Drexel University

Name

Drexel University

Legal name

Drexel University

Website

https://drexel.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1891

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131), Educational Support Services (61171)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Comprehensive Doctoral Research Universities (Multi-Disciplinary) (EDAHABAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

STEM-Focused Research Universities (Engineering & Applied Sciences) (EDAHABAB), University/College Continuing Education (Extension) Programs (EDAAAEAA), Diploma-to-Degree / Articulation & Credit-Transfer Pathways (EDAIAJAG)

Keywords

• Higher education
• Cooperative education
• Research university
• Experiential learning
• Academic programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Philadelphia

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Primary revenue stream from undergraduate and graduate tuition, with varying costs across programs. University offers financial aid and scholarships.
2. Research Grants and Sponsored Programs: Significant funding from federal agencies including NIH (health disparities research, autism research), NSF, FAA, and foundations for academic research across disciplines.
3. Gifts and Endowments: Philanthropic contributions including the landmark $112.6 million gift from The Howley Foundation establishing the Nick Howley College of Engineering and Computing.
4. Co-op Program and Experiential Learning: Cooperative education program generating revenue through employer partnerships and student participation fees.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Drexel University is a private research university offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional degree programs across multiple colleges and schools. Its signature offering is the renowned cooperative education (co-op) program, allowing students to gain up to 18 months of paid professional experience through up to three co-ops before graduation. The university also operates research initiatives in engineering, biomedical sciences, materials science (MXenes), AI/computer vision, and public health.

Product overview

Drexel University is a comprehensive R1 research university offering educational programs across multiple colleges and schools. The university's technology offerings include educational platforms (Canvas LMS), research prototypes (BioCoach AI exercise coaching system), and nanomaterials research (MXene technology). The institution's product portfolio centers on academic programs, experiential learning opportunities including the co-op program, and research initiatives rather than commercial software products. Canvas serves as the primary learning management system integrating with DrexelOne Portal and Banner Student Information System.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Undergraduate Degree Programs
• Graduate & Professional Degree Programs
• Online Degree Programs
• Drexel Co-op Program
• Canvas Learning Management System
• MXene Technology Research

Quantifiable outcome

• 96% of undergraduate graduates working or enrolled in graduate education within one year of graduation
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability8 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Cooper University Health CarecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2026Strategic workforce collaboration between Drexel's College of Nursing and Health Professions and Cooper University Health Care to expand nursing education access and create pathways from learning to professional practice.
• BlinkLab LimitedcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2026Drexel University added as the ninth clinical site for BlinkLab's pivotal FDA 510(k) trial of BlinkLab Dx 1, an AI-powered autism diagnostic aid. Trial enrolls approximately 528 children aged 2-11 years.
• Pennsylvania Association of Intermediate Units (PAIU)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Partnership to offer tuition savings and professional development for educators across Pennsylvania, including launching an accelerated EdD program to address educational challenges.
• Caregility CorporationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2025Partnership to incorporate virtual care technology and training into Drexel's College of Nursing and Health Professions programs, including advanced simulation tools and equipment donation.
• Salus UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2024Integration partnership beginning with control transfer in June 2024 and continuing with full integration by the 2025/2026 academic year. Salus University will merge into Drexel University.
• Michigan State UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint development of BioCoach AI-powered exercise coaching system using computer vision and biomechanical modeling for real-time exercise form feedback.
• CSL and TEKsystemsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEight new corporate partners added to Drexel's College of Computing & Informatics program.
• DeloittecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeBow College of Business Center for Applied AI and Business Analytics partnered with Deloitte to deliver annual Datathon for students.
• Aramark and Philadelphia PhilliesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDrexel's Center for Applied AI partnered with Aramark and the Philadelphia Phillies on capstone courses.
• BurlingtonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeBow College of Business launched new leadership development partnership with Burlington.
• Empactful CapitalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCharles D. Close School of Entrepreneurship partnership with representatives serving as inaugural Investor-in-Residence through mentorship and classroom participation.
• Keystone AI + Quantum FactorycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPennsylvania statewide innovation network including Drexel, Carnegie Mellon, Lehigh, Penn State, Temple, UPenn, and Pitt, built on AI/quantum research, workforce development, and shared GPU/CPU infrastructure.
• Dominique Calhoun / Remix LivingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPhiladelphia interior designer partnered with Drexel to host a co-op program offering students six months of paid, real-world experience in interior design.
• PGA of America (Philadelphia Section)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeBow College of Business Dornsife Office for Experiential Learning partnered with PGA of America's Philadelphia section for annual Marketing Crisis Challenge.
• Urban Poverty and Business Initiative at Notre DameminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerClose School partnered with Notre Dame's Keough School of Global Affairs to establish Dragon Launch Philly program supporting Philadelphia community members experiencing poverty who want to start or expand businesses.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Lehigh University: A private Pennsylvania research university with strong engineering and business schools. Comparable in scale, R1 classification, and student-outcomes positioning to Drexel, and competes with Drexel for Pennsylvania students and corporate recruitment partners.
• Carnegie Mellon University: A Pennsylvania-based private R1 research university with world-class engineering, computer science, and AI programs – closely aligned with Drexel's College of Engineering and Computing strengths. Both compete for STEM talent and federal research funding, and partner in the Keystone AI + Quantum Factory consortium.
• Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute: A private STEM-focused research university with comparable engineering and computing emphasis, similar headcount scale, and a research-intensive operating model. Targets a similar student demographic interested in technical careers and applied research.
• Northeastern University: Northeastern is the closest direct peer to Drexel: a private research university built around a globally recognized co-op/experiential learning model with strong engineering, computing, and health-sciences programs. Both compete for similar students, faculty, and corporate co-op employer partners.
• Villanova University: A Philadelphia-area private research university with comparable undergraduate-focused profile, NCAA Division I athletics, and STEM/business offerings. Competes head-to-head with Drexel for the same regional applicant pool and corporate recruiting relationships.
• Stevens Institute of Technology: A private research university of comparable size focused on engineering, computing, and applied technology with a co-op-equivalent experiential learning tradition. Competes with Drexel for STEM applicants and corporate research partners in the Northeast corridor.
• Case Western Reserve University: A private R1 research university of similar size and profile, with strengths in engineering, computing, and biomedical research. Comparable private research operating model, federal research funding base, and health-sciences expansion via hospital partnerships.

Broad incumbents

• University of Pennsylvania: An Ivy League private R1 university headquartered in Philadelphia with elite engineering, business, and medical schools. Sets the upper-bound competitive benchmark in the Philadelphia market for talent, faculty, research grants, and corporate partnerships.
• Temple University: A large Philadelphia-based R1 public research university offering broad undergraduate and graduate programs including health professions and business. Comparable in geographic market, scale, and program mix, though public-funded rather than tuition-driven like Drexel.
• Tufts University: A private R1 research university with comparable ranking tier, strong health sciences and engineering programs, and similar endowment/donor dynamics. Comparable in private-research positioning though with broader liberal-arts core than Drexel.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/drexel-university-19245
• TikToktiktok.com/@drexeluniv
• Xx.com/DrexelNews
• Facebookfacebook.com/186291828074120

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds5 records

Investors4 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments1 record

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Drexel University