Ranking: Drexel University

Drexel University has demonstrated varied rankings across major ranking bodies in 2025. U.S. News & World Report placed it 86th among national universities, improving from 98th in 2024. However, QS World University Rankings shows a slight improvement, moving from 721-730 in 2025 to 711-720 in 2026. Meanwhile, THE Rankings dropped from 301-350 in 2024 to 351-400 in 2025.

For students planning to study in the USA, Drexel University remains a solid option due to its focus on co-op education and strong ties with industry. It’s consistently listed among the best universities in the USA for practical learning. 

Drexel University World Rankings 2024-25

Drexel University continues to show a mixed performance in global rankings. It improved from 98 to 86 in the U.S. News rankings between 2024 and 2025, while its QS rank has ranked 711-720 in 2026. THE rankings also saw a decline from 301–350 to 351–400 in the same period.

Below are Drexel University's rankings over the past three years:

Ranking Agency	2024	2025	2026
QS World University Rankings	601-610	721-730	711-720
THE World University Rankings	301-350	351-400	N/A
U.S. News National University Ranking	98	86	N/A

The graphical representation below provides a visual comparison of these rankings over time.

Drexel’s standing in the QS World University Rankings shows a fluctuating pattern. The university dropped from 601–610 in 2024 to 721–730 in 2025, which may reflect changes in global academic reputation, research output, or faculty-student ratios. However, in 2026, it recovered slightly to 711–720, suggesting some positive movement in global competitiveness.

In the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings, Drexel declined from 301–350 in 2024 to 351–400 in 2025. 

The most consistent upward movement comes from the U.S. News & World Report National University Ranking, where Drexel improved from 98 in 2024 to 86 in 2025. This likely reflects gains in student outcomes, graduation rates, and faculty resources at the national level.

These rankings reflect the university's evolving position in global and national contexts.​ Now, let’s take a closer look at how Drexel performs in the subject-wise rankings according to different ranking bodies. 

Subject-Wise Rankings of Drexel University

Drexel University's 2025 subject rankings showcase its strengths across various disciplines. Notably, its Materials Science program, like master’s in Materials Sciences,  secured the 201- 250th position globally, reflecting the university's commitment to excellence in this field.

Moving forward, let's delve into the specific rankings provided by prominent organizations.

QS Rankings 2025

Drexel University ranks within the top 350 globally for Medicine in the QS 2026 subject rankings. Other disciplines like chemistry and Chemical Engineering also hold competitive positions. This means, if you’re looking to pursue Masters in Chemistry or Medicine, Drexel could be a good option. 

Here’s a subject-wise breakdown from QS Rankings 2026:

Subject	QS Ranking 2026
Materials Science	201-250
Medicine	301-350
Chemical Engineering	351-400
Chemistry	601-700
Computer Science and Information Systems	651-700

Next, let’s examine Drexel University's performance in the Times Higher Education (THE) Rankings 2025.

Times Higher Education (THE) Rankings 2025

According to the Times Higher Education World University Rankings by Subject 2025, Drexel University stands at 201-250th position in engineering, like Master’s in Engineering 151-175th position in social sciences. 

Along with that, the university secured the following positions:​

Subject	THE Ranking 2025
Engineering	201-250
Business and Economics	301-400
Pyschology	251-300
Computer Science	601-800
Social Sciences	151-175

Let's now explore Drexel University's standings in the U.S. News Rankings 2025.

U.S. News Rankings 2025

The U.S. News & World Report 2025 ranked Drexel University in various disciplines. The university stands at 74th position in nursing and at 51st in undergraduate engineering programs, like bachelor’s in Engineering.

Here is an overview of ASU’s subject-wise rankings as per U.S. News & World Report rankings. 

Subject	U.S. News Ranking 2025
Economics	143
Nursing	74
Undergraduate Engineering Programs	51

Having reviewed these subject-specific rankings, we will now proceed to explore Drexel University's miscellaneous rankings for 2025.

