Virginia Main Campus is in Charlottesville, VA (Small City setting).
  • Drexel University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Virginia Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Drexel University 9:1; University of Virginia Main Campus 15:1.

Drexel vs. UVA Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Drexel or UVA? 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 University of Virginia Main Campus than Drexel ($18,427 vs. $42,801).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Virginia Main Campus are 18.2% lower than at Drexel University ($14,800 vs. $18,096).
  • Drexel University is 186.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than UVA (about $40,609 more per year; $62,412.00 vs. $21,803.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 4.9% higher at Drexel than at University of Virginia Main Campus (about $2,900 more per year; $62,412.00 vs. $59,512.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Drexel University than at University of Virginia Main Campus (100% vs. 39%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Drexel University students is 22.1% larger than aid received by University of Virginia Main Campus students ($35,051 vs. $28,715).

Drexel vs. UVA Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Drexel or UVA? 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 UVA and Drexel.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Virginia Main Campus (1480) is 140 points higher than at Drexel (1340).
  • Incoming UVA students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (33 vs. 29 at Drexel).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Drexel University 1240/1440; University of Virginia Main Campus 1410/1540.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Drexel University 27/32; University of Virginia Main Campus 32/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Drexel - Test optional; UVA - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Drexel Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman UVA students have a 0.18 point higher average high school GPA (3.85) than students at Drexel (3.67).
  • Drexel has a higher acceptance rate (79.4%) than UVA (16.8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 8.1% at Drexel vs. 40% at UVA.

Drexel vs. UVA Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Drexel and UVA? 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).

  • University of Virginia Main Campus's six-year graduation rate (94%) is higher than Drexel University's (68%).
  • Graduates from Drexel University earn a median of about $200 more per year than UVA graduates about ten years after starting college ($77,400 vs. $77,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Virginia Main Campus graduates have a $6,743 lower median loan debt than Drexel graduates ($19,500 vs. $26,243).
  • Among borrowers, UVA graduates have an estimated $70 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Drexel graduates ($201 vs. $271).
  • More UVA graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Drexel students, three years after graduation. (86% vs. 77%)

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.