Duke vs. Drexel

Deciding between Duke University and Drexel University? 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.

Duke University
Drexel University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Duke Durham, NC
  • Drexel Philadelphia, PA
  • Setting
  • Duke Midsize City
  • Drexel Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Duke 17,499
  • Drexel 21,153
  • Type
  • Duke Private 4 Year
  • Drexel Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Duke #2
  • Drexel #118
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Duke United Methodist
  • Drexel -
  • Status
  • Duke Non-profit
  • Drexel Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Duke
  • Drexel

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Duke $68,758
  • Drexel $62,412
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Duke $68,758
  • Drexel $62,412
  • Room & Board
  • Duke $18,128
  • Drexel $18,096
  • Average Net Price
  • Duke $21,981
  • Drexel $42,801
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Duke $65,522
  • Drexel $35,051
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Duke 43%
  • Drexel 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Duke 51,795
  • Drexel 37,314
  • Admitted
  • Duke 2,957
  • Drexel 29,642
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Duke 5.7%
  • Drexel 79.4%
  • Enrolled
  • Duke 58.8%
  • Drexel 8.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Duke 1540
  • Drexel 1340
  • Typical ACT score
  • Duke 34
  • Drexel 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • Duke 3.94
  • Drexel 3.67
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Duke A
  • Drexel A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Duke Elite
  • Drexel Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Duke Extreme
  • Drexel
  • ACT Range
  • Duke 34/35
  • Drexel 27/32
  • SAT Range
  • Duke 1500/1570
  • Drexel 1240/1440
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Duke Test optional
  • Drexel Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Duke Jan 3, 2027
  • Drexel Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Duke 5:1
  • Drexel 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Duke
    • Social Sciences (24%)
    • Engineering (16%)
    • Human Services (10%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • Psychology (8%)
  • Drexel
    • Health Professions (22%)
    • Business (21%)
    • Engineering (18%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Duke 94%
  • Drexel 68%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Duke $108,900
  • Drexel $77,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Duke 89%
  • Drexel 77%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Duke $7,500
  • Drexel $26,243
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Duke $77
  • Drexel $271

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Duke 44%
  • Drexel 46%
  • % Women
  • Duke 56%
  • Drexel 54%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Duke Very High
  • Drexel High
  • HBCU
  • Duke No
  • Drexel No
  • % White
  • Duke 46%
  • Drexel 54%
  • % Asian
  • Duke 22%
  • Drexel 14%
  • % Black
  • Duke 10%
  • Drexel 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • Duke 7%
  • Drexel 6%
  • % Native American
  • Duke 1%
  • Drexel 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Duke 0%
  • Drexel 1%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Duke 2%
  • Drexel 3%
  • % International
  • Duke 10%
  • Drexel 13%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Duke 2%
  • Drexel 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Duke 15%
  • Drexel 46%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Duke 73%
  • Drexel 44%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Duke University in Durham, NC with Drexel University in Philadelphia, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Drexel University is larger than Duke based on total student enrollment (21,153 students vs. 17,499 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Duke University is located in Durham, NC (Midsize City setting); Drexel University is in Philadelphia, PA (Large City setting).
  • Duke University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Drexel University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Duke University 5:1; Drexel University 9:1.

Duke vs. Drexel Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Duke or Drexel? 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 Duke University than Drexel ($21,981 vs. $42,801).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Drexel University are 0.2% lower than at Duke University ($18,096 vs. $18,128).
  • Duke University is 10.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Drexel (about $6,346 more per year; $68,758.00 vs. $62,412.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 10.2% higher at Duke than at Drexel University (about $6,346 more per year; $68,758.00 vs. $62,412.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Drexel University than at Duke University (100% vs. 43%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Duke University students is 86.9% larger than aid received by Drexel University students ($65,522 vs. $35,051).

Duke vs. Drexel Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Duke University (1540) is 200 points higher than at Drexel (1340).
  • Incoming Duke students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 29 at Drexel).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Duke University 1500/1570; Drexel University 1240/1440.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Duke University 34/35; Drexel University 27/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Duke - Test optional; Drexel - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Duke Jan 3, 2027; Drexel Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Duke students have a 0.27 point higher average high school GPA (3.94) than students at Drexel (3.67).
  • Drexel has a higher acceptance rate (79.4%) than Duke (5.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 58.8% at Duke vs. 8.1% at Drexel.

Duke vs. Drexel Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Duke and Drexel? 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).

  • Duke University's six-year graduation rate (94%) is higher than Drexel University's (68%).
  • Graduates from Duke University earn a median of about $31,500 more per year than Drexel graduates about ten years after starting college ($108,900 vs. $77,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Duke University graduates have a $18,743 lower median loan debt than Drexel graduates ($7,500 vs. $26,243).
  • Among borrowers, Duke graduates have an estimated $194 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Drexel graduates ($77 vs. $271).
  • More Duke graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Drexel students, three years after graduation. (89% 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.