Harvard vs. Drexel

Deciding between Harvard 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.

Harvard University
Drexel University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Harvard Cambridge, MA
  • Drexel Philadelphia, PA
  • Setting
  • Harvard Midsize City
  • Drexel Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Harvard 30,259
  • Drexel 21,153
  • Type
  • Harvard Private 4 Year
  • Drexel Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Harvard #4
  • Drexel #118
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Harvard -
  • Drexel -
  • Status
  • Harvard Non-profit
  • Drexel Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Harvard
  • Drexel

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Harvard $61,676
  • Drexel $62,412
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Harvard $61,676
  • Drexel $62,412
  • Room & Board
  • Harvard $21,190
  • Drexel $18,096
  • Average Net Price
  • Harvard $17,525
  • Drexel $42,801
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Harvard $68,015
  • Drexel $35,051
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Harvard 56%
  • Drexel 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Harvard 54,008
  • Drexel 37,314
  • Admitted
  • Harvard 1,970
  • Drexel 29,642
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Harvard 3.6%
  • Drexel 79.4%
  • Enrolled
  • Harvard 83.6%
  • Drexel 8.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Harvard 1550
  • Drexel 1340
  • Typical ACT score
  • Harvard 35
  • Drexel 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • Harvard 4.0
  • Drexel 3.67
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Harvard A/A+
  • Drexel A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Harvard Elite
  • Drexel Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Harvard Extreme
  • Drexel
  • ACT Range
  • Harvard 34/36
  • Drexel 27/32
  • SAT Range
  • Harvard 1510/1580
  • Drexel 1240/1440
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Harvard Required
  • Drexel Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Harvard Jan 1, 2027
  • Drexel Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Harvard 7:1
  • Drexel 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Harvard
    • Social Sciences (32%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
    • History (9%)
    • Mathematics (6%)
  • Drexel
    • Health Professions (22%)
    • Business (21%)
    • Engineering (18%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Harvard 97%
  • Drexel 68%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Harvard $136,700
  • Drexel $77,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Harvard 70%
  • Drexel 77%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Harvard $6,500
  • Drexel $26,243
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Harvard $67
  • Drexel $271

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Harvard 46%
  • Drexel 46%
  • % Women
  • Harvard 54%
  • Drexel 54%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Harvard Very High
  • Drexel High
  • HBCU
  • Harvard No
  • Drexel No
  • % White
  • Harvard 44%
  • Drexel 54%
  • % Asian
  • Harvard 19%
  • Drexel 14%
  • % Black
  • Harvard 6%
  • Drexel 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • Harvard 10%
  • Drexel 6%
  • % Native American
  • Harvard 0%
  • Drexel 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Harvard 0%
  • Drexel 1%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Harvard 6%
  • Drexel 3%
  • % International
  • Harvard 11%
  • Drexel 13%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Harvard 3%
  • Drexel 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Harvard 14%
  • Drexel 46%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Harvard 68%
  • Drexel 44%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Harvard University in Cambridge, MA with Drexel University in Philadelphia, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Harvard University is larger than Drexel based on total student enrollment (30,259 students vs. 21,153 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Harvard University is located in Cambridge, MA (Midsize City setting); Drexel University is in Philadelphia, PA (Large City setting).
  • Harvard University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Drexel University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Harvard University 7:1; Drexel University 9:1.

Harvard vs. Drexel Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Harvard 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 Harvard University than Drexel ($17,525 vs. $42,801).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Drexel University are 14.6% lower than at Harvard University ($18,096 vs. $21,190).
  • Drexel University is 1.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Harvard (about $736 more per year; $62,412.00 vs. $61,676.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 1.2% higher at Drexel than at Harvard University (about $736 more per year; $62,412.00 vs. $61,676.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Drexel University than at Harvard University (100% vs. 56%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Harvard University students is 94% larger than aid received by Drexel University students ($68,015 vs. $35,051).

Harvard vs. Drexel Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Harvard 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 Harvard.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Harvard University (1550) is 210 points higher than at Drexel (1340).
  • Incoming Harvard students have a 6 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (35 vs. 29 at Drexel).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Harvard University 1510/1580; Drexel University 1240/1440.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Harvard University 34/36; Drexel University 27/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Harvard - Required; Drexel - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Harvard Jan 1, 2027; Drexel Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Harvard students have a 0.33 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at Drexel (3.67).
  • Drexel has a higher acceptance rate (79.4%) than Harvard (3.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 83.6% at Harvard vs. 8.1% at Drexel.

Harvard vs. Drexel Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Harvard 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).

  • Harvard University's six-year graduation rate (97%) is higher than Drexel University's (68%).
  • Graduates from Harvard University earn a median of about $59,300 more per year than Drexel graduates about ten years after starting college ($136,700 vs. $77,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Harvard University graduates have a $19,743 lower median loan debt than Drexel graduates ($6,500 vs. $26,243).
  • Among borrowers, Harvard graduates have an estimated $204 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Drexel graduates ($67 vs. $271).
  • More Drexel graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Harvard students, three years after graduation. (77% vs. 70%)

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.