Salus University
Salus University, now Drexel University's Elkins Park Campus, is a graduate and professional health science institution offering doctoral and master's degrees in optometry, physician assistant studies, audiology, occupational therapy, speech-language pathology, orthotics and prosthetics, and biomedicine, serving students across the U.S. and 13+ countries.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2008
- HeadquartersElkins Park, United States
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Salus University does
Salus University, now operating as Drexel University's Elkins Park Campus following a merger finalized on July 3, 2025, is a graduate and professional health science institution located at 8360 Old York Road in Elkins Park, Pennsylvania, just outside Philadelphia. The institution traces its lineage to the Pennsylvania College of Optometry (founded over 100 years ago) and was constituted as Salus University in 2008; its academic portfolio spans three colleges — the Pennsylvania College of Optometry, the College of Nursing and Health Professions, and the College of Medicine — offering doctoral and master's degrees in Optometry, Physician Assistant Studies, Occupational Therapy, Speech-Language Pathology, Orthotics and Prosthetics, Audiology, and Biomedicine.
Its technology stack is built around simulation-based clinical training, including a Standardized Patient Program with an integrated simulation center, early clinical exposure starting in the first stages of education, and an 18-month integrated O&P residency with dual mentorship. Specialized tools include Monarch Braille Displays for Blindness and Low Vision Studies. The institution operates four clinical training and service facilities — The Eye Institute, the Pennsylvania Ear Institute, the Speech-Language Institute, and the William Feinbloom Low Vision Rehabilitation Center — which both train students and generate patient-care revenue.
Revenue is generated primarily through tuition and fees across its multi-year professional programs, supplemented by clinical service fees from affiliated patient-care facilities, federal research grants (including National Eye Institute funding for trials such as CITT-ART), and alumni giving. The Osborne Audiology distance education program extends the institution's reach to students in 13+ countries. Following the 2025 merger, Salus's programs now award Drexel University degrees and operate within Drexel's College of Medicine, College of Nursing and Health Professions, and Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and Professional Studies, combining two 100+ year institutional legacies.
Salus University firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Salus University
- Legal name
- Salus University
- Website
- https://salus.edu
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2008
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- Salus University, now Drexel University's Elkins Park Campus, is a graduate and professional health science institution offering doctoral and master's degrees in optometry, physician assistant studies, audiology, occupational therapy, speech-language pathology, orthotics and prosthetics, and biomedicine, serving students across the U.S. and 13+ countries.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Salus University industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Higher Education - Health Sciences
- NAICS
- Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Schools of Optometry (EDAHAGAN)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Allied Health & Rehabilitation Sciences Schools (PT/OT/SLP, etc.) (EDAHAGAH)
Keywords
Where Salus University is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Elkins Park
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Salus University business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Tuition and Fees: Professional and graduate degree programs in health science professions generate revenue through tuition charges for Doctor of Optometry, Physician Assistant, Occupational Therapy, Speech-Language Pathology, Orthotics and Prosthetics, and other health programs
- Clinical Services: Revenue from clinical facilities including The Eye Institute, Pennsylvania Ear Institute, Speech-Language Institute, and William Feinbloom Low Vision Rehabilitation Center providing patient care services
- Grants and Research Funding: National Eye Institute (NEI) funded research including CITT-ART and other clinical trials generate research funding
- Alumni Giving and Donations: Development and alumni relations activities generating charitable contributions to support programs
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Graduate health science professional programs |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels7 records
Salus University product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Salus University is a graduate and professional health sciences institution that offers degree and certificate programs in optometry, physician assistant studies, occupational therapy, speech-language pathology, orthotics and prosthetics, audiology, and biomedicine. It supplements classroom instruction with simulation-based training, standardized patient experiences, early clinical exposure, and integrated residency models, while also operating clinical facilities that deliver patient care in eye care, hearing, speech-language, and low vision rehabilitation.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Pennsylvania College of Optometry (PCO): College focused on optometry education and clinical care, with programs in Doctor of Optometry, residency programs, and international optometry programs
- College of Nursing and Health Professions (CNHP)
- College of Medicine
- Salus at Drexel University Physician Assistant (PA) Studies
- The Eye Institute (TEI)
- Pennsylvania Ear Institute (PEI)
- Speech-Language Institute (SLI)
- William Feinbloom Low Vision Rehabilitation Center
Products and services
- Doctor of Optometry (OD) Program
- Physician Assistant Studies Program
- Occupational Therapy Program
- Speech-Language Pathology Program
- Orthotics and Prosthetics Program
Quantifiable outcome
- 136 students graduated from PCO
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Salus University
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Salus University technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Salus University partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.
