Undergraduate Grants and Scholarships
Grants are a form of gift aid that does not have to be repaid. Eligibility for a grant may depend on financial need or on any criteria defined by the funding source.
Scholarships are awarded on a competitive basis and may reflect academic excellence as well as demonstrated financial need. The level of scholarship assistance depends on the quality of your academic record, the availability of funds, and whether you are a part-time or full-time student. Some funding also considers the amount of financial need. Drexel funds may only be used for tuition.
These awards are made from either general University funds or specific funds earmarked by donors for financial aid. Named scholarships may replace general University funds when candidates are identified. Students who receive named funds are expected to write a thank-you note to the donor.
Students with full tuition provided by Drexel funds, including Drexel tuition remission, full-time athletic grants, and ROTC grants, are not eligible for additional Drexel scholarships and grants.
Drexel offers the following types of scholarships and awards:
Full-Tuition Academic Scholarships
National Merit Finalists Scholarship
Incoming freshmen who are National Merit Finalists are eligible to receive a full-tuition scholarship. Students must submit a copy of their finalist notification letter to Freshman Admissions via enroll@drexel.edu by May 1 to be considered for this scholarship.
Drexel Liberty Scholars
The Drexel Liberty Scholars program provides 50 full-tuition scholarships to low-income students who are residents of Philadelphia and attend Philadelphia high schools, including public, private, parochial, charter, and prep schools within the city limits. This program is only available to incoming freshmen. Learn more about the Drexel Liberty Scholars program.
Drexel Global Scholars
Incoming international freshmen are eligible to apply for a full-tuition scholarship. This award will go to a limited number of students with strong academic credentials as well as considerable accomplishments outside of the classroom, such as community service and extracurricular activities. In order to be considered for this scholarship, the student must submit a complete application to Drexel by the January 15 deadline as well as the additional Drexel Global Scholarship application materials by February 1. This award does not cover University fees, housing, or meal plan costs.
Eagles Fly for Leukemia Scholarship
Drexel University, in affiliation with the Eagles Fly for Leukemia Foundation, annually awards one full-tuition scholarship to an incoming freshman who has survived cancer in his or her lifetime. Applications for the Eagles Fly for Leukemia Scholarship must be submitted by January 15.
Partial-Tuition Academic Scholarships
A.J. Drexel Scholarship
The A.J. Drexel Scholarship is a partial-tuition merit award granted to incoming freshmen by the Admission Committee based upon superior academic performance. Students are evaluated for the scholarship at the same time they are considered for admission, and they are notified of the award in their acceptance letter.
To be considered for an A.J. Drexel Scholarship, a complete application must be on file by January 15. The scholarships are renewable each year that the student maintains a 2.75 cumulative GPA and full-time status in the undergraduate degree program.
Dean's Award Transfer Scholarship
In order to recognize the outstanding academic achievements of transfer students, Drexel automatically considers full-time transfer applicants for Dean's Award Transfer Scholarships. Dean's scholars may earn up to $18,500 annually and awards are renewable each year.
All full-time undergraduate, on-campus day program applicants are automatically considered for merit aid during the admissions review process. Notification of an awarded transfer scholarship will appear on your official acceptance letter. Accelerated Nursing and Radiologic Technology students are not eligible for scholarships.
Drexel Affiliated Awards
Dragon Alumni Scholarship
The Dragon Alumni Scholarship program allows graduates of Drexel University to provide recommendations for prospective Drexel students. The scholarship, awarded each year of a student's full-time enrollment, is $1,000 per year. Request a Dragon Alumni Scholarship Recommendation.
Dragon Family Scholarship
Beginning with students first enrolling in fall 2009, the Dragon Family Scholarship is offered to two or more children from the same family who attend or graduated from Drexel University as undergraduates. The recipients must be enrolled in a full-time undergraduate program. The award is $3,000 per year and is renewable. Qualified students who enrolled prior to fall 2009 will receive an annual award of $1,400.