Miscellaneous Rankings 2025

Drexel University earned strong recognition across specialized categories, ranking 29th among Most Innovative Schools by U.S. News & World Report. It also placed well for academic excellence and student lifestyle. These rankings reflect Drexel’s well-rounded performance beyond traditional metrics.

Here’s a look at Drexel’s 2025 miscellaneous rankings:

Ranking Body	Rank
The Wall Street Journal Rankings for Academic Excellence.	54
U.S. News & World Report Most Innovative Schools	29
U.S. News & World Report Best Value Schools"	78
Niche’s Most Liberal Colleges in America	43 out of 724
QS World Sustainability Rankings 2025	771

Now let’s take a look at Drexel University's excellence and achievements.

Drexel University: Excellence and Achievements

Drexel University has achieved notable milestones in academic excellence, cultural contributions, and community support. Notably, it ranks among the top 25 STEM course in the U.S., reflecting its strong emphasis on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education. ​

Let's explore these areas in detail.

Academic Excellence

Drexel University has been recognized for its rigorous academic programs and research initiatives. It has been recognized as one of the top 25 STEM colleges in the US and classified among R1: Doctoral Universities. 

Here are some academic achievements of Drexel University. 

Achievement	Description
Top 25 STEM Colleges	Recognized by Forbes as one of the top 25 STEM colleges in the United States.
High Research Activity	Classified among "R1: Doctoral Universities – Very High Research Activity" by the Carnegie Classification.
Library & Information Studies Ranking	Ranked 14th nationally for Library and Information Studies Specialties by U.S. News & World Report.

Next, let's explore Drexel University's cultural achievements.

Cultural Achievements

Drexel University actively contributes to cultural enrichment and leadership through various initiatives and collaborations like the Academy of Natural Sciences Affiliation.

Here’s the a few cultural achievements and initiatives Drexel takes: 

Achievement	Description
Academy of Natural Sciences Affiliation	Home to the Academy of Natural Sciences, the oldest natural science research institution and museum in the Americas.
Drexel’s Westphal College of Media Arts & Design	Offers diverse programs in arts and design, accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design.
Cultural Partnerships	Promotes cultural events and programs that enrich the community's artistic landscape.

Now, let's examine Drexel University's community support initiatives.

Community Support

Drexel University is deeply involved in community engagement, addressing local needs through innovative programs like the Co-op Program and Intergenerational Home-Sharing Program. 

Here are the community support initiatives Drexel takes: 

Initiative	Description
Intergenerational Home-Sharing Program	Partners with the Mantua community to match students with older residents for affordable housing.
Cooperative Education Program	Offers students up to 18 months of full-time paid work experience.
Community-Based Learning Initiatives	Engages students in projects that address local challenges, promoting civic responsibility and providing practical experience.

Next, we will explore Drexel University's ranking in relation to its acceptance rate.

Drexel University: Ranking V/S Acceptance Rate

Drexel University admission is moderately competitive, with an acceptance rate of 78% for programs like Materials Science, which ranks 201–250 globally. This balance of accessibility and academic quality makes Drexel attractive to international applicants.

Here’s how rankings compare with acceptance rates for select programs:

Program	QS Rankings 2025	Acceptance Rate
Materials Science	201-250	78%
Medicine	301-350
Chemical Engineering	351-400
Chemistry	601-700
Computer Science and Information Systems	651-700

Next, we will explore how various ranking bodies evaluate and rank the universities. 

Ranking Bodies Methodologies

Drexel University’s rankings are determined by various agencies, each using distinct evaluation criteria. QS World Rankings emphasize academic reputation and employability, THE focuses on research and teaching, while U.S. News prioritizes student success and financial stability.

The following sections break down the methodologies used by each ranking body.

QS Ranking Methodology

QS World University Rankings assess universities based on research, employability, global engagement, learning experience, and sustainability. Academic reputation holds the most weight at 30%, followed by citations per faculty at 20%. Employer reputation and employment outcomes  like jobs and internships, contribute 20%, making employability a significant factor.