- Drexel UniversityflagshipMerger finalized July 3, 2025. Salus University (originally established from Pennsylvania College of Optometry in 2008) combined with Drexel University, becoming the Elkins Park Campus. Programs now part of Drexel's College of Medicine, College of Nursing and Health Professions, and Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and Professional Studies.
- Bestwork Industries for the Blind, Inc.coreSalus at Drexel University partnered with Bestwork Industries for the Blind, Inc. in Cherry Hill, New Jersey to open a clinic serving those in need of blindness and low vision services. Bestwork is a private not-for-profit corporation dedicated to improving quality of life for people who are blind by providing training and employment opportunities.
- Hearts in MotionminorHumanitarian organization that partners with the Physician Assistant Studies program for international medical mission trips serving underserved communities in Zacapa, Guatemala.
- National Vision, Inc.coreLongtime partnership between Pennsylvania College of Optometry, The Eye Institute, and National Vision, Inc. focused on caring for people. NVI is one of the largest optical retail companies in the US with more than 1,100 stores in 38 states and Puerto Rico. Partnership aligns missions around helping school children with vision problems.
- Special Olympics of PennsylvaniaminorPA Studies program has a chapter partnership with Special Olympics of Pennsylvania for student involvement and community service.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Salus University competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- SUNY College of Optometry: Public optometry-focused college within the State University of New York system offering OD and residency programs. Competes directly with PCO for students and faculty in optometric education and research.
- Midwestern University: Private health sciences university with multiple colleges including optometry, physician assistant, OT, PT, SLP, and biomedical sciences. Highly comparable breadth and tuition-driven business model.
- Nova Southeastern University - College of Optometry: Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Allopathic Medicine-adjacent optometry program at a large private university in Florida. Offers OD and residencies plus broader health sciences, comparable to the multi-program Salus/Drexel model.
- Pacific University - College of Health Professions: Private university in Oregon with colleges of optometry, health professions, and PA studies. Comparable portfolio of health science programs with similar tuition-driven model.
- New England College of Optometry: Independent, single-focus optometry school in Boston with a long history of OD education and clinical training. Closest direct analog to PCO at Salus/Drexel Elkins Park given similar mission, scale, and standalone-school history.
- Illinois College of Optometry: Independent, single-purpose optometry college in Chicago offering the OD degree and clinical residency programs. Direct competitor for optometry applicants and an analog for clinical training model.
- University of Pikeville - Kentucky College of Optometry (KYCO): Optometry school within a regional private university; PCO's dean Dr. Ibironke was a founding faculty member. Competes for the same OD applicant pool and runs similar mission-aligned programming.
- Southern College of Optometry: Private, single-purpose optometry school in Memphis with comparable OD program and residency offerings. Closely comparable in size, mission, and focus on optometric education.
- Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (MCPHS): Private health sciences university offering physician assistant, optometry, OT, SLP, and audiology programs. Closest multi-discipline health sciences peer with comparable program portfolio and tuition-driven model.
Regional players
- Thomas Jefferson University - College of Health Professions: Philadelphia-area university offering OT, PA, SLP, and other health professions programs. Operates in the same regional labor market and competes for the same applicant pool.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Salus University social profiles
Digital presenceSalus University financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Salus University leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
Salus University subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries3 records
Salus University funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Salus University M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Salus University
What does Salus University do?
Salus University is a graduate and professional health sciences institution that offers degree and certificate programs in optometry, physician assistant studies, occupational therapy, speech-language pathology, orthotics and prosthetics, audiology, and biomedicine. It supplements classroom instruction with simulation-based training, standardized patient experiences, early clinical exposure, and integrated residency models, while also operating clinical facilities that deliver patient care in eye care, hearing, speech-language, and low vision rehabilitation.
Is Salus University a public or private company?
Salus University is a private company. It is classified as public and is currently operating.
When was Salus University founded?
Salus University was founded in 2008.
Where is Salus University based?
Salus University is headquartered in Elkins Park, United States, in the North America region.
How does Salus University make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Tuition and Fees are the primary driver. The others are clinical Services, grants and Research Funding and alumni Giving and Donations.
Who are Salus University's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are SUNY College of Optometry, Midwestern University, Nova Southeastern University - College of Optometry, Pacific University - College of Health Professions, New England College of Optometry, Illinois College of Optometry, University of Pikeville - Kentucky College of Optometry (KYCO), Southern College of Optometry and Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (MCPHS). Thomas Jefferson University - College of Health Professions is listed as a regional player.
Does Salus University have an API?
No public API is recorded for Salus University.
What industry is Salus University in?
Salus University's product category is Higher Education - Health Sciences. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAHAGAN, Schools of Optometry, with a secondary code of EDAHAGAH, Allied Health & Rehabilitation Sciences Schools (PT/OT/SLP, etc.). Its NAICS code is 6113 and its SIC code is 8200.