Drexel University College of Engineering

What Drexel University College of Engineering does

Drexel University College of Engineering — now operating as the Nick Howley College of Engineering and Computing following a 2026 $112.6 million gift from The Howley Foundation — is the engineering and computing college of Drexel University, a private R1 research university founded in 1891 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The college delivers undergraduate, graduate, and professional degree programs across engineering disciplines and computing, distinguished by its cooperative education (co-op) program that embeds up to 18 months of paid, employer-supervised work experience into the degree pathway, allowing students to complete up to three co-ops before graduation.

The college's technology and research profile centers on materials science, most notably MXenes — a family of two-dimensional nanomaterials discovered at Drexel and now studied in over 100 countries — alongside other R1-level research in plasma and interdisciplinary innovation. Educational delivery is supported by standard platform infrastructure including Canvas for learning management and Career Pathway for career services. The college also offers accelerated and combined-degree pathways (BA/BS+MD, BS/MS, bridge programs) and operates alongside multiple Drexel campuses in the Philadelphia region (University City, Center City, Queen Lane, Malvern, Elkins Park) plus Drexel Online for remote learners.

Revenue is generated through three primary streams: tuition and fees (undergraduate, graduate, professional, and online), research grants and contracts (federal, state, private), and philanthropic gifts (notably the $112.6M Howley gift in 2026). Distribution is sales-led through traditional university admissions — recruitment fairs, campus visits, high-school outreach, transfer student programs, and graduate program marketing — supported by the Drexel Promise scholarship (50% tuition for qualifying community college transfers). Outcome metrics are a key value proposition: 96% of undergraduate graduates are working or in graduate school within one year, 94% of working graduates are satisfied with their position, and 48% of co-op participants received a full-time offer from a former co-op employer.

Name

Drexel University College of Engineering

Legal name

Drexel University

Website

https://drexel.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1891

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Drexel University College of Engineering, now the Nick Howley College of Engineering and Computing, is an R1 research university college in Philadelphia delivering undergraduate and graduate engineering and computing degrees distinguished by its co-op program offering up to 18 months of experiential work experience.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education / Engineering Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310), Research and Development in Nanotechnology (541713)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Engineering Services (8711), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

STEM-Focused Research Universities (Engineering & Applied Sciences) (EDAHABAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Engineering & Technology Institutes (Comprehensive) (EDAHAEAA), Comprehensive Doctoral Research Universities (Multi-Disciplinary) (EDAHABAA)

Keywords

• Engineering education
• Cooperative education
• Experiential learning
• R1 research university
• Nanomaterials research

Headquarters

HQ city

Philadelphia

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Revenue from undergraduate, graduate, and professional degree programs including online programs. Financial aid and scholarships are provided to support enrollment.
2. Research Grants and Funding: R1 research institution generating revenue through federal, state, and private research grants and contracts.
3. Philanthropic Gifts and Donations: Major gifts from alumni and donors, including the $112.6 million Howley Foundation gift establishing the Nick Howley College of Engineering and Computing.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Drexel University College of Engineering (renamed the Nick Howley College of Engineering and Computing in 2026) provides undergraduate, graduate, and professional engineering and computing degree programs anchored by a renowned cooperative education (co-op) program offering students up to 18 months of paid industry work experience across up to three co-op rotations. The R1-designated research university also conducts advanced scientific research, including the discovery and continued study of MXenes nanomaterials, and delivers fully online degree pathways through Drexel Online.

Product overview

Drexel University operates as a comprehensive R1 research university with the Nick Howley College of Engineering and Computing at the center of its engineering offerings. The institution provides a portfolio of academic programs including accelerated/combined degree pathways, the renowned co-op program offering up to 18 months of experiential learning, and conducts groundbreaking research in nanomaterials (MXenes). The university supports its educational mission through technology platforms including Canvas LMS for course management and Career Pathway for career services. Research output is communicated through publications including EXEL Magazine and DrexelNow news platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Undergraduate Degree Programs Bachelor's degree programs across engineering and computing disciplines, including experiential learning through the co-op program, designed for high school graduates and transfer students seeking industry-ready engineering qualifications.
• Graduate & Professional Degree Programs

Quantifiable outcome

• 96% of undergraduate graduates are working or enrolled in graduate or professional education within one year of graduation
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Carnegie Mellon University: Private R1 research university with renowned engineering and computing colleges; highly comparable to Drexel in mission, research intensity, and engineering/computing orientation.
• University of Pennsylvania - School of Engineering and Applied Science: Private Ivy League engineering school also based in Philadelphia, competing directly with Drexel for the same regional applicant pool and faculty talent.
• Georgia Institute of Technology: Top-ranked public R1 engineering university with a strong co-op and internship culture and similar emphasis on industry-aligned engineering education.
• Cornell University - College of Engineering: Private Ivy League R1 university with a leading engineering college serving a comparable undergraduate and graduate applicant profile.
• Purdue University - College of Engineering: Public R1 university with one of the largest U.S. engineering colleges and a deeply institutionalized cooperative education program.
• Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute: Private polytechnic R1 university with technology-focused curricula and a similar size and engineering-computing orientation to Drexel's College of Engineering.
• Lehigh University - College of Engineering: Private R1 university in Pennsylvania with an engineering-focused college directly competing for the same Mid-Atlantic applicant pool.
• Stevens Institute of Technology: Private technology-focused university with a cooperative education culture and engineering depth comparable in mission and scale to Drexel's engineering college.

Broad incumbents

• Massachusetts Institute of Technology: Global benchmark private R1 institution with the most prestigious engineering school; broader in scope and scale but defines the category in which Drexel competes.
• Stanford University - School of Engineering: Elite private R1 university with a leading engineering school that operates as a broader incumbent in the same competitive set for top STEM applicants.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/DrexelEngr
• Facebookfacebook.com/drexelengineering
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/drexel-engineering
• TikToktiktok.com/@drexeluniv

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Drexel University College of Engineering