You're looking at Drexel. Maybe it's the legendary co-op program or that gritty, ambitious Philadelphia energy that caught your eye. But then you hit the "sticker price" page and your stomach drops. If you're coming from New Jersey, California, or literally anywhere outside the Pennsylvania border, you're probably hunting for that specific drexel university tuition out of state rate.
Here is the first thing you need to know: it doesn't exist.
Drexel is a private research university. Unlike big state schools like Penn State or Temple, Drexel doesn't care where you went to high school when they write the bill. Everyone—whether you live three blocks away in West Philly or three thousand miles away in Seattle—starts with the same base price.
The Real Numbers for 2025–2026
Let's get into the weeds. For the 2025–2026 academic year, the base tuition is roughly $61,842.
That is a big number. It's enough to buy a very nice car every single year. But that isn't the total. When you add in the mandatory university fees (about $2,370) and the one-time immunization fee of $50, the "sticker price" for just being a student sits around $64,212.
Then comes the living part. Philadelphia isn't the cheapest city, though it's more affordable than New York or Boston. If you're living on campus, which most first-year students do, you're looking at:
- Housing: Around $11,685
- Food: Roughly $7,146
- Books and Supplies: $1,200 (pro tip: buy used)
- Transportation and Personal Expenses: About $1,500
When you tally it all up, the total "Cost of Attendance" (COA) for a student living on campus is approximately $86,353 per year.
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Why Nobody Actually Pays $86k
Honestly, if every student paid $86,000 a year, the campus would be a ghost town.
Drexel is aggressive with financial aid. In fact, about 99% of incoming first-year students receive some form of financial assistance. This is where the "out of state" worry starts to fade. Because Drexel is private, they use their own massive endowment to bridge the gap for students they really want.
The average net price—which is what people actually pay after grants and scholarships—is closer to $42,342. Still a lot? Yes. But it’s a far cry from eighty-six grand.
Scholarships: The Secret Weapon for Out-of-State Students
Since you aren't getting a "resident discount," you have to hunt for the merit-based stuff. Drexel automatically considers you for merit scholarships when you apply. You don't even have to fill out an extra form for the big ones.
However, there are "niche" scholarships that many people miss:
- The Drexel Promise: If you’re a transfer student coming from a community college with an associate degree, Drexel might give you a 50% tuition discount. This is huge.
- Westphal Portfolio Scholarship: For the artsy kids. If your portfolio blows them away, they’ll throw money at you.
- FIRST Robotics: If you were the kid building robots in high school, there’s an $8,000 annual scholarship with your name on it.
To even be in the running for need-based aid, you must file the CSS Profile and the FAFSA. Drexel uses the CSS Profile (which costs a small fee) to look at your family's deeper financial picture, not just the basic tax info on the FAFSA.
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The Co-op Factor: Making the Money Back
You can't talk about Drexel tuition without talking about the Co-op. It's their whole brand.
Most Drexel students spend six months working a full-time job instead of sitting in a classroom. During those six months, you don't pay tuition. Let that sink in. You’re still a student, you still have access to the gym and the library, but the tuition bill for those months is zero.
Even better? Most of these co-ops are paid. Engineering or business students often pull in $15,000 to $25,000 during a single six-month stint. Some students use that cash to pay down their room and board for the following term. It doesn't lower the tuition price, but it drastically lowers the amount of debt you take on.
Comparing the "Out of State" Trap
If you're debating between Drexel and a public school in your home state, the math is tricky.
A public university in your home state might cost you $30,000 total. A public university outside your state (like UMass or Ohio State) will likely charge you an "out-of-state" premium that pushes the total toward $55,000 or $60,000.
At that point, the gap between a "public out-of-state" school and Drexel starts to shrink. If Drexel offers you a $30,000 merit scholarship—which is fairly common for high achievers—Drexel might actually end up being cheaper than a big state school in a different time zone.
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What You Should Do Right Now
Stop looking at the sticker price. It's a fake number used for accounting and prestige.
First, use the Drexel Net Price Calculator. It takes about ten minutes. Put in your actual family income and your GPA. It will give you a much more honest estimate of what your drexel university tuition out of state will actually look like.
Second, check the deadlines. If you miss the February 1st priority deadline for the FAFSA and CSS Profile, you're essentially leaving money on the table. Private schools have a "first come, first served" vibe with their institutional grants.
Third, look at the 4-year vs. 5-year plan. Drexel offers both. The 5-year plan includes three co-ops. While it takes longer to graduate, you're earning money and gaining 18 months of work experience. For many, that's the only way the math makes sense.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Gather your 2024 tax returns and your parents' asset info.
- Complete the CSS Profile by November 25 (Early Action) or February 1 (Regular Decision).
- Check the "Scholarship" tab in your Discover Drexel portal weekly after applying; sometimes they ask for extra essays that can land you another $2,000–$5,000.
- Compare the "Net Price" of Drexel against your local state school's "In-State" price to see the true "Private School Premium" you'd be paying.