Drexel vs. WCU

Deciding between Drexel University and West Chester University of Pennsylvania? 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
West Chester University of Pennsylvania

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Drexel Philadelphia, PA
  • WCU West Chester, PA
  • Setting
  • Drexel Large City
  • WCU Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Drexel 21,153
  • WCU 17,171
  • Type
  • Drexel Private 4 Year
  • WCU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Drexel #118
  • WCU #505
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Drexel -
  • WCU -
  • Status
  • Drexel Non-profit
  • WCU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Drexel
  • WCU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Drexel $62,412
  • WCU $10,775
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Drexel $62,412
  • WCU $22,599
  • Room & Board
  • Drexel $18,096
  • WCU $14,828
  • Average Net Price
  • Drexel $42,801
  • WCU $22,546
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Drexel $35,051
  • WCU $5,709
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Drexel 100%
  • WCU 73%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Drexel 37,314
  • WCU 17,193
  • Admitted
  • Drexel 29,642
  • WCU 13,479
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Drexel 79.4%
  • WCU 78.4%
  • Enrolled
  • Drexel 8.1%
  • WCU 22.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Drexel 1340
  • WCU 1190
  • Typical ACT score
  • Drexel 29
  • WCU 26
  • Average High School GPA
  • Drexel 3.67
  • WCU 3.43
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Drexel A-
  • WCU B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Drexel Very High
  • WCU Average
  • Applicant Competition
  • Drexel
  • WCU
  • ACT Range
  • Drexel 27/32
  • WCU 24/28
  • SAT Range
  • Drexel 1240/1440
  • WCU 1100/1270
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Drexel Test optional
  • WCU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Drexel Jan 15, 2027
  • WCU

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Drexel 9:1
  • WCU 20:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Drexel
    • Health Professions (22%)
    • Business (21%)
    • Engineering (18%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)
  • WCU
    • Business (16%)
    • Education (16%)
    • Health Professions (14%)
    • English and Literature (9%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Drexel 68%
  • WCU 68%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Drexel $77,400
  • WCU $49,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Drexel 77%
  • WCU 75%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Drexel $26,243
  • WCU $23,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Drexel $271
  • WCU $242

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Drexel 46%
  • WCU 40%
  • % Women
  • Drexel 54%
  • WCU 60%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Drexel High
  • WCU Low
  • HBCU
  • Drexel No
  • WCU No
  • % White
  • Drexel 54%
  • WCU 78%
  • % Asian
  • Drexel 14%
  • WCU 2%
  • % Black
  • Drexel 7%
  • WCU 11%
  • % Hispanic
  • Drexel 6%
  • WCU 5%
  • % Native American
  • Drexel 0%
  • WCU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Drexel 1%
  • WCU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Drexel 3%
  • WCU 3%
  • % International
  • Drexel 13%
  • WCU 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Drexel 2%
  • WCU 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Drexel 46%
  • WCU 86%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Drexel 44%
  • WCU 13%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Drexel University in Philadelphia, PA with West Chester University of Pennsylvania in West Chester, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Drexel University is larger than WCU based on total student enrollment (21,153 students vs. 17,171 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Drexel University is located in Philadelphia, PA (Large City setting); West Chester University of Pennsylvania is in West Chester, PA (Large Suburban setting).
  • Drexel University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. West Chester University of Pennsylvania is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Drexel University 9:1; West Chester University of Pennsylvania 20:1.

Drexel vs. WCU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Drexel or WCU? 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 West Chester University of Pennsylvania than Drexel ($22,546 vs. $42,801).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at West Chester University of Pennsylvania are 18.1% lower than at Drexel University ($14,828 vs. $18,096).
  • Drexel University is 479.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than WCU (about $51,637 more per year; $62,412.00 vs. $10,775.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 176.2% higher at Drexel than at West Chester University of Pennsylvania (about $39,813 more per year; $62,412.00 vs. $22,599.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Drexel University than at West Chester University of Pennsylvania (100% vs. 73%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Drexel University students is 514% larger than aid received by West Chester University of Pennsylvania students ($35,051 vs. $5,709).

Drexel vs. WCU Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Drexel University (1340) is 150 points higher than at WCU (1190).
  • Incoming Drexel students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (29 vs. 26 at WCU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Drexel University 1240/1440; West Chester University of Pennsylvania 1100/1270.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Drexel University 27/32; West Chester University of Pennsylvania 24/28.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Drexel - Test optional; WCU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Drexel Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Drexel students have a 0.24 point higher average high school GPA (3.67) than students at WCU (3.43).
  • Drexel has a higher acceptance rate (79.4%) than WCU (78.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 8.1% at Drexel vs. 22.4% at WCU.

Drexel vs. WCU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Drexel and WCU? 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).

  • The graduation rate at Drexel is the same as at West Chester University of Pennsylvania (68% vs. 68%).
  • Graduates from Drexel University earn a median of about $28,400 more per year than WCU graduates about ten years after starting college ($77,400 vs. $49,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, West Chester University of Pennsylvania graduates have a $2,743 lower median loan debt than Drexel graduates ($23,500 vs. $26,243).
  • Among borrowers, WCU graduates have an estimated $29 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Drexel graduates ($242 vs. $271).
  • More Drexel graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WCU students, three years after graduation. (77% vs. 75%)

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.