Here’s the complete list: 

Focus Area	Indicators	Weightage
Research and Discovery	Academic Reputation	30%
	Citations per Faculty	20%
Employability and Outcomes	Employer Reputation	15%
	Employment Outcomes	5%
Global Engagement	International Faculty Ratio	5%
	International Research Network	5%
	International Student Ratio	5%
	International Student Diversity	0%
Learning Experience	Faculty Student Ratio	10%
Sustainability	Sustainability	5%

Now, let’s examine how THE Rankings evaluate universities.

THE Ranking Methodology

The Times Higher Education (THE) Rankings focus on teaching, research, international outlook, like international internships and collaborations with employers and industry engagement. Research reputation is the highest-weighted factor at 18%, while teaching reputation accounts for 15%. Research quality, including citation impact and research excellence, contributes 30% to the final score. 

Here’s the full ranking methodology:

Focus Area	Indicators	Weightage
Teaching	Teaching Reputation	15%
	Staff-to-student ratio	4.5%
	Doctorate-to-bachelor’s ratio	2%
	Doctorates-awarded-to-academic-staff ratio	5.5%
	Institutional income	2.5%
Research Environment	Research reputation	18%
	Research income	5.5%
	Research productivity	5.5%
Research Quality	Citation impact	15%
	Research strength	5%
	Research excellence	5%
	Research influence	5%
International Outlook	Proportion of international students	2.5%
	Proportion of international staff	2.5%
	International collaboration	2.5%
Industry	Industry income	2%
	Patents	2%

Let’s now look at the methodology used by U.S. News Rankings.

U.S. News Ranking Methodology

U.S. News & World Report rankings focus on graduation rates, financial stability, and faculty quality. Graduation and retention rates contribute 36.5%, reflecting student success. Financial resources, including faculty salaries and institutional investment, account for 19%. 

Here’s the complete list of factors U.S. News Rankings take into account: 

Focus Indicators	Weightage
Graduation Rates	16%
First-year retention rates	5%
Graduation rate performance	10%
Pell graduation rates	5.5%
Pell graduation performance	5.5%
College grads earning more than a high school grad	5%
Borrower debt	5%
Peer assessment	20%
Financial resources	8%
Faculty salaries	8%
Full-time faculty	3%
Student-faculty ratio	4%
Standardized tests	5%

Next, let’s see how upGrad can support you in your education journey. 

How Will upGrad Help You?

upGrad provides students and professionals with expert mentorship, industry-focused courses, and flexible learning options to enhance academic and career prospects. With structured bridge courses, you can build foundational knowledge and transition into advanced fields like AI, machine learning, and data science.

Additionally, upGrad’s study abroad program offers the following benefits:

• Expert Mentorship: Learn from industry professionals and academic experts who provide personalized guidance to help you succeed.
• Industry-Relevant Courses: Gain practical skills through courses designed to meet current industry needs and trends.
• Flexible Learning Options: Choose from online, hybrid, and self-paced courses to balance education with other commitments.
• Career Support: Get career coaching, job placement assistance, and networking opportunities with top recruiters.
• Recognized Certifications: Earn certifications valued by leading employers to enhance your job prospects.

Here are the study abroad opportunities upGrad provide with Drexel University: 

• Master of Business Administration
• MS in Civil Engineering
• MS in Robotics and Autonomous Systems
• MS in Machine Learning Engineering

Wrapping up: Drexel University 2025 Ranking Analysis

Drexel University’s rankings present a moderate-to-strong academic standing, especially in national rankings. U.S. News & World Report ranks it 86th, an improvement from 98th in 2024, making it a solid mid-tier option in the U.S. 

However, QS World University Rankings place it between 711-720 in 2026, improving slightly from the previous year (721-730), indicating improving academic reputations and global recognition.

Program-wise, Materials Science (201-250 in QS) and Engineering (201-250 in THE) remain competitive. However, Drexel lags in global rankings due to employer perception and research influence.

Additional rankings, such as 54th by The Wall Street Journal and 29th for Innovation (U.S. News), highlight its strengths in applied education and research.

For students considering Drexel, it remains a viable choice, particularly for STEM fields, but those seeking top-ranked global institutions may explore alternatives.