Drexel Legacy Scholarship
The Drexel Legacy Scholarship will be offered to children and grandchildren of Drexel University alumni. Legacy scholarship recipients must be enrolled in a full-time undergraduate program. The award is $3,000 per year and is renewable if you maintain full-time status.
Drexel Early FAFSA Grant
The Drexel Early FAFSA Grant is offered to incoming students who complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by February 15. The $1,000 award is applied to the first year's tuition.
Travel Tuition Reduction Program
Through the Travel Tuition Reduction program, if you live more than 150 miles from Drexel University, you may be eligible to receive up to $500 off your full-time freshman or transfer tuition — just by visiting campus. Learn more about Drexel's Travel Tuition Reduction Program.
Participation Scholarships
These are awards granted for participation in specific activities. Students interested in being considered for one of these awards should contact the offering department directly.
Freshman Frontiers Scholarship
All students accepted to the Freshman Frontiers: First Term in Dublin program are automatically considered for the Freshman Frontiers Scholarship. This $1,000 scholarship is applied to tuition and is renewable each year, provided that the student is enrolled in a full-time undergraduate day program and maintains a cumulative 2.75 GPA.
Outside and Private Awards
Phi Theta Kappa
Drexel offers an annual $1,500 scholarship to full-time transfer students who are active members of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. Nursing ACE, RN-BSN Degree Completion, Invasive Cardiovascular Technology, and Radiologic Technology applicants are not eligible for this scholarship.
A Better Chance Scholarship
Drexel will award $10,000 scholarships to incoming freshmen who have participated in the A Better Chance program. Applications for the A Better Chance Scholarship must be submitted by January 15. Eligible students must also complete the admissions process by January 15 for the following academic year.
Joseph L. Carley Scholarship
Open to incoming freshmen who reside in or attend high school in one of the following New Jersey counties: Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, and Salem. Students must major in Information Technology, Nursing, Business and Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Engineering, or the sciences. In addition to residency and intended major, students should have demonstrated leadership potential to be considered for the scholarship. Applications for the Joseph L. Carley Scholarship must be submitted by January 15.
Champions of Caring Scholarship
We award one $10,000 scholarship to an outstanding student who has participated in this program. Applications for the Champions of Caring Scholarship must be submitted by January 15.
Delaware Valley Science Fair Winners Scholarships
Winners of the Delaware Valley Science Fair, which is sponsored by Drexel University, are eligible for partial- and full-tuition scholarships.
Drexel Distinguished Service Scholarship
Incoming freshmen with a significant record of community service, service learning, or civic engagement may be eligible for the $5,000 Distinguished Service Scholarship. Consideration will be given to Congressional Service Award recipients, participants in Corporation for National and Community Service programs (e.g., Learn and Serve America, AmeriCorps, or City Year), and applicants with distinguished high school service records. Applications for the Drexel Distinguished Service Scholarship must be submitted by January 15.
Philadelphia Youth Chess Challenge Scholarship
Two $2,500 tuition scholarships will be awarded to students who have actively participated in the Philadelphia Youth Chess Challenge. Students must complete an online scholarship application and submit a personal statement. To be eligible for this scholarship, students must complete the admission process by January 15 for the following fall. Applications for the Philadelphia Youth Chess Challenge Scholarship must be submitted by January 15.
SAGE Tuition Rewards
SAGE ("Savings and Growth for Education") Tuition Rewards is a unique, private college savings program. Tuition Rewards are discounts off tuition at participating colleges that represent the minimum scholarship that an eligible student will receive if attending a member college. Students receive Tuition Rewards from multiple "sponsors" (for example, parents and grandparents). A sponsor designates the tuition rewards to students when they begin their senior year of high school. If the students do not use the tuition rewards, they are rolled back into the sponsor's "bucket" for use by other students.
Drexel counts Tuition Rewards as part of the normal institutional and merit scholarships. Students are eligible to join the SAGE Tuition Rewards program from birth until their completion of 10th grade.