Widener vs Drexel University
When it comes to higher education in Pennsylvania, Widener University and Drexel University stand out as two prominent institutions with distinct offerings. Widener, a private university with a picturesque campus in Chester, boasts a strong liberal arts foundation and a focus on experiential learning. Drexel, a private research university located in the heart of Philadelphia, is renowned for its cooperative education program, which seamlessly integrates classroom learning with real-world work experience. While both universities share a commitment to academic excellence, they differ in terms of acceptance rates, popular majors, student body demographics, and graduation rates. Explore our comprehensive comparison table to discover which university aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
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![]() Drexel University |
![]() Widener University |
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Overview |
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Location | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Chester, Pennsylvania |
Campus setting | City: Large | Suburb: Large |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Private (Non Profit) | Private (Non Profit) |
Calendar system | Quarter | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 90.0% | 85.0% |
![]() |
Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 82.6% | 84.5% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$50
Graduate:
$65
|
$35 |
SAT range | 1210 - 1410 | 1080 - 1275 |
ACT range | 26 - 32 | N/A |
Students submitting SAT score | 37.0% | 28.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 9.0% | |
Total number of applicants | 34,519 | 5,719 |
Total number of admissions given out | 28,522 | 4,834 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 2,854 | 608 |
Yield rate | 10.0% | 12.6% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Required | Required |
Recommendation letters | Required | Not required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Required | Required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price | $77,478 | $61,748 |
Average net price | $26,076 | $25,343 |
Tuition | $54,766 | $48,724 |
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$10,320
Meal plan:
$6,168
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Room/dormitory:
$7,748
Meal plan:
$7,060
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Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
100.0%
Average amount $33,241 |
100.0%
Average amount $32,036 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
61.0%
Average amount $5,326 |
75.0%
Average amount $5,440 |
Students taking out private loans |
11.0%
Average amount $25,237 |
24.0%
Average amount $12,154 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
14,413
Men 51.2% Women 48.8% |
2,766
Men 41.9% Women 58.1% |
Graduate students |
8,803
Men 36.1% Women 63.9% |
3,109
Men 28.1% Women 71.9% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Moderate
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Low
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Out-of-state students | 50.5% | 40.5% |
International students | 9.2% | 2.0% |
Campus local/setting | City: Large | Suburb: Large |
Dormitory capacity | 3,667 | 1,400 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | Pennsylvania New Jersey New York Maryland California | Pennsylvania New Jersey Maryland Delaware New York |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 10:1 | 12:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Middle States Commission on Higher Education | Middle States Commission on Higher Education |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 78.2% | 68.4% |
Dropout rate | 21.1% | 7.7% |
Transferred out | N/A | 23.5% |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General (Master's Degrees)
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Master's Degrees)
Business/Commerce, General (Master's Degrees)
Engineering-Related Fields (Master's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Computer Science (Master's Degrees)
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Master's Degrees)
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services (Master's Degrees)
Educational Administration and Supervision (Doctoral Degrees)
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Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (Doctoral Degrees)
Chemical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Business/Commerce, General (Master's Degrees)
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology (Doctoral Degrees)
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies (Master's Degrees)
Law (First Professional Degrees)
Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Civil Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
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