Drexel vs. Virginia Tech

Deciding between Drexel University and Virginia Tech? 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
Virginia Tech

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Drexel Philadelphia, PA
  • Virginia Tech Blacksburg, VA
  • Setting
  • Drexel Large City
  • Virginia Tech Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Drexel 21,153
  • Virginia Tech 38,857
  • Type
  • Drexel Private 4 Year
  • Virginia Tech Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Drexel #118
  • Virginia Tech #142
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Drexel -
  • Virginia Tech -
  • Status
  • Drexel Non-profit
  • Virginia Tech Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Drexel
  • Virginia Tech

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Drexel $62,412
  • Virginia Tech $15,948
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Drexel $62,412
  • Virginia Tech $37,764
  • Room & Board
  • Drexel $18,096
  • Virginia Tech $16,550
  • Average Net Price
  • Drexel $42,801
  • Virginia Tech $24,912
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Drexel $35,051
  • Virginia Tech $9,168
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Drexel 100%
  • Virginia Tech 60%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Drexel 37,314
  • Virginia Tech 52,498
  • Admitted
  • Drexel 29,642
  • Virginia Tech 28,758
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Drexel 79.4%
  • Virginia Tech 54.8%
  • Enrolled
  • Drexel 8.1%
  • Virginia Tech 25.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Drexel 1340
  • Virginia Tech 1370
  • Typical ACT score
  • Drexel 29
  • Virginia Tech 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • Drexel 3.67
  • Virginia Tech 3.97
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Drexel B+
  • Virginia Tech A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Drexel Very High
  • Virginia Tech Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Drexel
  • Virginia Tech Low
  • ACT Range
  • Drexel 27/32
  • Virginia Tech 28/32
  • SAT Range
  • Drexel 1240/1440
  • Virginia Tech 1280/1450
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Drexel Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Virginia Tech Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Application Deadline
  • Drexel Jan 15, 2027
  • Virginia Tech Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Drexel 9:1
  • Virginia Tech 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Drexel
    • Health Professions (22%)
    • Business (21%)
    • Engineering (18%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)
  • Virginia Tech
    • Business (20%)
    • Engineering (19%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Work and Family Studies (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Drexel 68%
  • Virginia Tech 82%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Drexel $77,400
  • Virginia Tech $65,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Drexel 77%
  • Virginia Tech 81%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Drexel $26,243
  • Virginia Tech $23,966
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Drexel $271
  • Virginia Tech $247

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Drexel 38%
  • Virginia Tech 55%
  • % Women
  • Drexel 62%
  • Virginia Tech 45%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Drexel High
  • Virginia Tech Medium
  • HBCU
  • Drexel No
  • Virginia Tech No
  • % White
  • Drexel 54%
  • Virginia Tech 68%
  • % Asian
  • Drexel 14%
  • Virginia Tech 9%
  • % Black
  • Drexel 7%
  • Virginia Tech 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Drexel 6%
  • Virginia Tech 5%
  • % Native American
  • Drexel 0%
  • Virginia Tech 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Drexel 1%
  • Virginia Tech 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Drexel 3%
  • Virginia Tech 4%
  • % International
  • Drexel 13%
  • Virginia Tech 6%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Drexel 2%
  • Virginia Tech 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Drexel 46%
  • Virginia Tech 61%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Drexel 44%
  • Virginia Tech 34%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Virginia Tech is larger than Drexel based on total student enrollment (38,857 students vs. 21,153 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Drexel University is located in Philadelphia, PA (Large City setting); Virginia Tech is in Blacksburg, VA (Small City setting).
  • Drexel University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Virginia Tech is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Drexel University 9:1; Virginia Tech 17:1.

Drexel vs. Virginia Tech Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Drexel or Virginia Tech? 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 Virginia Tech than Drexel ($24,912 vs. $42,801).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Virginia Tech are 8.5% lower than at Drexel University ($16,550 vs. $18,096).
  • Drexel University is 291.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Virginia Tech (about $46,464 more per year; $62,412.00 vs. $15,948.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 65.3% higher at Drexel than at Virginia Tech (about $24,648 more per year; $62,412.00 vs. $37,764.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Drexel University than at Virginia Tech (100% vs. 60%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Drexel University students is 282.3% larger than aid received by Virginia Tech students ($35,051 vs. $9,168).

Drexel vs. Virginia Tech Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Virginia Tech (1370) is 30 points higher than at Drexel (1340).
  • Incoming Virginia Tech students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 29 at Drexel).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Drexel University 1240/1440; Virginia Tech 1280/1450.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Drexel University 27/32; Virginia Tech 28/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Drexel - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional); Virginia Tech - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional).
  • Typical fall application deadline: Drexel Jan 15, 2027; Virginia Tech Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Virginia Tech students have a 0.3 point higher average high school GPA (3.97) than students at Drexel (3.67).
  • Drexel has a higher acceptance rate (79.4%) than Virginia Tech (54.8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 8.1% at Drexel vs. 25.3% at Virginia Tech.

Drexel vs. Virginia Tech Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Drexel and Virginia Tech? 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).

  • Virginia Tech's six-year graduation rate (82%) is higher than Drexel University's (68%).
  • Graduates from Drexel University earn a median of about $12,400 more per year than Virginia Tech graduates about ten years after starting college ($77,400 vs. $65,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Virginia Tech graduates have a $2,277 lower median loan debt than Drexel graduates ($23,966 vs. $26,243).
  • Among borrowers, Virginia Tech graduates have an estimated $24 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Drexel graduates ($247 vs. $271).
  • More Virginia Tech graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Drexel students, three years after graduation. (81% 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.