Drexel vs. Pitt

Deciding between Drexel University and University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,500 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Drexel University
University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Drexel Philadelphia, PA
  • Pitt Pittsburgh, PA
  • Setting
  • Drexel Large City
  • Pitt Large City
  • Enrollment
  • Drexel 21,153
  • Pitt 35,724
  • Type
  • Drexel Private 4 Year
  • Pitt Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Drexel #118
  • Pitt #138
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Drexel -
  • Pitt -
  • Status
  • Drexel Non-profit
  • Pitt Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Drexel
  • Pitt

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Drexel $62,412
  • Pitt $21,926
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Drexel $62,412
  • Pitt $41,430
  • Room & Board
  • Drexel $18,096
  • Pitt $13,620
  • Average Net Price
  • Drexel $42,801
  • Pitt $25,223
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Drexel $35,051
  • Pitt $16,494
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Drexel 100%
  • Pitt 53%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Drexel 37,314
  • Pitt 60,898
  • Admitted
  • Drexel 29,642
  • Pitt 35,372
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Drexel 79.4%
  • Pitt 58.1%
  • Enrolled
  • Drexel 8.1%
  • Pitt 13%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Drexel 1340
  • Pitt 1370
  • Typical ACT score
  • Drexel 29
  • Pitt 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • Drexel 3.67
  • Pitt 3.79
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Drexel B+
  • Pitt A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Drexel Very High
  • Pitt Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Drexel
  • Pitt Low
  • ACT Range
  • Drexel 27/32
  • Pitt 29/33
  • SAT Range
  • Drexel 1240/1440
  • Pitt 1280/1460
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Drexel Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Pitt Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Application Deadline
  • Drexel Jan 15, 2027
  • Pitt

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Drexel 9:1
  • Pitt 13:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Drexel
    • Health Professions (22%)
    • Business (21%)
    • Engineering (18%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)
  • Pitt
    • Business (15%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
    • Health Professions (11%)
    • English and Literature (9%)
    • Engineering (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Drexel 68%
  • Pitt 79%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Drexel $77,400
  • Pitt $58,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Drexel 77%
  • Pitt 75%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Drexel $26,243
  • Pitt $26,909
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Drexel $271
  • Pitt $278

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Drexel 14%
  • Pitt 11%
  • % Women
  • Drexel 23%
  • Pitt 16%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Drexel High
  • Pitt Low
  • HBCU
  • Drexel No
  • Pitt No
  • % White
  • Drexel 54%
  • Pitt 74%
  • % Asian
  • Drexel 14%
  • Pitt 9%
  • % Black
  • Drexel 7%
  • Pitt 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • Drexel 6%
  • Pitt 3%
  • % Native American
  • Drexel 0%
  • Pitt 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Drexel 1%
  • Pitt 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Drexel 3%
  • Pitt 3%
  • % International
  • Drexel 13%
  • Pitt 4%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Drexel 2%
  • Pitt 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Drexel 46%
  • Pitt 64%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Drexel 44%
  • Pitt 33%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is larger than Drexel based on total student enrollment (35,724 students vs. 21,153 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Drexel University is located in Philadelphia, PA (Large City setting); University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is in Pittsburgh, PA (Large City setting).
  • Drexel University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Drexel University 9:1; University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus 13:1.

Drexel vs. Pitt Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Drexel or Pitt? 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 Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus than Drexel ($25,223 vs. $42,801).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus are 24.7% lower than at Drexel University ($13,620 vs. $18,096).
  • Drexel University is 184.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Pitt (about $40,486 more per year; $62,412.00 vs. $21,926.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 50.6% higher at Drexel than at University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus (about $20,982 more per year; $62,412.00 vs. $41,430.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Drexel University than at University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus (100% vs. 53%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Drexel University students is 112.5% larger than aid received by University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus students ($35,051 vs. $16,494).

Drexel vs. Pitt Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus (1370) is 30 points higher than at Drexel (1340).
  • Incoming Pitt students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 vs. 29 at Drexel).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Drexel University 1240/1440; University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus 1280/1460.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Drexel University 27/32; University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus 29/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Drexel - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional); Pitt - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional).
  • Typical fall application deadline: Drexel Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Pitt students have a 0.12 point higher average high school GPA (3.79) than students at Drexel (3.67).
  • Drexel has a higher acceptance rate (79.4%) than Pitt (58.1%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 8.1% at Drexel vs. 13% at Pitt.

Drexel vs. Pitt Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Drexel and Pitt? 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 Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus's six-year graduation rate (79%) is higher than Drexel University's (68%).
  • Graduates from Drexel University earn a median of about $19,400 more per year than Pitt graduates about ten years after starting college ($77,400 vs. $58,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Drexel University graduates have a $666 lower median loan debt than Pitt graduates ($26,243 vs. $26,909).
  • Among borrowers, Drexel graduates have an estimated $7 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Pitt graduates ($271 vs. $278).
  • More Drexel graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Pitt 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.