The promise of inclusion and opportunity has always been central to Drexel's educational mission and that commitment continues today:
- About 13 percent of 2017 entering first-year students identified as underrepresented minorities
- More than 25 percent qualify for Federal Pell Grants, which go only to students with maximum family income of $50,000
- Approximately 30 percent of full-time undergraduates identify as first-generation college students.
To ensure that all of these ambitious, diverse individuals fulfill their tremendous potential, we support them academically, financially, socially and in terms of
their professional development. Scholarships and paid co-ops are the lynchpins of our student success strategy. Other innovations such as learning-living communities,
side-by-side classrooms with community members, and unique academic-industry partnerships continually enhance the Drexel experience. Learn how you can fund scholarships at Drexel.
Still, we have more to do. While 87.6 percent of our incoming students receive University-funded or donor-funded financial aid, Drexel remains an unattainable dream
for many talented young people. And serious inequities exist between co-op salaries for students who secure STEM-based or business-related positions (which average
$16,000 per placement), and the 20 percent who receive little or no co-op pay. The latter work with start-ups, nonprofits or government organizations that cannot offer
salaries, or they want to take advantage of an opportunity to learn and work abroad.
Drexel leans into this challenge, fully committed to achieve these goals:
- Create a strong need-based, endowed-scholarship model that enhances our selectivity, increases our acceptance rate and strengthens student retention;
- Provide salaries for co-ops in the not-for-profit sector to make it possible for students to pursue these socially-important but unpaid experiences;
- Support an array of student-success initiatives that include effective academic advising from admission through graduation, tutorial services, co-op and career
counseling, and individualized mentoring.
We have seen our academic reputation strengthen steadily as we continue to attract, retain and graduate higher-achieving and more diverse students each year.
We can expand student success exponentially, with your
support.