Northeastern vs. Drexel

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

Northeastern University
Drexel University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Northeastern Boston, MA
  • Drexel Philadelphia, PA
  • Setting
  • Northeastern Large City
  • Drexel Large City
  • Enrollment
  • Northeastern 32,553
  • Drexel 21,153
  • Type
  • Northeastern Private 4 Year
  • Drexel Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Northeastern #128
  • Drexel #118
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Northeastern -
  • Drexel -
  • Status
  • Northeastern Non-profit
  • Drexel Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Northeastern
  • Drexel

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Northeastern $66,162
  • Drexel $62,412
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Northeastern $66,162
  • Drexel $62,412
  • Room & Board
  • Northeastern $19,580
  • Drexel $18,096
  • Average Net Price
  • Northeastern $34,207
  • Drexel $42,801
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Northeastern $50,421
  • Drexel $35,051
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Northeastern 66%
  • Drexel 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Northeastern 98,425
  • Drexel 37,314
  • Admitted
  • Northeastern 5,133
  • Drexel 29,642
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Northeastern 5.2%
  • Drexel 79.4%
  • Enrolled
  • Northeastern 53.8%
  • Drexel 8.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Northeastern 1490
  • Drexel 1340
  • Typical ACT score
  • Northeastern 34
  • Drexel 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • Northeastern 3.91
  • Drexel 3.67
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Northeastern A-
  • Drexel B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Northeastern Elite
  • Drexel Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Northeastern Extreme
  • Drexel
  • ACT Range
  • Northeastern 33/35
  • Drexel 27/32
  • SAT Range
  • Northeastern 1440/1540
  • Drexel 1240/1440
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Northeastern Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Drexel Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Application Deadline
  • Northeastern Jan 1, 2027
  • Drexel Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Northeastern 16:1
  • Drexel 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Northeastern
    • Business (25%)
    • Engineering (11%)
    • Health Professions (11%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Communication (6%)
  • Drexel
    • Health Professions (22%)
    • Business (21%)
    • Engineering (18%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Northeastern 77%
  • Drexel 68%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Northeastern $69,500
  • Drexel $77,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Northeastern 79%
  • Drexel 77%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Northeastern $27,875
  • Drexel $26,243
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Northeastern $288
  • Drexel $271

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Northeastern 25%
  • Drexel 14%
  • % Women
  • Northeastern 22%
  • Drexel 23%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Northeastern Very High
  • Drexel High
  • HBCU
  • Northeastern No
  • Drexel No
  • % White
  • Northeastern 48%
  • Drexel 54%
  • % Asian
  • Northeastern 12%
  • Drexel 14%
  • % Black
  • Northeastern 4%
  • Drexel 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • Northeastern 7%
  • Drexel 6%
  • % Native American
  • Northeastern 0%
  • Drexel 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Northeastern 0%
  • Drexel 1%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Northeastern 4%
  • Drexel 3%
  • % International
  • Northeastern 20%
  • Drexel 13%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Northeastern 6%
  • Drexel 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Northeastern 27%
  • Drexel 46%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Northeastern 62%
  • Drexel 44%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Northeastern University is larger than Drexel based on total student enrollment (32,553 students vs. 21,153 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Northeastern University is located in Boston, MA (Large City setting); Drexel University is in Philadelphia, PA (Large City setting).
  • Northeastern University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Drexel University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Northeastern University 16:1; Drexel University 9:1.

Northeastern vs. Drexel Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Northeastern 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 Northeastern University than Drexel ($34,207 vs. $42,801).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Drexel University are 7.6% lower than at Northeastern University ($18,096 vs. $19,580).
  • Northeastern University is 6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Drexel (about $3,750 more per year; $66,162.00 vs. $62,412.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 6% higher at Northeastern than at Drexel University (about $3,750 more per year; $66,162.00 vs. $62,412.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Drexel University than at Northeastern University (100% vs. 66%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Northeastern University students is 43.9% larger than aid received by Drexel University students ($50,421 vs. $35,051).

Northeastern vs. Drexel Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Northeastern 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 Northeastern.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Northeastern University (1490) is 150 points higher than at Drexel (1340).
  • Incoming Northeastern 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: Northeastern University 1440/1540; Drexel University 1240/1440.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Northeastern University 33/35; Drexel University 27/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Northeastern - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional); Drexel - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional).
  • Typical fall application deadline: Northeastern Jan 1, 2027; Drexel Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Northeastern students have a 0.24 point higher average high school GPA (3.91) than students at Drexel (3.67).
  • Drexel has a higher acceptance rate (79.4%) than Northeastern (5.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 53.8% at Northeastern vs. 8.1% at Drexel.

Northeastern vs. Drexel Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Northeastern 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).

  • Northeastern University's six-year graduation rate (77%) is higher than Drexel University's (68%).
  • Graduates from Drexel University earn a median of about $7,900 more per year than Northeastern graduates about ten years after starting college ($77,400 vs. $69,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Drexel University graduates have a $1,632 lower median loan debt than Northeastern graduates ($26,243 vs. $27,875).
  • Among borrowers, Drexel graduates have an estimated $17 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Northeastern graduates ($271 vs. $288).
  • More Northeastern graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Drexel students, three years after graduation. (79% 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.